A SECOND-hand book shop in Leigh has been placed on the market just 18 months after it opened, despite battling through the Covid pandemic.

Veronika Loessl, 37, moved from London to Southend to set up her first business, Books-on-Sea, on Alexandra Street, just before the pandemic hit.

She quickly built up a regular client base, with philosophy and drama books proving hugely popular.

Despite her love for the store, Veronika, who is originally from Germany, has decided to sell the shop after finding it too difficult to run on her own.

However Veronika is keen for someone else to take on the store and run another independent book store, insisting there's a lot of potential for the site. 

Veronika said: “It’s the first time I’ve done something like this, starting a new business.

“It’s been great and the business does have a lot of potential.

“I did this by myself and when I’m not working, I’m off buying, looking for more books for the store. It’s just been too much to do on my own.

“I think I was a bit naive when I took it on, but I’ve enjoyed the community and being in Southend.

“I was very unlucky starting a business just before the pandemic started. I think with the right person, this shop could really be something.”

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Veronika is keen to see the store stay an independent business, insisting more independent shops are needed in Southend.

She added: “We don’t have second-hand bookshops in Southend town centre and we don’t really have too many independent stores on the high street.

“I think we do need more independent shops in Southend for the tourists. It would do the image of Southend the world of good.”

Veronika has been left full of gratitude for the people in Southend who have continued to show her support.

She said: “The businesses have been very welcoming and so supportive. My neighbours brought me flowers when I first opened and that was really nice.

“I have a lot of regulars that come in each week. Some say I’m the only person they speak to in that week.

“I also get a lot of collectors from London, so it’s good to chat to them as well as being a collector myself.

“I don’t think things would have gone this well during Covid without the support.”