Argonaut Books

We have opened up a direct line of communication with James Daunt who has acknowledged our concerns and indicated a willingness to discuss the Newkirkgate Centre issue with us.

We believe it was your strong response which enabled this to happen so swiftly.

We will keep everyone regularly updated.

We call on James Daunt to revisit his statements regarding Waterstones’ commitment to not engage in predatory business practices.

Is this the beginning of pattern for Waterstones? Is this what we are to expect from the brand in the future?

✍️: c.org/tRvvQM7Jrt

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We have raised concerns about how Waterstones have chosen to open a sixth Edinburgh branch rather than a location in one of the many underserved communities across the country.

✍️: c.org/tRvvQM7Jrt

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Thank you so much for this. It had been a couple of days since we had re-read his statement and it really hammers home just how tone-deaf this whole @waterstones.bsky.social debacle is.

Extract from Bookseller 2018 "When asked if the company had chanmged its stance on not opening up new stores in places which alreday had thriving independents, Daunt said "Absolutely not. We will not be operating in a predatory way."

Extract from Scotsman interview with Argonaut Books owner saying "It was with much surprise then that we learnes, and not directly from Waterstones themselves, that the UK's biggest book chain was moving in literally steps from our front door."

James Daunt (Waterstones MD) 2018 vs US Hedge Fund Owned Waterstones in 2025 - opening just 2 mins from brilliant @argonautbooks.bsky.social in Leith bit.ly/3XJ1thi. (NB Elliott Advisors' billionaire CEO Paul Singer donates millions to support IDF soldiers in Israel.. bit.ly/4rpjPBU) #SupportIndies

It’s been a pretty busy couple of days all things considered! Our priority now is to meet with civic leaders to discuss how this affects our business.

We will also be calling for public consultations with both the indie businesses and the wider community of Leith regarding future Newkirkgate plans.

Hi Tracy, if it was any other bookshop I would be agreeing with you wholeheartedly. However, Waterstones follow a model similar to Black Sheep and Starbucks which involves calculated moves serviced areas and squeezing out the competition.

They are not our neighbours and they are not our friends.

Thank you for engaging in the thoughtful and sincere way Adam. What if we had just taken out a business loan? Or were considering spending a large sum one type of stock or another?

We can’t afford to make mistakes and even the small courtesy of notice allows us to plan better and smarter.

Waterstones made a pledge in the past not to open shops competing with indies (although they've repeatedly broken it). Communicating with an indie 100m away from a new proposed location would seem in line with that supposed commitment.

I agree, and I sincerely hope you’re right. All the best from us here at the bookshop 🧡

One would have hoped so. We think the news would’ve been much easier to swallow if we had heard directly from them and not had to make the discovery ourselves.

They have apparently been planning it for over a year so there would have been ample opportunity for even a courtesy notice.

I was present for many similar conversations during my time at Waterstones too. Just marketing fluff these days it seems.

Please share this as widely as you can, tag your local indies too, and help us get the word about about this news.

We know and appreciate how much help we have had for you over the years and we’re sorry to have to ask you for more.

We’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.

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Anger as Waterstones snaps up prime site on doorstep of independent bookshop UK's biggest bookselling chain under fire over plans for new store beside Edinburgh tram line.

We need your help.

@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.

Please read on for more information

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...

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WE HAVE NEWS. We've been shocked go discover that the UK's biggest book.cjaon is moving in mere steps from our front door. Waterstones, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh shop less than 100 metres from Argonaut Books at the Foot of the Walk in Leith. We know that our community is what makes it possible for us to do what we do here at Argonaut and we're going to need your help. Please share this post with everyone you know, read.on for more info about what we're going to do and what happens next.

Ways you can help. Please share this post with friends ans followers. Yoi have supported us through the end of the lock down, a rocky outlook for the retail industry and two years of relentless disruptive roadworks.

Argonaut Books needs your help 📣

Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.

Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...

This issue should be fixed now! Thank you for your feedback on the website 🧡

Hello! We are actively bug fixing all weekend and this one is on our radar. Check back at the end of the day and it should be sorted!

As well as the discount we will, from this point forwards, be randomly choosing five customers to receive a book from their wishlist every month! Keep them up to date and you might get a little surprise every now and again.

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Easily browse all of our events, including book clubs, in one place (no more clunky Wordpress site)!

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🛒 OUR NEW WEBSITE IS FINALLY HERE - 30% OFF ALL BOOKS UNTIL THE 17TH📚

After many years of making do with our clunky old Wordpress site we are thrilled to finally launch a bookshop site that we feel better represents the level of service we strive to offer.

🔗: argonautbooks.co.uk

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As with all bookshop jobs we anticipate a high volume of submissions so we will contact candiates that we are choosing to interview and cannot gurantee that we will be able to reply to all applicants individually.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

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We’re a very small team, with an even smaller staff turnover, finding someone who will be the right fit is extremely important to us.

We are not a chain, we are fiercly independent and founded on the values of fair pay and the basic right to respect at work.

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✍️ We’re hiring! Link to apply in our stories and the link in our bio.

For the first time in over two years we are looking for an individual (maybe you!) to join our team as a bookseller and social media manager.

Apply: forms.gle/UUKUjuis1ZSum9gT7

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Hello! We’ll be posting about them tomorrow but the tickets are up already at the link below:

We also get lots of shop work done on these nights so we’ll be there right alongside you.

Spaces are limited and we will take bookings on the night for the next group so get in while you can!

argonautbooks.co.uk/product/writ...

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For your ticket price you get: bottomless tea/coffee/hot chocolate, access to WiFi (or blocked entirely from the WiFi if needed, we’ll even look after your phone for you), and a 10% discount on books on the night if you want to give yourself a little treat for a job well done.

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This isn’t a led writing workshop, this is a productivity space where you can come along and benefit from some positive peer pressure.

We split our space into two groups - happy to chat or heads down - so you can come along and share what you’re working on or just get your down and work.

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Do you need time & space to get organised for the month ahead? Do you need to make a bit of progress and get some advice on a project? Is it hard to carve out time and find a space that’s just for you?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes then this is group for you!

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Write More // Argonaut Books – Thurs. 4th December @ 6:30pm A low-pressure, low-key writing/admin group in the bookshop! (As much tea/coffee/hot chocolate as you can drink)   It’s time to Write More! Do you need time and space to get organised fo…

📝 It’s time to Write More! Tickets at the link below.

Did you know that we do a monthly writing/admin group? Probably not as we’ve been pretty low-key in trialling it!

But it’s official, in the first week of the month you can come to Argonaut Books in the evening and get some work done.

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A lovely night it was, thank you so much for braving the winds! 🧡