Based out of a 350,000 square foot facility in southern England, our stock represents the largest range of physical English language media products in Europe.
We offer c.500,000 titles in stock and ready to ship same day to any UK address, as well as 3 million+ available for instant fulfilment to consumers.
The team at Gardners work hard to simplify and enhance the supply chain through a proven combination of extensive product range, innovative services and experienced staff. We work with thousands of multi-channel retailers around the world, both online and on the high street, to supply physical and digital product to their exacting standards, either back to store or direct to consumer through our proven consumer direct fulfilment service (CDF).
Independant and family owned since
Alan and Jean Little purchased Gardners Books in 1986, at the time it was a small warehouse in Bexhill with a small customer base. With a strong book and supply chain knowledge already from their experience running Browns Books.
Over the years, the responsibilities have moved down a generation, with their children Jonathan, Andrew and Yvette assuming the key roles.
Rolling forward 37 years, Gardners is now a thriving global leader in book wholesale supply, with 9 sister companies covering the entire book supply chain.
The Little family remain a huge part of the day-to-day running of the business. You will see Jonathan, Andrew & Nicky Little almost every single day on-site. Yvette and her family run and manage the businesses at Askews and Browns, and Jonathan's children have vital roles within other Little Group businesses.
Through the years all of the family members have worked for the business, across IT, health & safety, compliance, consumer direct, accounts and more.
Family owned and run for over 37 years
Over a dozen family members still involved
3 generations of the family part of legacy
The Journey so far
1986
Gardners was established by Alan and Jean Little in Bexhill, UK.
1991
Gardlink launches, the first book stock management system in UK
1993
Gardners moves from Bexhill to Eastbourne
1998
Gardners.com and Gardcall launches
2000
Gardners becomes the largest book wholesaler in the UK.
2008
Launches DVD supply under Gardners Entertainment.
2010
Launches music supply under Gardners Entertainment.
2011
IBAP launches to support Independant retailers.
2020
Norwich facility opens & Gardners EU launches.
Then and now
Staff numbers
- 1986 - 14 people
- 1993 - 140 people
- 1996 - 235 people
- 1999 - 640 people
- 2008 - 750 people
- 2023 - 1000 people
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Eastbourne UK
Our offices and warehousing are located on a single site in Eastbourne on the south coast of the UK. Since we moved to the site in 1993, there has been constant re-investment in both infrastructure and technology, including state of the art conveyor & crane systems that move products with ease around our 350,000 square feet warehouse complex.
Great people
We have around 900 employees who work within the warehouse and offices, to ensure that your orders are processed & despatched quickly and efficiently on our same-day despatch service. Supporting them is our experienced management team who bring a wide ranging knowledge and experience to the company from their predominantly publishing and retail backgrounds.
Trade Support
Gardners plays a key role within the UK book trade, belonging to & actively supporting the Booksellers Association events and initiatives, including POS distribution for the Books Are My Bag campaign and annual sponsorship of the BA conference. Additionally we sponsor the Independent Bookshop of the Year at the British Books Awards and Bookstore of the Year at the LBF International Excellence Awards.
Awards
The team at Gardners work hard to simplify and enhance the supply chain and we are delighted that this has once again been recognised with the IC Supply Chain Excellence Award. Parent Company 'The Little Group” was listed in this years 'Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200' which ranks Britain's mid-market private companies by fastest-growing overseas sales, and they have been listed in five out of the last seven years in 'The Sunday Times Top Track 250' list which ranks Britain's private mid-market companies by sales
Community
Locally, the Gardners team support St Wilfrids Hospice in Eastbourne whenever possible. They are a fantastic local charity who support, empower and care for people at the end of life by providing specialist care for those with any progressive and advanced disease.
We also support national charity events, including Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning, Red Nose Day and Children in N and have proudly raised thousands of pounds over the years while having a lot of fun doing so!