Supporting Local Bookstores: Dymocks in Nowra

Dymocks Nowra was opened in 1990 as a franchise store when owners Ted and Moira saw an opportunity to go into business together, one they’d both gain satisfaction and enjoyment from. Being big readers they really felt right. To say 2020 has been a difficult year for them and the store is an understatement. Firstly, impacted by the bushfires, they are now struggling with the impact of COVID-19 on their business.

It is a day by day situation for them, however they are providing free delivery for books purchased via email or over the phone within the Shoalhaven area.

Here is a brief interview with Ted and Moira. Please consider supporting this wonderful bookstore.

Among our favourite recent books are:

Where the Crawdads Sing

Overstory

Secrets of Strangers

Bruny

The Dutch House

American Dirt

Here We Are

There was Still Love

All of Dervla McTiernan’s!

Retailing post Bush Fires

The bush fires have greatly impacted our community with most days in December and January smoke filled. Like other tourist areas we rely heavily on the December/January trade to get us through the year. Many of our friends and customers’ properties in close proximity to town were greatly impacted by the fires including one of our staff members. We like to think of our shop as a safe haven for people to come and relax and so afterwards we kept hearing devastating stories and then beautiful stories of the kindness of friends and strangers and how these have made a huge difference. We had a great visit from Penguin Random House’s Julie Burland and Gavin Schwarcz which really boosted everyone’s morale.  We are very proud of the work that Dymocks Childrens Charity do. They rallied and responded to calls for help from communities within days.

We love Nowra and the Shoalhaven and absolutely love being part of this community. We participate in quite a few local School Book Fairs and pretty well any launch we’re asked to be involved with. We love books and reading and we love our customers. Many have become friends. Working in the bookstore is the best job in the world – to be able to come to work and be surrounded by books whilst talking about books and connecting with our customers. Our staff feel the same way.

Nowra is a fantastic place to live so it has been very sad to see how ravaged the area is and distressing to see the flow on impact on the community, our friends and our customers.

Hopefully as the year goes on things will pick up. Thanks for your support. We really appreciate it.

If you have a bookstore that you want features here, please get in touch at [email protected]