Publishing News reports that one year after its formation, the Independent Alliance reports a 25% year-on-year increase in sales, as well as forty new member bookshops. Maia Bristol, Sales Manager at Faber which coordinates the Alliance, said: “We’re delighted with the sales achieved by independent bookshops. Last year’s initiatives have worked, we are seeing a fantastic take up on this year’s summer promotion, and the spotlight now is on events.”

Independent booksellers have responded positively to the initiative. Andrew Cant at Simply Books in Bramhall said: “We have enjoyed working more closely with the publishers over the past year, and the knock on effect of having joined the Independent Alliance is we’re doing more with Alliance publishers and titles across the board – and sales are good as a result.”