Stanfords makes waves with Bookharbour purchase

Stanfords, the UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps and travel books, has bought Bookharbour, building on an existing relationship with the nautical specialist’s parent company. 

The acquistion, for an undsiclosed sum, was made between the retailer and the maritime digital solutions provider OneOcean Group. Bookharbour was previously included in the leisure division of OneOcean Group.

Bookharbour sells an extensive range of nautical charts and books alongside both paper and digital charts, navigation instruments and marine software. It also offer products for marine courses such as the Royal Yachting Association range of boating courses, catering for first-time boat buyers and owners of all types of boats.

In the UK, Bookharbour operates an e-commerce site and wholesale distribution of marine leisure products. In spring 2022 it will move to offices and a warehouse at Shamrock Quay in Southampton. A small shop will open to enable customers to place click and collect orders on the website and browse a selection of products. In the Netherlands, Bookharbour also operates an e-commerce site and wholesale distribution of marine leisure products.

Vivien Godfrey, the chairperson and c.e.o. of Stanfords, said: "We have been impressed with the quality of the Bookharbour brand and feel that it will be an important addition to our offering. Stanfords has specialised in serving leisure mariners since 1853 and high quality nautical publications are very much in demand by leisure mariners and hobbyists, so we are excited at the potential that Bookharbour brings to our business."

Martin Taylor, c.e.o. of OneOcean Group, added: "We are focused on continuing to build our leading position in the commercial maritime industry as a software solutions provider. The sale of our leisure business will simplify our operations, allowing us to focus on our core business, which is the fantastic breadth and depth of our commercial offering."