Waterstones enjoys healthy sales both in-store and online
Waterstones’ sales increased by 7% to £565.6 million in the 53 weeks to 3 May 2025. On a like-for- like basis sales were up 5%.
In its financial report for the period, the bookseller said sales growth was broad-based across geographical areas and evident both in stores and online. Growth was driven by the popularity of fiction titles such as Butter, Waterstones’ Book of the Year, and Orbital, the Booker Prize winner. Increased sales were also seen in the stationery and children’s educational toys categories.
Subscribe to TRBMeanwhile, operating profit before exceptional items grew to £49.7 million from £45.6 million in the prior year. Waterstones said consistent improvements across the business were partly offset by cost increases, mainly relating to employment.
Waterstones opened seven new bookshops in the year, which took the total store estate to 316, as it continues to invest in its teams, shops and infrastructure.
The company said: “Waterstones has continued to enjoy healthy sales in the current financial year and enters 2026 with a great deal of optimism given the encouraging publishing pipeline and continued strong performance across the business.”
