National award for independent Rushden magazine store who bucked the trend

An independent magazine store at Rushden Lakes has won a top national award just three years after opening.

Magazine Heaven, which launched at the retail park in 2018, took home the PPA (Professional Publishers Association) Magazine Retailer Of The Year award for 2021.

The award is designed to honour the retailer that has most successfully demonstrated dedication to the cause of selling more magazines, commitment to offering a good choice of titles to its customers and an enhanced shopping experience for the magazine consumer.

Magazine Heaven - which stocks more than 3,500 publications - now ships around the world from its Rushden home.

Founder and owner Bill Palmer said: "I'm delighted and proud to receive this award.

"We opened the business in 2018 when the magazine industry was in steep decline but I'm happy to say that we've bucked that trend and have out-performed the industry and now ship and sell to a worldwide customer base from our store at Rushden Lakes.

"This past year has been extremely challenging but our staff rallied and have been magnificent, turning up seven days a week since the first lockdown, keeping the business going throughout.

"Our customers have been amazing and supportive too."