Member Profile: Howick’s Readaway Bookshop

Readaway Bookshop in Howick’s main shopping street is one of the most welcoming bookshops you are likely to find. It may not have the latest shelving or a flash colour scheme, but it is warm and comfortable in a retro style, with stacks of books to explore and a top notch children’s section. It fits the booklover like a comfortable – but still smart – old shoe.

IMAGE: the exterior of Readaway Books in Howick, Auckland.

You can make your discoveries – books are not piled in numbers of one title when they spill over from shelves, but in layers that just need to be looked through. It is truly a browser’s heaven – you never know what you'll l find in the book stacks that are a feature of the shop.

Or you can ask owner Barbara Rosie for a new title or her recommendations.

IMAGE: Barbara Rosie (left) and her aunt, Margaret Clark. Barbara joined her aunt in business in 1986 and gradually took over from her. See what Barbara is currently reading.

If you're a frequent customer, Barbara will probably know your tastes and be ready with a suggestion.

This is a bookseller who knows her customers so well. She says, “I buy half of every order with the people in mind who I know are going to want the particular titles.”

Barbara is also a loyal supporter of New Zealand books, and stocks virtually every New Zealand title she is offered by mainstream publishers.

IMAGE: Readaway Bookshop's extensive selection of books.

Readaway Bookshop’s other strengths include a very large and very well-stocked children’s section; their own hand-picked selection from two card suppliers, and a truly massive magazine range.

Naturally there is service to back up this extensive offer. They still take standing orders for magazines from customers, and do special book orders if needed.

The amazing in-depth children’s and YA section is well patronised and they supply school libraries when requested.

IMAGE: The well-stocked children's section at Readaway Bookshop

Barbara has been at the shop for 25 years. Her previous career began at the Auckland University Library, followed by a period bookselling at James Thin Booksellers in Edinburgh.

A favourite memory from that time is of author Mary Stewart driving to the store that Barbara worked at in a pink Rolls Royce!

IMAGE: From Limosine, Charter and Tour blog

Returning to New Zealand, she was a publisher’s rep for a number of years for Penguin. But there was a much-loved bookshop in the family, Readaway, started by her aunt Margaret Clark with family members in 1957.

Barbara joined her aunt in business in 1986, and gradually took over the reins from Margaret.

Margaret still has a hand in the business, helping Barbara with accounts and banking, and was working in the backroom when The Read called. Which possibly makes Margaret the longest-serving bookseller currently working in New Zealand!

Readaway will notch up 54 years in business this year.

IMAGE: stacks of books at Readaway.

Readaway are enthusiastic promoters in their community. They host  numerous in-store and author events in conjunction with close-by Howick Public Library, for national figures like Max Cryer and Mark Inglis, and with especial warmth for local authors like John Roy, and the many children’s authors and illustrators who live in the area including Jennifer Beck, Lindy Fisher, Chris Gurney, Leonie Agnew, Linley Jones and junior novelist Linda McNabb.

Timeless appeal and old fashioned service are the key to the success of Readaway.

“People often come to us after having tried to buy in bigger stores, where nobody appears to have heard of the title they are wanting, and we usually know exactly what book they are after. We’ve gained many customers that way,” says Barbara.

However, Barbara is tentatively planning an update. Security systems were upgraded last year. Improving computer systems – stock control is still manual – and creating a newsletter are two objectives, with new signage already underway and perhaps a fresh coat of paint and some new shelving to freshen up the store, without compromising its charm.

For Readaway, Christmas 2010 was on a par with ’09 says Barbara, but she does have concerns about losing customers to online book shopping.

Barbara is backed up by experienced full time and part time assistants.

Barbara Two not only shares the same two first names as Barbara One, but they also went to the same school in Waiuku! Barbara Hickman has been with Readaway Bookshop for eleven and a half years and is in charge of magazines, returns and cards, allowing the owner to concentrate on book buying and selling.

It is a six day week for Barbara Rosie, with the store open from 8.30 – 5.30 with a late night Thursday, and Saturday opening till 4pm. Saturday trade is good for Readaway as the Howick Village Market each week attracts extra customers.

IMAGE: The weekly Howick market helps bring customers to the store on Saturdays.

Barbara’s prior experience in publishing has been invaluable background for retail.

“You have to keep up your knowledge, and a good memory is essential. Also you have to be dedicated to do the homework and the long hours, but meeting authors and running events is one of the plusses. And every day in a bookshop is different!”

Reading: Barbara says she is a ‘blood and guts’ reader and recommends Dunedin author Paddy Richardson’s Hunting Blind.

On the other hand, she is clearly comfortable with literary fiction and enjoyed Lloyd Jones’ Hand me Down World. Another recent read was Andre Agassi’s autobiography Open, which she says was, “Quite inspiring – and you’ll never look at another tennis game on TV quite the same after reading that.”

In kids books, it has been the year of The Wimpy Kid and Bear Grylls’ real life survival and adventure titles. The Tomorrow When the War Began series is popular again, and “whichever vampire series is in vogue – I have to keep them all to be sure!”

She has a soft spot for so many picture books, especially New Zealand ones, that she can’t begin to list and always recommends Maurice Gee’s Under the Mountain and Joan de Hamel’s X marks the Spot.

Stacy Gregg’s pony series also does well in the Howick area.

It is important to Barbara to get the right books in the hands of kids, ones which will inspire a lifetime of reading.

With different values, Readaway stocks few bestsellers because they can’t compete with the deals offered on blockbusters by the chains. Make no mistake, Readaway Bookshop is not just an independent bookstore. “We are VERY independent ,” says Barbara.