Dymocks Booksellers

Dymocks Booksellers is an Australian-founded privately owned bookstore chain, that also specialise in CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, e-books and related merchandising. It currently has 65 stores locally[1] and has had several stores in New Zealand and Hong Kong.[2][3]

Dymocks Booksellers
TypePrivate
IndustryRetailing
Founded1879
FounderWilliam Dymock
HeadquartersSydney
Number of locations
Australia
Area served
Asia Pacific
ProductsBooks, dvds & ebooks
Websitewww.dymocks.com.au
Dymocks in IFC MALL, Hong Kong

History

The first Dymocks bookstore was opened in Sydney by William Dymock in 1879, in Market Street. As his business grew over the years, he moved to larger premises at 428 George Street, traded as Dymock's Book Arcade, and eventually had a million books in stock. As he had died childless and unmarried, the business passed to his sister, Marjory, who was married to John Forsyth. Since then, the Forsyth family has managed Dymocks. In 1922, the Dymock family purchased the site of the old Royal Hotel in George Street, and built the historic, Art Deco landmark Dymocks building, completed in 1930. In 1986 the bookstore chain was established as a franchise chain, and has since opened stores in every mainland Australian state, and also internationally in New Zealand and Singapore.[4]

In 1999, Dymocks Booksellers entered into a joint venture with South China Morning Post (Holdings) to set up Dymocks Franchise Systems (China), in order to expand the Dymocks chain into Hong Kong.[5]

Hong Kong

The first store with the Dymocks brand opened at the Star Ferry concourse in Central in 1999. Three Dymocks stores closed in 2012 in Hong Kong when their rental contracts expired.[6]

It was announced in January 2015 that Dymocks would close its flagship IFC MALL store on 25 January, and that it would subsequently close its Hong Kong office. After the closure of the IFC Mall store, the number of Dymocks stores in Hong Kong would be brought down to five. The remaining stores are expected to operate independently using the Dymocks name before being rebranded individually.[6]

Dymocks in the 21st century

In addition to stocking music CDs, DVDs and other related items, Dymocks now has an online store launched in late 2006 in response to the increasing penetration into the Australian book market of online retailers such as Amazon.[7]

Dymocks has a comprehensive multi-channel strategy including an international retail network of approximately 65 stores in Australia: an online website, loyalty program, regular catalogues and social media. Dymocks also runs an Australia-wide program, Dymocks Children's Charities (DCC), providing books to pre-primary and primary school age children.[8][9]

Dymocks is the largest bookseller in Australia and currently holds close to 20% of the Australian book market.

In 2009, Dymocks acquired an 80% equity stake in the Australian owned and operated Healthy Habits sandwich bar franchise for an undisclosed sum.[10][11]

In 2015, Dymocks Holdings PTY LTD acquired Telegram Paper Goods.[12] Founded in 2008, Telegram Paper Goods distributes designer stationery brands across Australia and New Zealand.[13] Telegram is best known for its online stationery store, Milligram (formerly Notemaker.com.au), that sells eclectic and designer stationery, cards, wrap, diaries, journals, and fine writing instruments.[14]

Loyalty program

Dymocks has a loyalty program called 'Dymocks Booklover Rewards', originally launched in 2001, and relaunched in 2006.[15]

References
  1. Carolyn Cummins; Danny John (26 July 2007). "Dymocks ponders a bid as Borders parent retreats". Business. p. 27. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
  2. http://www.dymocks.com.hk/
  3. Crossley, Jazial (11 December 2012). "Last Dymocks store set to shut". Auckland Now. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  4. Teo Pau Lin (3 July 2000). "Shopping down under". The Straits Times. With CityLink Mall connecting the Raffles City and Marina Centre areas, pedestrians can pick up a coffee or a couple of CDs on the go easily ... ANCHOR TENANTS: HMV music store, Dymocks Books and Pacific Coffee Company
  5. Tsang, Denise (1 September 1999). "Dymocks, SCMP forge mainland venture". South China Morning Post.
  6. Woodhouse, Alice (11 January 2015). "Bookseller Dymocks to close flagship IFC Mall store and Hong Kong office". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  7. "Dymocks responds to Amazon". Adbrief. 24 November 2006. p. 3. Australia's Dymocks Booksellers has revamped its online store to be more competitive with US rival, Amazon.com.
  8. "DCC | About Us". dcc.gofundraise.com.au. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  9. Kempton, Helen (14 December 2016). "Bid to boost bookworm numbers". Mercury. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  10. Masters, Clare (1 August 2007). "Carr turns new page in career". The Daily Telegraph. p. 8.
  11. Steffens, Miriam (7 January 2012). "New chapter in story of changing fortunes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  12. "Telegram Paper Goods by DYMOCKS HOLDINGS PTY LTD – 1241395". ipaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  13. "About Telegram Designer Stationery Suppliers – Telegram Paper Goods". telegrampapergoods.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  14. "Milligram – Australia's Leading Online Stationery Shop". milligram.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  15. Mitchell, Sue (9 September 2014). "Change in sales strategy clicks for Dymocks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
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