Real Life - Doing things by the book: Couple go from dole queue to bookshop owners

It's like strolling on to a movie set; the walls are filled with tales of old and new, and wooden cases are filled with books so handsome they could be expertly-designed props.

We half-expect a lavishly-costumed Johnny Depp to appear from behind the comfy leather sofa, wielding a dusty tome.

Instead we're met by owners Scott Southey and Amy Carter, who opened the Midlands' only remaining urban independent bookshop 18 months ago.

It's a hidden gem in Walsall town centre, with two rooms packed with new, good quality second-hand, vintage and antique books. As Christmas edges ever closer, it's a crucial trading time for small businesses, and Scott and Amy are taking it in their stride.

"We've been open now exactly 18 months and it's not as tough as it could be," says 40-year-old Scott with an air of positivity. "They always say the first two years can be hard and it was touch-and-go at the beginning of the summer. But since then, we've been on an even keel."

"It seems to be getting a bit easier but we did go through a very tough time," admits 37-year-old Amy.

The most wonderful part of Southcart's own tale is that their business has grown very much from the ground up. The couple aren't hardened businesspeople, as Scott tells us: "We were long-term unemployed and were sent to one of the job centre seminars. They said that if anybody was interested in being self-employed, they could speak to them later.

"It was something we'd never thought of doing, but we're big book-lovers ourselves. So we spoke to them about potentially opening a shop and they sent us to the Black Country Chamber of Commerce for support."

"We wanted to do something better for ourselves," says Amy, "I have a disabled son so I was always his carer. But he's 19 now so it was time to start something new. We went on a three-day course to learn the business basics alongside other people that wanted to start new companies. They did tell us the risks involved, in fact, the man who was giving the talk went bankrupt himself twice with his shops."

Scott was a chef for 20 years before he became unemployed, after the development of a number of allergies meant he couldn't cook any more. He threw himself into making Southcart Books a success with Amy.

"At first we just brought in books we had at home and ones that we'd picked up on eBay with the intention of selling online. When we first set up, there was only about 10 per cent of the stock that we have now, and we thought that was a lot! When we look back at the pictures now, it looks barren! Because we're the only independent bookshop for miles around, people just gravitate towards us, selling us books and bringing unwanted ones in," says Scott.

"There's something more personal about an independent bookshop," Amy explains, when we ask about the shop's popularity. "We've got our regulars that come in. About 80 per cent of our customers are returning ones."

Some of those customers, Scott tells us, come from much further afield to experience the excitement of rummaging through Southcart's shelves.

"Last month a scientist came down from Falkirk to check out our vintage science books. We have people visit regularly from as far as Yorkshire, Milton Keynes, Cheshire, all over, really.

"We have quite a few collectors who come in and they really help us out – they spend hundreds of pounds at a time. We learn to know what they want and source the books we think they'll like."

And unlike many other book hops, it's not the children's books that are Southcart's biggest sellers.

Scott says: "We had a big children's room, but the kids books just weren't selling at all. With Asda and The Works right around the corner, we just couldn't compete. But we started holding events in the room and most of the authors who came were horror and science fiction writers. They loved having photos taken, but not surrounded by children's books! So we decided to create a vintage library-type room.

"Amy has always said that if anything does happen, this will be our living room at home – we'll just transport all of the stuff there."

A few of the books on the shelves really catch our eye, and we don't blame Amy for considering taking them all away with her. We spot a number of original Penguin Classics, and a few books that are clearly much older.

"The oldest book in the shop at the moment is a 1794 Works of Virgil. There's a first edition 1852 Charles Dickens book too that will sell for around £100. There's a Bible over there from 1847, I love that Bible!" she tells us, handling the books with care.

The vintage room is a truly awesome space – a book-lovers dream. In there, Scott and Amy hold regular events, sharing it with customers and authors.

"We have around two bookshop parties a month, and we have different authors come in all the time to do signings," says Scott. "On November 28 we're holding a day dedicated to the works of HP Lovecraft. It's called Cthulu Calling. There'll be around seven or eight authors sharing their different interpretations of Lovecraft's work, and there's free food, drink and free entry."

Amy adds: "We had a great music party recently and Birmingham punk band GBH came down to the shop. We had two music book launches. One of the authors had co-written a book with a member of GBH and they came down to promote it. It turned into a big music themed day. It was great."

Visiting Southcart is inspiring in more ways than one. We take away much more from our visit than just extra ideas for the Christmas list and new interior design aspirations.

"What I tell people is, if you can't find a job, make a job," says Scott, and Amy nods her agreement.

It's a success story worthy of a book of it's own.

By Kirsty Bosley