Babita Sharma: The Corner shop
Babita Sharma was raised in a corner shop in Reading, and over the counter watched a changing world, from the clientele to the products to the politics of the day. Along with the skills to mop a floor perfectly and stack a shelf, she gained a unique insight into a shifting landscape - and an institution that, despite the creep of supermarkets, online shopping and delivery, has found a way to evolve and survive - and is currently keeping us all running.
From the general stores of the first half of the 20th century (one of which was run by the father of a certain Margaret Thatcher), to the reimagined corner shops run by immigrants from India, East Africa and Eastern Europe from the 60s to the noughties, the corner shop has shaped the way we shop, the way we eat, and the way we understand ourselves.
WINNER OF THE BUSINESS BOOK AWARD FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITY
Nuanced, human and engaging' Nikesh Shukla, Observer
'I come from a hidden world: I am the daughter of shopkeepers. I've seen you on a Sunday morning, nipping out to get a pint of milk or to grab a newspaper. I came to know a lot about you; whether your politics leaned to the right or left, whether you were gay or straight, and whether you were plagued by cash-flow problems or had enough disposable income to indulge your penchant for Cadbury's Creme Eggs.'
272 pages
The last order date for Christmas delivery is Wednesday 18th December.
Click and collect from the museum in Lewisham is available to order until Friday 20th December, with collection by Sunday 22nd.
We currently ship to the UK via Royal Mail 48 delivery.
We are hoping to expand our shipping options to include international customers very soon.
Prices
Orders under £45 : £4.50
Orders over £45: Free
Dispatch and delivery time
We dispatch all orders within 2-5 working days. Please allow at least 6 working days for your item to arrive.
We are a small team operating out of a venue which is open to the public. We will always do our best to keep you informed where there are any delays to our service.
Click and Collect
We now offer free click and collect from the Migration Museum in Lewisham Shopping Centre. Please note that the museum is currently open Friday - Sunday.
Ordering our organic cotton, sustainable clothing range
In order that we are able to offer a wide range of sizes and variations of our most popular design, we work with a print-on-demand clothing company. These items will be fulfilled separately from other items ordered from the Migration Museum and will arrive separately.
