Inwards Goods (this is Ann)

A lot of things happen before the books get on the shelves. Cartons are delivered by couriers to the back door. The cartons then need to be unpacked and the books checked against the invoice to make sure they're all there and undamaged (and the suppliers contacted if they're not!). The books are then stacked in the order they appear on the invoice, and then the delivery can be input into the computer. The cost price for each title needs to be input (this involves currency conversion for overseas suppliers) and the retail price and GST calculated and checked. The books need to be categorised for our database and website. Any special orders need to be pulled out, the customers contacted and the books put aside for them. The books are priced with a pricing gun and put into the green trolley until staff have a chance to put them on the shelves.
Inwards goods is a very exacting job, and, especially in the lead-up to Christmas and the release of our Summer Newsletter, a very large number of boxes often need to be attended to each day. Luckily Ann's cycle regime makes her fast, systematic and precise.

Meet the Staff: Marie

 I have worked at Page & Blackmore for six months and find it a wonderful workplace where I meet great people every time I roll up to work (customers and staff!).  Previous experience in the world of books includes being on the library committee at college - this mean spending one lunch time a week behind the library counter (heavenly) and issuing stamping books - it seems very tame in this e-age but it was heady stuff in those days being 'in charge' of the books.  And then many years later working at Victoria University Bookshop firstly on the Information Desk and then as the textbook buyer, a move to Auckland saw me at the bookshop at Unitec and then moving to work for several years for ProCare Health Ltd, one of New Zealand's largest PHOs.

One of my earliest 'book' memories is walking to the Newtown library with my mother pushing my younger brother in his pushchair with me holding onto one side of her coat and my elder brother on the other side.  It was quite a walk up and down Edinburgh Terrace to get to the library and I often think of my mother's energy getting the three of us to the Library every week.  I come from a family of readers with a mother who frequently said if you have a book you have a friend.  Thanks Mum,  the books have proved to be friends over and over again and at times seemed to have saved my life.

I went to school near the Newtown library and my biggest ambition was to live in the council flat above the library - I figured it would be easy access to getting books.  In those days you had a cardboard library card with your 'number ' on it.  All the books had a removable card in the back - from a very young age I would remove the card, laboriously write my number on it before taking all the book cards up to the counter - then and only then, would the librarians stamp the return date in the book.  I absolutely loved the library - we didn't have many books at home and the library was a great escape route to the world. My ambition as an eight year old was to read all the books in the Childrens' section - when I did that I started using the Island Bay library - I have to admit that the Childrens' section wasn't enormous.

When my nieces and nephews were small they called me Aunty Books when they were small because I always gave them books for Christmas and birthdays - and in the case of a dyslexic niece, Audio Books.  Books have always been a vital part of my life and I know they always will.

Musical Company

What more could you want for a Saturday morning - Sunshine, happy customers and lovely music. Lucky us. We often have these delightful musicians, The Jackson Duo, outside the shop and they always draw an appreciative audience.

Author talk on Inequality

We enjoy having events to tie in with our books, and there's an interesting one tonight.  Max Rashbrooke, journalist and author of the new debate-inspiring book "Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis"  will be in Nelson to talk about New Zealand's rising debt inequality.  Come and hear a lively talk and discussion at the Victory Community Centre, 2 Totara Street, Nelson at 7:30 pm.

Dust

 

Dust is here!The third and final installment of the Wool trilogy by Hugh Howey. It is always exciting when a staff favourite arrives in the shop - several of us have read (are addicted to) this series.

No present too small

We offer to wrap presents for customers, and get very quick at it around Christmas time!
Today's prize for the tiniest parcel went to Australian visitor Tammie

whose gift for a friend fitted into the palms of her hands.

A woman of many talents

Rachel, our lovely Random rep, helping put together a dump bin. These things require a PhD, but Rachel clearly has lots of experience.

The Engine Room

Thomas, Marie, Peter, Ann and Cherie

Monday morning is always busy in the shop. It's one of the days we get a magazine shipment and there are always loose ends from the weekend to tidy up.

Meet George

This is George. George and his parents like books. George is 20 months old, he's from Hong Kong, speaks Cantonese and can say "Thank You" in English. George likes Hervé Tullet.

In the beginning...

Ann and Peter Rigg, Susi and Tim Blackmore, September 1998. Photo by Jan Baily

Many years ago when I was young, i.e. when I first bought my first bookshop, there were at least 5 independent bookshops in Nelson. The most important one, as far as I was concerned, was Pages Bookshop (which Ann & I owned), and the ABC Bookshop. The ABC bookshop was owned at the the time by Jill Blechynden. One day Jill came into our shop and informed us that she had sold her shop to a lovely couple from the UK called Tim & Susi Blackmore. As we had enjoyed a spirit of collegiality with Jill we hoped that that would continue with Tim & Susi and of course it did.

When Tim made his first visit into our little shop and had a good look round he made the remark that if we ever combined our shops we would have an awesome business. An innocent remark at the time, but it planted the seed of an idea that would eventually grow and sprout.

Because of the economic climate and the antics of my landlord in particular, both Pages Bookshop & Blackmores started to suffer a downturn in our respective bookshops. It was decided that if we could find the right premises we would combine and become one awesome bookshop. One day one of my regular customers (who you will meet some time later in this blog) came in and told me that Bill Liddell of Toyworld was shifting. I told this customer to stay in the shop and serve anyone who came in while I rushed across to ask Bill if he had anyone to take over his lease. He didn't and after telling Tim & Susi, the reality of Page & Blackmore was born.

- Peter Rigg, co-owner