This week #MadeInSandwell Monday celebrates a brand new Sandwell business that is hoping to bring books back to Wednesbury high street, and shoppers back to the town centre.

Blue Sheep Books was started by Sorina Marinescu and partner John from their home in Wednesbury. Currently online only, they’re currently building up capital in order to realise their dream of opening a community cafe bookshop on Wednesbury high street.

Sorina says they were spurred into action after the closure of Abacus Books, leaving their local town centre without an independent bookshop. They set up a Facebook page and an online store to start trading and get their business on a firm footing while they develop their cafe plans. There is already a huge range of new and ‘pre-loved’ books available, and if you have books you no longer want, get in touch to find out how much Blue Sheep Books will pay to take them off your hands.

The next step is to move their online shop to its own website, and then into premises on the high street. Sorina and John want Blue Sheep Books to be part of a post-Covid retail revival. “Wednesbury has plenty of takeaways, barbers and nail salons,” says Sorina, “but a community-focused cafe bookshop would provide shoppers with something new and unique. Having a thriving, varied high street is really important for local residents and the economy of the whole region. We want to be part of getting it back on its feet.”

Currently Sorina and John are doing all the work themselves, but once the shop opens they’ll be recruiting staff, providing jobs for local people. “We’re really proud that we’ve built this up from scratch, all from a desire to improve our adopted home town,” says Sorina. “Sandwell is a community of dynamic, growing communities that offers a wealth of opportunities to a business like ours. We love Wednesbury – the town and the people – and really want to see the historic centre become a vibrant hub again.”

#MadeInSandwell Monday is a celebration of the talent and diversity within our borough. If you’re interested in being considered for a #MadeInSandwell Monday profile and having information about your organisation shared on Think Sandwell and through Twitter, read this.