<
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jul/01/bookshops-australia-industry-decline-economy>
"Stephanie Beck and Mischa Parkee bonded over their love of reading when they
were teenagers, joking that one day they’d open their own bookshop. Now,
despite both 31-year-olds having full-time teaching jobs, they’ve fulfilled
their dream, opening an art deco corner store in Sydney’s Summer Hill called
The Rose Read Bookshop.
When Beck’s mother died last year, she was left with an inheritance, which she
used to invest in the shop. “I thought, this is not a money-making venture,”
but it felt like a “meaningful way” to use it, she says.
“[The area] needs a community hub, where there’s kids’ events, parent and bubs’
events, free events and affordable bookclubs,” says Beck. “A place where people
meet others and expand their perspectives,” adds Parkee. “Where they can have a
sense of belonging.”
Judging by the number of locals who stop by during our interview, their shop is
a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. Ahead of the opening, strangers
volunteered to sticker books for them and others sent flowers, food and cards.
But operating a bookshop is tough. According to independent research published
last year, the number of bookstores in Australia fell by 49% in a decade,
dropping from 2,879 to 1,457 between 2013 and 2023. Many blamed rising rents
and competition from major retailers such as Kmart and Amazon. The Australian
Booksellers Association (ABA) reports 24% of independent booksellers don’t even
pay themselves a wage. So will community goodwill be enough?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
