Life in Norway Show Episode 86: Prismatic Pages has made a splash in its first year of operation as the only English language bookshop in Norway’s capital city. We chat to the owner.
Who doesn’t love a good bookstore? When I visit London, I’m a regular visitor to Stanfords, the big travel bookshop in Covent Garden. In Sweden, I love popping in to one of the branches of the English Bookshop.
But in Norway, there hasn’t been too much of an independent bookshop culture until recently. One of the recent additions to the independent bookshop scene in Oslo is Prismatic Pages, which specialises in English language books.
When I found out about the store, I immediately got in touch with the owner, Indigo, to invite her on to the podcast. I was curious to hear her story and how the bookshop came to be. Enjoy!
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From Seattle to Oslo
Originally from Seattle, Indigo Trigg-Hauger moved to Oslo in 2016, but that’s not when her Norwegian journey began. She grew up with a strong Norwegian influence as her mother had spent some time in Norway.
She went on to study a combination of Scandinavian Studies, history, and the Norwegian language, spending time in Norway as part of her studies. The move to Oslo followed soon afterwards.
Opening Prismatic Pages
Despite many people having a lifelong dream to open a bookstore, Indigo says that wasn't the case with her. She did, however, work in a bookstore for a year, a job she says was the best she'd had.
It was during a period of reflection while on sick leave in Oslo that a friend suggested to her she should open her own store. Although she initially dismissed the idea, the suggestion lingered and very soon, Prismatic Pages became a reality.
The store is in what Indigo describes as an “off-the-beaten-path” part of the Grünerløkka neighbourhood, north of downtown Oslo. It sells both used and new books, with an emphasis on a cozy environment and personalised service.
On the show, Indigo talks about the market research process, the support she got to start the business, and how the first months of trading have been.
Links from the show
- Website of Prismatic Pages
- Follow Prismatic Pages on Facebook and Instagram
- Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington
