Dymocks Booksellers
TypePrivate
IndustryRetailing
Founded1879
FounderWilliam Dymock
HeadquartersSydney
Area served
Australia
ProductsBooks, DVDs and ebooks
Websitewww.dymocks.com.au
Dymocks bookstore, Adelaide

Dymocks Booksellers is an Australian-founded privately owned bookstore chain, that also specialise in CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, e-books and related merchandising. As of June 2022, the chain has about 50 stores in Australia.[1]

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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5][6]

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

In October 2011, Dymocks launched D Publishing, a self-publishing platform which allowed authors to print, publish and distribute their own books and ebooks.[7] The venture was shut down in March 2013.[8][9]

In September 2023, personal information of 1.24 million Dymocks customers were shared on the dark web after a cybersecurity breach.[10]

Outside Australia

New Zealand

The last Dymocks store in New Zealand closed down in September 2012 as they chose to exit that market.[11]

Hong Kong

Dymocks in IFC Mall, Hong Kong

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.[12] 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.[13]

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 operated independently using the Dymocks name before being rebranded individually.[13]

Loyalty program

Dymocks has a loyalty program called 'Dymocks Booklover Rewards', originally launched in 2001, and relaunched in 2006.[14]

Other businesses

Dymocks Properties is the real estate arm of Dymocks. Its portfolio includes commercial buildings, farms and land.[15]

In 2009, Dymocks acquired an 80% equity stake in the Australian owned and operated Healthy Habits sandwich bar franchise for an undisclosed sum.[16][17] Healthy Habits was sold by Dymocks in June 2016 to Franchised Food Co.[18]

In 2010, Dymocks acquired Victorian confectionery manufacturer Patons Macadamia. The company's products were sold in Dymocks stores.[19] In 2015, Patons acquired Gourmet Nut Company. Dymocks sold Patons in 2020 to focus on its other businesses.[20]

In 2015, Dymocks Holdings acquired Telegram Paper Goods.[21] Founded in 2008, Telegram Paper Goods distributes designer stationery brands across Australia and New Zealand.[22] Telegram is best known for its stationery store, Milligram (formerly Notemaker.com.au), that sells eclectic and designer stationery, cards, wrap, diaries, journals, and fine writing instruments.[23] Telegram acquired homeware and body care brand Addition Studio in February 2023.[24]

In 2018, Dymocks launched an education and tutoring business called Potentia.[25] The business was rebranded Dymocks Tutoring in 2020.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sam, King (13 June 2022). "BookTokers drive Dymocks' store expansion plans". The Australian. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Power, Julie (25 October 2022). "Dymocks and 'The Block': Behind the scenes at Sydney's first shopping centre". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. ↑ 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
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "DCC | About Us". dcc.gofundraise.com.au. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Kempton, Helen (14 December 2016). "Bid to boost bookworm numbers". Mercury. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  7. ↑ Brett, Lorna (5 September 2011). "Dymocks launches web-based publishing service". Dynamic Business. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Mem: 10256080 (4 March 2013). "Dymocks to close D Publishing this month". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 17 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Williams, Belinda (14 July 2013). "Dymocks: out of the ashes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Riga, Jessica (15 September 2023). "Dymocks confirms details of 1.2 million customers shared on dark web". ABC News. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Crossley, Jazial (10 September 2012). "Dymocks bookstores exit NZ". Stuff. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  12. ↑ Tsang, Denise (1 September 1999). "Dymocks, SCMP forge mainland venture". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 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.
  14. ↑ Mitchell, Sue (9 September 2014). "Change in sales strategy clicks for Dymocks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  15. ↑ Johanson, Simon (13 October 2014). "Dymocks hunts for more property". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. ↑ Masters, Clare (1 August 2007). "Carr turns new page in career". The Daily Telegraph. p. 8.
  17. ↑ Steffens, Miriam (7 January 2012). "New chapter in story of changing fortunes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  18. ↑ Mitchell, Sue (1 June 2016). "Dymocks looks to retail deals after selling Healthy Habits". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  19. ↑ Steffens, Miriam (6 January 2012). "New chapter in story of changing fortunes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  20. ↑ Blake, Dean (5 November 2020). "Dymocks Group sells off confectionery arm to focus on core business". Inside Retail Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "Telegram Paper Goods by DYMOCKS HOLDINGS PTY LTD – 1241395". ipaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "About Telegram Designer Stationery Suppliers – Telegram Paper Goods". telegrampapergoods.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "Milligram – Australia's Leading Online Stationery Shop". milligram.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  24. ↑ Pattabiraman, Rakshnna (7 February 2023). "Lifestyle brand Addition Studio acquired by Telegram Co". Internet Retailing. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  25. ↑ Powell, Dominic (1 October 2018). "Dymocks launches new education venture Potentia: Why the bookseller is making it "as difficult as possible" for new market entrants". SmartCompany. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
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