Two Melbourne bookshops call for public support to stay open
Two Melbourne bookshops are calling for support from the public to help them stay open.
Notions Unlimited in Chelsea, which specialises in science-fiction, fantasy and horror, is running a campaign on its website for customers to refer people to the shop. The campaign launched on 6 November, when owner Chuck McKenzie said that the store was ‘looking at the very real possibility of closure—if not by Christmas, then perhaps just afterwards’. In the post, McKenzie urged customers to: ‘Jump on Twitter and Facebook, tell your friends, family, workmates, and anybody else you know … to come and check us out in person’.
In a series of follow-up posts, Notions Unlimited said that the campaign’s deadline had been set for 22 November, and that ‘the amount of support we’ve received thus far has been nothing short of amazing, and has genuinely made a big difference to our situation’. In an update posted on 19 November, the store said that it had ‘very nearly reached our target’ and that ‘the outlook is very positive’.
Queer bookshop, cafe and performance venue Hares & Hyenas in Fitzroy launched an appeal in March this year, sending a media release to queer media, local newspapers and the Age, and contacting customers through the store’s newsletter and social media. Hares & Hyenas co-proprietor Crusader Hillis told Books+Publishing that before the appeal the store was facing a ‘very uncertain future’, with book sales ‘at an all time low’. Hillis said the appeal has no measurable goals ‘except in terms of helping us achieve some tangible changes in the business’ such as soundproofing the store’s music venue, which needs to be complete by early 2014. ‘We believe we are on target to do that, pending getting some more quotes and contracting,’ said Hillis.
As part of the appeal, Hares & Hyenas developed a monthly fundraising event called the Rent Party, which launched in April. Hillis told Books+Publishing that running such events has helped to increase the store’s income through bar and ticket sales. ‘We wanted the community to be a part of our solution and to contribute towards our survival, and through the Rent Party and the general response we have been able to turn things around to a degree,’ said Hillis, who added that he and co-proprietor Rowland Thomson ‘remain very optimistic as we head towards our 22nd birthday in December’.
To find out more about Notions Unlimited, click here. To find out more about Hares & Hyenas, click here.
Tags: hareshyenasnotionsunlimitedretail
Category: Local news
