University Bookshop Auckland -
NZ's largest independent bookseller?

The Read, Booksellers NZ - 25 Aug 2010



University Bookshop Auckland is almost invisible to passing traffic cutting through the Auckland University Campus on Alfred Street, just an unused entrance and flash of display window; but to student foot traffic, it is quite a different story. The store windows run the considerable length of the building with full view of books and student stationery attractively laid out. It is also a large store – 856 sq m over two levels.

The first floor is mostly typical general bookstore stock – yes, you can buy your current novels (the preference is for literary –Grisham titles don’t sell here), nonfiction, travel books and guides. There is even cooking, sport and children’s ranges, but lightly stocked in comparison with general booksellers. It is annual sale time when The Read visits and there are inviting tables of varied sale books with big discounts – UBS Auckland has a rigorous approach to inventory control and it is their financial end of the year in September.


The weighty side of the business is to be found on the floor below with text books, two thirds of the stock. Some of those sizeable volumes must weigh kilos! The prices can be pretty grunty too.

Footnote:
This most interesting  in-depth look at UBS Auckland, accompanied by some superb photos, appears in today's issue of The Read, published weekly by Booksellers NZ.
Recommended reading.