In Brief
Children's book to raise money for Christchurch All proceeds from the sale of a new children's book will be donated to the Red Cross to support the rebuilding of Christchurch...
Productivity Commission releases retail inquiry issues paper
The Productivity Commission has released an issues paper to assist interested parties in making submissions to its inquiry into the Australian retail industry. The Commission is seeking public submissions to...
Things we keep repeating
UPDATE For the most detailed reports on the REDgroup administration process over the past few months see the Bookseller+Publisher website. As the news of REDgroup retail...
Independent Melbourne bookstores hit by flood waters
At least two independent Melbourne bookstores were hit by the dramatic flash floods in the Victorian capital city last Friday. The St Kilda Readings store, located on Acland Street, was forced...
In Brief
Borders website nominated for AIMIA Retail award The Borders Australia website has been nominated in the Best Retail category in this year's Australian Interactive Media Association (AIMIA) Awards. The Borders site is...
Melbourne college bookshop to close in March
The Ridley Melbourne Bookshop has announced that it will close its doors in March. The theological bookshop, which is part of Ridley residential College in Melbourne's inner north, sent a...
ABC to open four new stores in 2011; seven stores opened in 2010
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is planning to open four new retail stores this year. The Weekly Book Newsletter understands that there are currently plans to open three new stores...
In brief
New location for the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre The Northern Rivers Writers' Centre, home to the Byron Bay Writers Festival, has moved into new offices. The Centre has moved from...
National consumer laws introduced; new responsibilities for retail businesses
New national laws to protect consumers and ensure fair trading across Australia came into effect on 1 January this year. The new Australian Consumer Law (ACL) applies to all Australian...
QLD bookstores close in face of rising flood waters; QWC, SLQ and UQP also closed
Bookstores in Queensland are among retail businesses that have been affected by the devastating floods currently sweeping across the state. The Weekly Book Newsletter understands that independent bookstore Avid Reader in...
REDgroup joins coalition of retailers calling for GST reform
REDgroup Retail has entered the debate about foreign retailers being exempt from collecting GST on some Australian purchases, joining a coalition of some of the country's largest retailers in calling...
REDGroup joins coalition of retailers calling for GST reform
REDGroup Retail has entered the debate about foreign retailers being exempt from collecting GST on some Australian purchases this week, joining a coalition of some of the country's largest retailers...
The Little Bookroom to open second store in Melbourne CBD
The owners of The Little Bookroom have announced that they will open a second store in Melbourne in early 2011. Leesa Lambert, who owns the children's bookstore with her parents...
Changes to public holiday trading in VIC and ACT
The newly elected Victorian Liberal National Coalition Government is likely to remove the ban on Easter Sunday trading in the state. In a statement released during the recent Victorian state...
In brief
Whitcoulls to sponsor new book awardWhitcoulls has announced that it will sponsor a new annual book award from next year. Entries are now open for the 2011 Whitcoulls Pictorial Travel...
Future of WA franchise legislation uncertain; Private Members Bill to face parliamentary scrutiny
The Federal Government and the Franchise Council of Australia have welcomed a decision by the Western Australian Liberal Party to allow a parliamentary committee to review proposed legislative changes to...
ABA to conduct economic benchmarking survey
The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) has announced that it will conduct an economic benchmarking survey of its member stores. ABA members will be sent a request today to complete an online survey...
NRA application prevents four-day retail store closures in QLD
An application by the National Retailers Association to allow non-exempt retail stores to open on 27 and 28 December 2010 and 3 January 2011 in six trading zones in Queensland...
In brief
Flynn appointed ‘ABR' fiction editor Chris Flynn has been appointed the first fiction editor of the Australian Book Review (ABR). Flynn is also co-judge, with the magazine's editor Peter Rose,...
NSW retail changes ‘spell bad news’ for small businesses
Changes to retailing trading regulations announced last week by the NSW Government will have a detrimental effect on small businesses across the state, according to bookselling and retailing groups. The...