Save Margin Bookstore: 2 Months to Make It Survive

Aim

Margin is an independent shop in a sea of faceless corporate chains. It needs funds for advertising and marketing, or it closes in 2 months.

Hi. I’m Melanie. 

I opened Margin, an independent bookshop in Ballymoney because I love books, but I forgot that and got tricked by the black rectangle of doom that controls our lives!! 

A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to spend less time scrolling and more time flipping gently through the scented pages of a book. There's nothing quite like that, is there? 

I believe in the magic of browsing a real life bookstore and discovering a book that calls to you and makes you feel something that you didn't expect, or maybe something you haven't felt in a long time.

So here I am, I opened in April, and have already been shown so much generosity by so many people, raised money that has proved invaluable to the survival of the shop, and thanks to you, the shop is slowly finding its people. 

Slowly. 

It’s now August, and here’s the truth:

I’ve got two months to make this bookshop work.

If I can't get more people through the door by the end of September, I’ll have to close.

I’m not here to guilt you.

I’m here to invite you - to help Margin survive, thrive, and outlive this wild, messy chapter.

What This Crowdfunder Supports:

This isn’t about rent. It’s not about bailouts. (Well, it's kinda about rent...)

It’s about buying time to make Margin known - to throw everything I’ve got into:

Marketing & Publicity: getting Margin’s name in front of people who still don’t know it exists via radio, newspapers, local business publications.

Events & Campaigns: From "reading party "nights to storytelling evenings, to movie nights and author signings

Shop Buzz: Window displays, signage, themed bundles, and chaotic in-store energy

Last Push Magic: Anything that gets people through the door and keeps them wanting to come back.


Basically: this money goes straight into the fight. And the fight is keeping Margin alive.

Why Now?

Because this is the final chapter unless things change fast.

You know that indie shop you meant to visit? That one your friend told you about? That one you scrolled past and thought, “Oh, I love places like that.”

This is it.
This is your chance to be part of saving one.

What You Get

My eternal gratitude and a firm handshake. And, if this works: you’ll get a bookshop that survived because people like you showed up.

TL;DR

I have two months to save Margin.

This Crowdfunder helps me go all in — and gives Margin a fighting chance.
If you’ve got a fiver, a tenner, or the cost of that book you forgot to buy — now’s the moment.

Let’s make it matter.
Melanie x

This project successfully funded on 16th June 2025