Reflecting on a year in bookselling

The Book Connection is coming up on its first year under new ownership in March 2026. There have been many surprises both positive and negative in being a part of the bookselling industry. It is an industry like no other.

To my absolute delight, all booksellers love of books transcends any rivalry. There are no bookselling secrets between colleagues and they are always willing to provide support and feedback, even when it is hard to hear. The ease of talking with fellow booklovers, including valued customers is a balm for the soul and there are so many interesting characters with diverse reading from all walks of life.

 

What We Are Most Proud Of

There are many things we have been proud of over the past year. I am most proud of the teamwork that has gone into transforming the space from a crowded maze like store to its open, accessible and bright layout. I love hearing customers say how glad they are the store is still around and how our recommendations have rekindled their long lost love of reading. Im proud of the stores progress and proud of how it continues to be a strong part of the community.

 

Our Biggest Challenges

Our biggest struggle over the past year has been learning the tastes and habits of the community. Starting with limited knowledge on local reading preferences, we purchased hits and misses in equal measure. We overstocked in quiet months and understocked in busy months. We are constantly learning and shifting our stock to best cater to what people are reading.

 

What We Wish People Knew

What I wish people understood about running a bookstore is how much love and dedication go into keeping it alive. Anyone who knew Dave, the former owner, knows how passionate, knowledgable and caring he is to the books and their readers. The new team here, Hayley, Aisha, Calin and myself, have also given it our all. Late nights, long days, and super sore arms. It is a dream job for many but takes great physical and emotional strength to weather the storms.

The not so nice surprising thing I have learned since owning a bookstore is seeing how department stores have skewed people's perception of the cost of a book. Recommended Retail Price is set by the publisher and bookstores are charged accordingly for the stock. Department stores receive similar costs for stock yet price their books so low, they either make a loss or very little profit. This is not achievable by regular bookstores and leaves customers upset, labelling traditional bookstores as expensive and avoiding them entirely.

 

Meaningful Moments With Customers

There are so many meaningful conversations that happen in a bookstore. Whether it is applauding someone on their journey to better health, a new business, hunting Jack The Ripper, or discovering family secrets. I believe my favourite interactions are with the shy people who come into store and over the space of a year, seeing them come out of their shell and passionately discuss their current read or project. This is a safe space for all readers and we are always excited to hear about your reading journey.

 

Changes That Made a Big Difference

The biggest impact to the store is felt but not seen by our customers. Bookstores need to adapt to survive and our numerous trials and transitions to better bookselling software has made all the difference. We can find books and information on these books so much more quickly. We can special order with a few clicks of a mouse. Our website is better than ever and provides a way for people to brows and purchase in even the most remote parts of NSW and Australia. The right bookselling software can make or break a bookstore and the bookstores that change with the times are the ones that will survive.

An honourable mention to our second biggest change success (not including the open layout changes) is the separation of fiction books into genres. This has introduced so many people to debut authors and books not in the spotlight.

 

What Did Not Work And What We Learned

This past year, we really tried to restock the store with as many new titles as possible, and to compete with department stores on pricing. It was not a sustainable move to complete this in such a small timeframe, especially considering the large physical size of our store. Instead, we have learned to be selective in our choices and suppliers to best match local demand both in pricing and book type. We are gradually increasing our secondhand stock again with guidelines on the condition we have in store.

 

A Thank You to the Community

I am writing this reflection as a thank you to the community for the rollercoaster of a year and for all the support that has been provided. The first year has been a steep learning curve but with the continued love and patience of customers and our team, I know year 2 will bring some pleasant surprises and big changes. By choosing to shop local, you have kept this store alive. May your book always be a page turner, your plots always deliciously twist, an appropriate bookmark always be available, and your imagination never run dry.

Molly, Store owner, The Book Connection