An independent bookshop retailer has expressed concern that stationery brand Moleskine is cannibalising its sales in Old Street station.
The founder of Camden Lock books, Jason Burley, who has run his business for nearly 30 years, says he has been forced to begin a 10 per cent off discount promotion to hold onto customers.
“I can understand Moleskine wanting to raise their profile and concede that they are a very professional business,” he said. “But to wreck existing outlets of their own products by obstinate selection of shop locations seems a foolish mistake.”
A Moleskine spokeswoman said that the Italian brand were “quite upset” by the comments and added that its Old Street pop-up store was mainly an accessories store and offered a wide variety of products such as handbags, pens, cases and digital device accessories.
His bookshop has traded from Old Street station since 2002 and sells a range of general books as well as photographic, art and local history books.
He concluded: “Moleskine have spent a huge amount of money on fitting out their new unit and they are going to destroy a significant part of my business.”
Moleskine is currently marketing itself as a global luxury brand and has opened two stand alone stores in London‘s Canary Wharf, Old Street and Covent Garden.
