During the 1970's and 1980's Brian worked in both publishing (Wm.Collins) and bookselling (Gordon Dryden's Book Corner and Whitcoulls).
After managing the Gordon Dryden store on the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets in Auckland he subsequently bought out Gordon Dryden and ran it for a number of years before in turn selling it to Whitcoulls for whom he worked until Brierly bought Whitcoulls.
He later worked in the printing industry and was also a director of P.Q. Blackwell.
He was an energetic, enterprising and creative fellow for whom I had an enormous admiration.
My deepest sympathy to his widow, Kerry, and to their children and grandchildren.
Philip King writes:
I
have many fond memories of Brian.He was as a tour de force in the book
trade, as it was called then.
Once,
on a buying trio to Auckland from my first bookstore in Tokoroa to visit Allphy
for remainders, I called into the famous Book Corner in order to meet him for
the first time ..within five minutes of conversation he was trying to sell the
store to me, as he gave me a guided tour of this his latest project. He had
just published Gordon Dryden’s book - it was a hardback and had a red jacket,
but the name escapes me. He sold me some five copies to put into my store. The
consummate hand-selling book salesman.
He
was always full of energy and generous with his advice. I was a novice so I
lapped up his suggestions to me.
We
often met at various Book Conferences where he was a respected bookseller even
as the General Manager / CEO of Whitcoulls.
He
tried desperately to prevent me from obtaining the lease of the Golden Centre
in 1988, after Whitcoulls had closed that store down..he then threatened me
with legal action when i copied and embellished the Grab a Bag concept as an
opening promotion…he declined my invitation to the celebratory opening dinner
after the first day of trading. Such was his competitive spirit.
However,
i always had the greatest respect for him as an astute bookseller and
publisher..he showed great wisdom in employing you Ken in a special
projects role.
He
also exercised considerable chutzpa, when Graeme Hart became the new owner of
Whitcoulls and dispensed with Brian’s role in the future of that company.
Brian’s response was to embark upon a whirlwind trip around NZ to say
goodbye to various booksellers and business colleagues, at Hart’s expense.
Rest
in Peace young Brian Pankhurst
regards
Philip
PS
..With Brian’s untimely death, it behoves many of us who have some history with
Bookselling and Publishing 'back in the day’, to meet up for a Long Lunch in
Auckland in the early new year. As a bookseller regretfully i never made time
for one of those famous “Publisher’s Lunch” - the art of the publisher
lunch-a-lots, where the likes of Brian Phillips, David Elworthy, Graham
Beattie,Alun Smith and many others, famously dined the afternoons away, as
business was discussed and dismissed. The new opened pack of cards was never
shuffled until after evening drinks and then back at the office..
2 comments:
Brian Pankhurst will always be remembered by us as the person who could "sell ice blocks to anyone."
In particular we remember him for the way he sold in best seller rugby books for Moa Publications. Never at any time did we feel we had made the wrong decision when we ordered a title in March for delivery in September of that year. His suggested quantity was always close to our sales figures!!!
Thanks for being a part of the bookselling and publishing industry.From Margaret & Paul Wadsworth of New Plymouth
R.I.P Brian
So sad to hear the news of Brian Pankhust via John Blackwell.
Brian was my boss at Whitcoulls and gave me great freedom to do pretty much anything that would help to sell books or MORE books.
One day he came into the old Queen St store all excited saying he had bought something for me. It turned out to be the old defunct/liquidated Book Corner ( where his mother once worked and he once owned) The staffroom housed Gordon Dryden's radio desk, the safe didn't work so the staff hid the takings in the open bookshelves each night and the woollen insulation from the ceilings fluttered down throughout the day.
He also along with Bruce Rae "got" author lunches so I was able to juggle anyone and everyone who visited by hosting at the Regent, The Sheraton, the Hyatt an amazing range of authors over the years
Brian loved Whitcoulls and senior management conferences were great fun. Along with the sell more, better margins and bringing Whitcoulls to the masses via a million catalogues a month there was always time for the late night singalong with Brian on guitar and pre printed song sheets at the ready.People propped their eyelids open with matchsticks the next morning.He was embarrassed by extravagace and was reluctant to parade this company Volvo in front of the staff working in the branches. He listened, he understood and he made hard work enjoyable.
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