Welcome to The Quillery Newsletter

 One month ago, on Saturday 23rd May, we unlocked the doors to The Quill & Quiver for the very first time.

We had no idea what was about to happen.

We had worked so hard and we were so nervous to show you what we had created in the best part of a year.

We'd imagined over and over what opening day might look like.

What we didn't expect was needing to drag out spare furniture.

Have you noticed our chairs don't match?

Some are comfy chairs. Some are our plastic event chairs.

Originally, we planned for fourteen seats which almost felt ambitious.

After all, we were opening a bookshop where people could sit, stay awhile, enjoy a coffee and maybe indulge in a slice of cake.

Fourteen seemed plenty.

Then over forty people came through the doors on our very first day.

Suddenly we were pulling chairs out of storage, setting up extra tables and finding places for everyone to sit while they tucked into coffee, cake and conversation.

And still… we haven't managed to put those extra chairs away yet. Because you keep coming back.

Thank you!

Since opening, we've served countless cups of coffee using beans roasted by our friends at Jute in Thrapston, enjoyed more slices of cakes than we can count, and watched hundreds of books find their way into new homes.

We believed Corby needed a space like this.

You proved us right.

You've shown us that people were looking for somewhere to gather, connect, create and belong.

When we started the Q&Q dream the big stuff was at the top of our lists. The renovations, the books, the suppliers, the furniture, the admin, website. The list is longer than most of our TBR’s.

What we didn't realise that all of those major plans could create such incredible smaller moments.

During our first week, we sat and taught you how to make origami dragons and cranes. We had a youngling show us how to make boats and fox faces in return. 

We've loved hearing the excitement of how much this space means or will become to mean to you.

We love the conversations you have with us. The recommendations of which authors we should have on our shelves. The compliments about how well Carrie has curated our collection. 

Independent Bookshop Week brought another wonderful surprise. With the help of Mrs Lamont, the Year 3 pupils at Studfall Junior School created a collection of handmade bookmarks for their local bookshop. Some featured positive affirmations. Some featured artwork. Some had us laughing and gasping with collective “awws.”

Many have already found homes with customers, but a few are still available by the till if you'd like to take home a little piece of creativity made with love.

We've loved seeing complete strangers sit down at the same table and leave as friends.

We've loved watching people return. The familiar faces. Customers whose orders we're beginning to remember. Those who pop in "just for a browse" and somehow leave with three books. People who we've lost count of the number of times they've already visited in these short 3 weeks. 

Those little loyalty cards sitting by the till were made with you in mind.

Perhaps what we have loved most of all, is watching community happen.

That's the magic.

A month ago we opened the doors and hoped people would come.

To everyone who has bought a book, drank a coffee, attended an event, brought a friend, shared a post, recommended us to family or simply spent an afternoon with us:

Thank you.

The Quill & Quiver belongs to all of us now.

And if this first month has taught us anything, it's that Corby was ready for a space like this.

Thank you for filling this little bookshop with kindness, creativity, conversation and friendship.

Here's to Chapter Two.

Carrie, Lauren, and the whole Quill & Quiver family ❤️