Mixed sales messages from booksellers

Bookseller Hammicks said the four days to Christmas Eve rescued otherwise 'alarming' December trading.

Hammicks said like-for-like sales were below expectations at 2.9 per cent with overall sales up 3.5 per cent.

Head of marketing Nick Prior said, however, that Hammicks was pleased to have outperformed what he said was a difficult market for books.

Meanwhile, Borders' fourth-quarter sales to date in the international division have increased by 31 per cent on the back of an ongoing opening programme. Books etc and Borders in the UK account for the majority of international sales. Managing director Philip Downer said Borders UK expects to open 10 stores this year, including at least seven Borders superstores.

- Borders has announced the appointment of David Riley as divisional director for Books etc. He joins from Gap UK.