Peters’ first bookshop is opened by John Sheldon Peters, on Moor Street in Birmingham. By 1936 he is also supplying books to public libraries, working with his son, John Peters (Jnr).
John Peters (Snr) dies aged 84, and John Peters (Jnr) takes over.
2009
Peters’ first bookshop is opened by John Sheldon Peters, on Moor Street in Birmingham. By 1936 he is also supplying books to libraries, working with his son, John Peters (Jnr).
1954
Peters’ first bookshop is opened by John Sheldon Peters, on Moor Street in Birmingham. By 1936 he is also supplying books to libraries, working with his son, John Peters (Jnr).
2009
Peters moves to a new showroom on Thorp Street, Birmingham, with the decision to focus on public library supply.
2009
Malcolm Peters, John Peters (Jnr)’s son, takes over the business as Managing Director, the third generation of the Peters family
Peters’ computerised stock system, ‘Petra’, is developed
2009
Peters’ computerised stock system, ‘Petra’, is developed
1979
Peters begins opening multiple retail shops across the Midlands and Wales, including Solihull, Telford and Swansea. Deliveries are made by Volkswagen van, seen here outside Solihull Central Library
1983
The Thorp Street Showroom
is refitted, with a focus on
libraries and children’s books
1985
Peters celebrates 50 years of bookselling with a dinner and music-hall cabaret at The Grand Hotel on Colmore Row, Birmingham
1985
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1989
Peters moves to a larger sole premises on Bromsgrove Street in Birmingham, where we are still based today, complete with a smart fleet of delivery vans!
1992
Peters expands to supply furniture to schools and libraries, with the launch of ‘The Kit Shop’
1995
We’ve hosted regular award ceremonies, and many big-name authors and famous faces from the book world have visited Peters over the years. Who can you spot?
Hundreds of school children have also visited to choose their own books, and for story time sessions with their favourite authors.
A separate partnership, Peters Book Service, was established to supply schools.
Moira Arthur becomes Managing Director, Malcolm Peters becomes Chairman
Moira Arthur and Peter Sheldon retire, and Carl McInerney takes over as Managing Director Rhydian Peters replaces his father, Malcolm Peters, as Chairman
Ray Dyer becomes Managing Director after 15 years at Peters
Peters Bookselling Services and the Kit Shop are rebranded as Peters Books & Furniture, and Peters Book of the Year award launches
The company is rebranded as Peters
1999
Moira Arthur becomes Managing Director, Malcolm Peters becomes Chairman
2009
Moira Arthur and Peter Sheldon retire, and Carl McInerney takes over as Managing Director Rhydian Peters replaces his father, Malcolm Peters, as Chairman
2011
Ray Dyer becomes Managing Director after 15 years at Peters
2012
Peters Bookselling Services and the Kit Shop are rebranded as Peters Books & Furniture, and Peters Book of the Year award launches
2015
The company is rebranded as Peters
2016
Peters becomes official sponsor for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals
2019
Love Literacy Conference held at the Birmingham Hippodrome, with authors such as Chris Riddell, Meg Rosoff and Jim Field in attendance, along with CILIP’s Nick Poole and Miranda McKearney from EmpathyLab
Peters continues to supply books to schools during Covid lockdowns, to support with home learning and reading for pleasure
Claire Bowles and Richard Butler become Co-CEOs
2020
Peters continues to supply books to schools during Covid lockdowns, to support with home learning and reading for pleasure
2024
Claire Bowles and Richard Butler become Co-CEOs
2025
Peters celebrates 90 years
of bookselling, and Peters
Book of the Year relaunches
for first time since 2016
Phil Earle
celebrates Teen
Fiction win for
Northern Soul
