Celebrating World Book Day with a surprise for Croydon book lovers

To mark World Book Day on 6th March, Croydon BID partnered with Waterstones in The Whitgift Centre for a bookish surprise that put a smile on readers’ faces.
A small idea with a big impact, the initiative saw £5 gift cards hidden inside select books across the store.

Lucky customers who stumbled upon one could redeem it for £5 off their next book purchase – a simple way to celebrate reading and rediscover the joy of browsing in-store.

While the campaign relied on an element of surprise, it was also shared organically via Instagram, reaching over 15,000 local people. The post generated 232 engagements, with 100% positive sentiment – and several happy comments from those who found the gift cards.

The campaign was part of a wider celebration of World Book Day at Waterstones Croydon, which saw over 3,000 Croydon pupils inspired by visits from local and diverse authors throughout the first half of March.

Authors included Davina Tijani, Lorna Liverpool, Dominic Yoboué, Dr Chintal Patel, Anita Prabhu, Marielle Bayliss, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Clive Jordan, Zehra Hicks, and Kate Williams – each bringing their own stories to life through interactive readings and workshops.

Croydon BID also caught up with Dominic Yoboué, author of Kara, for a quick sit-down to talk about his writing journey and the power of representation in children’s literature. Watch the video below.

With excellent service from knowledgeable booksellers, a packed programme of events, and thoughtful campaigns like this one, Waterstones Croydon continues to be a brilliant space for book lovers of all ages. For opening hours and upcoming events, please visit: https://www.waterstones.com/bookshops/croydon