Fullers Bookshop has won the Australian Book Industry Award’s 2011 Best Independent Bookseller in Tasmania for the eleventh time in a row.
The award, which is the peak award for the Australian book industry is judged on retail skills, best use of available resources, marketing skills, merchandise flair and inventory management as well as expertise to develop sales.
It is judged by 75 publishers from around the country, part of the Australian Book Industry’s Academy, who voted online earlier this year.
Fullers has been a literary destination in Hobart now for more than ninety years and has some regular customers who have frequented the shop for its entire life.
The book industry is undergoing fundamental change – both in the way books are read and the way they are sold. The importance of making the bookshop experience more than just retail is not lost on the Fullers stalwart of 21 years, Catherine Schulz.
Catherine says “this is possibly the most exciting time to be a bookseller.”
Fullers offers a range of Reading and discussion groups, ranging from the children’s club, Fullers Ferrets to the long established Reading Group that meets five times a month.
The shop also runs a busy events program of book launches and author events.
The National Independent Bookseller winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 25th in at a ceremony in Melbourne.
Fullers won the National prize in 2001.
Rachel Edwards, Fullers Bookshop
