English Book Centre
Just off rue Grande in Valbonne you’ll find Jill Shepperd’s English Book Centre. This is a great little bookshop, and although just 30m², offers a range and variety of books that can hold its own against much larger book stores.
Jill first came down to the French Riviera about 15 years ago. Her passion for books stemmed from childhood days and had always been an important part of her life. Then, quite accidentally, a chance meeting with the then owners of the English Book Centre set in motion a string of events that would change her life.
Finding that she had a deep understanding and knowlege of literature, along with a great personality and a good head on her shoulders, they asked if she would like to work part-time in their shop.
Six years later and having progressed from working from one day a week, to three days a week depending on how busy the shop was, an opportunity occurred she couldn’t refuse.
After a prolonged sojourn on the Cote d’Azur, Jill’s employers decided to return to the UK and take life a little easier. They asked if she would like to buy the English Book Centre from them - she accepted.
After administrative and financial arrangements were concluded, Jill became the proud owner of the English Book Centre in October 2002.
Unafraid of hard work, an eye for detail and with her bubbly and dynamic character to see her through, Jill set about giving the bookshop a facelift. Her first task was to change the colour scheme and give the shop a fresh, clean look. She then reviewed her stock and decided extra emphasis should be placed on children’s books and regional interest. She also felt a broader range of greeting cards should be on offer to her customers. We must admit that her selection of cards is one of the best we’ve come across - they are original, fun, some beautifully illustrated and, above all, for every occasion you could wish for.
Jill also wanted to bring the bookshop into the 21st century - and realized that, in this day and age, a website was an important marketing tool. She has just recently introduced online shopping to further enhance her site. Her clients cross a wide spectrum of nationalities: ranging from her regulars to tourists, to expatriates recently arrived in the area, through to French school children needing English books for their curriculum.
Books range from fiction to non-fiction, both paperback and hardback and beautiful coffee-table editions. Bought from UK distributors, she prides herself on choosing just the right books for her shop and her customers.
Jill also offers a book ordering service and will do her utmost to find the author or title you need.
Along with a second-hand book selection, DVDs, pretty provençal calendars, maps, and a few gorgeous soft cuddly toys, there’s also a well-appointed notice board with a range of services on offer, clubs, associations, B&B’s, for sale items, local events, etc.
She also distributes The Riviera Reporter (not always easy to find), as well as the English Yellow Pages.
And if running the English Book Centre wasn’t enough work - Jill also keeps us up to date on new books about the region.
Contact details:
English Book Centre
12 rue Alexis
06560 Valbonne
Tel: 04 93 12 21 42
Fax: 04 93 12 26 43
Opening Hours:
Tuesdays to Saturdays
09:30 to 12:30 & 15:00 to 18:30
and from 10:00 'til 13:00 on Sundays during the summer season
