Anne Whelan

For booksellers and most retailers, the Rugby World Cup was the spark that did not ignite. Instead of ringing tills, foot traffic was down by half in Auckland’s Newmarket shopping area. In New Plymouth, Benny’s Books put up the bunting and stocked up on rugby titles – but nobody came despite three high profile matches in the city.

RWC tourists visited bookshops in Greymouth and Wanaka – to buy maps. Union, the big lead rugby book for the event, hasn’t even made it on to Nielsen BookScan’s top ten non-fiction list.

Dymocks Newmarket is a big, bold and brave bookstore.

Big because it is just under 400 sqm, and apart from small selections of magazines and cards, it is all book stock, with the shelves at the rear of the store as well stocked as ones you’ll find right up front.