Member profile: Hedleys Booksellers, Masterton

David is the third generation of Hedleys to own the business which began life on the back of his grandfather’s bicycle in 1907 when The Dominion (as it was known then) was first published.

 

 

 

Image: David Hedley’s father Alexander Hedley with one of his staff members in the shop sometime in the 1950s.

 

William Hedley died when his son, and David’s father, Alexander Hedley was only 19. “Dad was studying to be an accountant, but he took on the business earlier than envisaged.

 

“He was a very literary man and loved reading the classics and he spent 60 years building up the book store. He really built up the business and I’ve just been the caretaker.”

 

David says his father had a major impact on the bookselling industry in New Zealand. “He was an extraordinary bookseller – a real pioneer of the industry and he did a huge amount to develop the independent booksellers in the country.”

 

As a youngster David recalls working behind the counter “wrapping books when I was six and then serving from about the age of 10” and he says there are many customers who still remember him as a child.

 

“We have one lady, Mrs Stewart, who is in her 90s now who has been buying her weekly magazines from us since she was 11. She was a close friend of my father’s.”

 

David says the store’s success has much to do with the close relationships it has nurtured with its customers.

 

“We have families who have been shopping with us for generations and without that loyalty we wouldn’t have survived.”

 

The family link is continuing in the store, although David adds that he has no expectations that his children will take over the family business in the future. “My son and both my daughters work in the shop at different times – my daughter Sophie is working here at the moment while on university holidays.”

 

                  

 

David’s son, Alex Hedley (pictured, above), recently launched his second book Castlepoint: Coastal Station and Settlement “and it’s doing extremely well”. (Alex’s first book was Fernleaf Cairo).

 

David took up the reins of the store in 1979 and says he has been continuing to build on the foundations laid down by his father (who died in 1996) and meeting the challenges as they come up.

 

“The fundamentals of bookselling haven’t changed much over the years – it’s about knowing your customers and matching them to the right book. There were challenges for him too – the free national library service and the advent of television are just two examples. But we’re not selling a book, what’s special is that we’re selling knowledge and we need to keep upskilling and keep reading.”

 

Hedleys has long been known as a specialist in New Zealand books. “At one stage we stocked every New Zealand book published, but that’s not possible now.

 

“We still pride ourselves on our New Zealand books and an extensive range of second-hand New Zealand books.” David says in the 1990s he did invest in purchasing a number of collections of second-hand books and is committed to keeping them in New Zealand.

 

“It is a shame that a number of important 19th century books have ended up overseas and a lot of that is to do with the internet. You won’t find our special early New Zealand books on the internet – they are part of our social history and we enjoy having these special books around.”

 

However David does add that he also enjoys locating special books for people. “It’s a wonderful feeling to match a person with a book they have been hunting for.”

 

Hedleys Booksellers also represents Genesis books in New Zealand and Australia which has lead to some exciting events including the upcoming launch of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page’s autobiography.

 

“That’s going to be incredible – it’s a special autographed edition and is a real collector’s item.”

 

Events at Hedleys are special – three years ago the store celebrated its centenary with a special dinner for 100 special people including authors, publishers and customers; and the recent launch of Alex Hedley’s book was another highlight.

 

“I know Dad would have been incredibly proud that day – it really is something very special.”

 

The Read spoke to David as he was preparing for another busy week of events – a book signing with John Kirwan, the launch of Vincent Ward’s The Past Awaits, two other book-related events next week and a CD launch with live music in store.

 

“There’s always something happening. I think Dad would have loved this time and have risen to the challenges of today. Back then the customers came to him more, but we need to go to the customers. He would have been excited by that.”