Thorpe-Bowker: ‘Having access to books wherever you might want them increases demand’

In the lead-up to the 2025 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs), Books+Publishing is in conversation with the event’s major sponsors about the status of the industry, what excites them about the future, and what they have to offer publishers, booksellers and readers. Gary Pengelly, general manager at Thorpe-Bowker, spoke with the publication.

This segment is supported by the event sponsors. 

Tell us about the history of your company and its relationship to the Australian book industry. 

Thorpe-Bowker has been an integral part of the Australian publishing industry since 1921, when it was founded by Daniel Wrixon Thorpe, who was later succeeded by his daughter, Joyce Thorpe Nicholson. Father and daughter managed the business for 66 years. Joyce employed Michael Webster to run DW Thorpe, with Michael playing a pivotal role in Thorpe-Bowker evolving into the publishing services brand – delivering a full range of products and services – that we know today. 

The industry is still grieving the loss of Michael Webster earlier this year.  

Yes, and it gives me great joy to be able to acknowledge the role of Michael Webster, whom we lost earlier this year, in positioning Thorpe-Bowker in today’s publishing landscape. His influence has been profound. Today, the Thorpe-Bowker brand is owned by RR Bowker, a global leader in publishing services, offering help for every step of the publishing process. Bowker is proud to support this event as a sponsor and to further its commitment to the Australian book publishing industry.

Discoverability is a key concern in publishing – helping readers find the right books. What are some practical things that publishers can do to make sure their books are best placed? 

Discoverability is the most important issue facing both self-published and traditionally published authors.  Understanding metadata – the role that good data plays in setting up titles – is one way to ensure that your book is found by a reader online or in store. Using some of the many new tools offered through growing technology, like look-inside technology and social media sharing, have become essential to discoverability as well. 

Tell us an interesting fact that book industry folks don’t know about your company. 

First and foremost, the Thorpe-Bowker business has evolved as part of the Australian publishing landscape for over 100 years, and it remains deeply embedded within the industry via its role in the publishing process.

The recent growth of self-publishing and small independent presses is great news for the publishing industry as a whole. We see more books published each year, and authors showing autonomy in publishing their works in whatever way makes sense for them. We have seen this growth firsthand, with the increase of product offerings, and with the demand that our customers have for self-publishing products that mimic the traditional publishing process. Bowker and Thorpe-Bowker led the way with a full suite of popular offerings. 

Thinking of the last few years in publishing and bookselling, what has excited or interested you the most? 

Personally, I am excited about the tools that AI can offer to help automate some of the tasks that can be time-consuming for small and independent presses. I think that saving time on these tasks will increase productivity and, in turn, creativity. When editors, agents, and marketers free up time to be more creative, it’s better for the industry. 

The covid years have reinforced our need for social contact, which has delivered very positive messages and encouraged the growth of bookstores and in-person shopping. The more we can encourage bookstores to be community places, the better it is for our industry, in terms of increasing reading and awareness. I believe that those who shop online and in store, and those who go to libraries, are all the core community for publishers. Having access to books wherever you might want them increases demand. 

If you could change one thing about the industry at a systemic level, what would it be? 

If we look at Australia, it has a market of some 25,000,000, which is less than the population of Texas [in the US]. Scale has always been a challenge – while we have access to many internationally developed products and services, we need true collaboration at a national level to represent the interests of the whole Australian publishing industry.

What do you think the next five years hold for the book industry in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand? 

Both markets have very strong local publishing communities, which will not change. However, competition for the hearts and minds of readers will – with generational change and more consolidation of publishing infrastructure and, with it, international competition.

The Australian Book Industry Awards are presented for achievements in bringing Australian books to readers. This year marks the event’s 25th anniversary.

Books+Publishing is the Australian book industry’s number-one source for news, opinions, pre-publication reviews, jobs, and advertisements.

Category: ABIA