Throughout the year, not only in the UK but in many parts of the world, many bookbinding, conservation and craft exhibitions are held to enable people interested in bookbinding and its allied trades to go along and survey the merchandise of a great many of the trade's manufacturers, suppliers and distributors.

Whether they be trade or commercial binders, professional craft binders and restorers, or amateur hobbyists, some of these people travel many miles and indeed even arrange their vacations to coincide with some of the larger exhibitions.

We at Hewits are pleased that we and our overseas agents are able to display some of our fine leathers, equipment, tools and sundries at some of these exhibitions. However, due to the restriction of space at these exhibition centres and without the help of a Boeing 747, it is virtually impossible to display or transport all of the items that we hold in stock in both of our London and Edinburgh showrooms.

We do produce comprehensive price lists, catalogues and information sheets describing a wide range of our standard products, along with sample cards and swatches of many of our leathers, cloths and papers. Many of these are despatched on a daily basis to a wide variety of our customers.

We believe that we operate a postal and telephone ordering service that is fast and efficient. We accept VISA, ACCESS, cheques and even cash!!

One customer wrote to us recently, suggesting that we should incorporate the words "Phone Hewits and Duck" into our letter heading having virtually received his goods before he had replaced the telephone hand-set.

If we are so good, why then is it necessary to pay us a visit?

With all the best will in the world, it would not be possible to catalogue or send out samples of all the various discontinued cloths, 'seconds' of hand marble papers, the selection of 'special offer' leather that is normally available and more often than not a good selection of second hand tools and equipment. One really needs to come in and see us to appreciate the selection of special offers which are available at any one time.

Remember the old saying, "seeing is believing". If you can not find the item you require, we will do our best either to obtain it for you or point you in the right direction as to where you may obtain it. We are sure that you will find our staff pleasant and helpful. They will be only too pleased to serve and assist you.

So if you are ever in the vicinity, pop-in and see us and peruse around the warehouse. You will not be pressured or put under any obligation to make a purchase, but who knows what goodies you may find. If you happen to spot the cat, please let us know because it has been missing since our last bus load of visitors departed.

We know that you will find the visit both interesting and worthwhile and look forward to meeting you in the near future.