Bittern Books is a division of Unilake Ltd, a private company owned and run by Steve and Elizabeth Haines. For 18 years up to the end of 2020 we owned and ran Coltishall Post Office and Stores and, amongst many other products, sold local interest and tourist books.
In 2018, when our supplier Tony Baker, of Linden Crescent Marketing, told us he was retiring and running down his business we decided to take it on and set up Bittern Books to continue distribution of books and maps to retail outlets in East Anglia. The book distribution part of Tony’s business was originally started by another subpostmaster, Owen Church, in Hemsby, Norfolk as 3C Books. Tony took it over in 2012 and developed it further, also incorporating John Nickall’s distribution business.
Since we started Bittern Books we have extended the range, adding many new books and Dinky Maps. We have developed our marketing strategy, sending regular emails with updates on new products for our customers, and in early 2020 we launched this website to enable both trade and retail customers to order online. This provides for more dynamic update than using printed catalogues and we will continue to develop the website to provide more information and easy ordering for our customers.
Having sold our shop in early 2021, we moved to new premises on the Scottow Enterprise Park, formerly known as RAF Coltishall. Appropriately for a business that specialises in local history, we are surrounded by buildings that hark back to Second World War and Cold War aviation.
We are continually looking for new books to add to our distribution range, and of course, new customers. If you subscribe to our email list you will hear about new additions to our range. Steve is always happy to visit new and existing trade customers to help with range planning and merchandising – just ask if you would like us to visit.
