Beaufort Street Books: Independent bookstore moves 50m down the road via ‘human conveyor belt’

It’s one small step for a Mt Lawley shop owner but one giant step for her 14,000 books, which were moved on Saturday by a “human conveyor belt” to their new home.

More than 120 volunteers took to Beaufort street to help independent bookstore owner Jane Seaton move her product 50m down the road.

The longtime owner of Beaufort Street Books will be doubling her footprint space in the new location at the corner of Beaufort and Vincent Street.

She decided to call on the community to help after seeing a similar move at a UK bookstore in Southampton.

“I saw a story on social media about a bookstore in the UK that got their community to come down and move books along a conga line,” she said.

The shop has been a Beaufort Street mainstay for more than 14 years and amid a tough climate for online book retailers and small businesses alike, Ms Seaton said the turnout was a reminder of why she was moving.

In April last year, Amazon closed its online shop the Book Depository, while this month it was reported online retailer Booktopia went it voluntary administration.

“Small businesses are struggling everywhere, we hear about the cost of living crisis,” Ms Seaton said.

“I was end of lease, thinking; do I want to continue this?

“We made the decision when this location came up to move here and this is the reason why.”

The expansion will also allow Ms Seaton to cater to her fastest growing demographic — readers below the age of 12.

“It’s actually growing substantially in here for that market,” she said.

“Most of them are in prams, (this new store) doesn’t have any steps.”

Eight-year-old Ava Mainstone said she was a loyal customer of Beaufort Street Books’ comic section.

“I really like comics and they have great comics here and really good novels I’m starting to read,” she said.

Volunteer Michael Barlow Stringer said Beaufort Street Books had been in his life for more than a decade.

“It’s been part of my kids lives since they were born,” he said.

Volunteer Jennifer Jackson — who also owns independent bookshop Paper Bird in Fremantle — said she came down to support Ms Seaton.

“(I’m doing) anything I can do to help independent bookshops to grow and flourish and thrive,” she said.

“Beaufort Street Books has an amazing local community, just as we do in Fremantle.”