Robyn Dormer loves running her business from Ruawai in Northland. Photo / John Stone
A former medical researcher has joined the exodus from Auckland to Northland setting up a bookshop in one of the region's most quaint little towns.
Robyn Dormer has opened Books @ Ruawai, located at 5 Freyberg Rd, after previously running a secondhand bookshop for 16 years on the Devonport Wharf on Auckland's North Shore.
The business is primarily internet based but Dr Dormer said locals have also embraced the opportunity to buy secondhand books.
She moved north to escape Auckland's unbridled growth and traffic gridlock, having bought a property in Ruawai a couple of years ago.
"I saw the house I [eventually] bought two and a half years ago and loved it, and Ruawai, immediately.
"I wanted to get out of Auckland, I feel it is getting too big, and away from traffic... Ruawai suits me just fine," she said.
"My family lives overseas, two sons one in Vietnam and one in Singapore, and so I wanted somewhere quiet."
Dr Dormer, who has a masters degree in chemistry and a PhD in biochemistry, said she worked previously at the University of Auckland and its medical school in medical research, and also taught at several Auckland girls' schools.
Her last job in the tertiary education sector was as an environmental chemistry lecturer at the university's Tamaki Campus.
She then did an about-turn and started a secondhand bookshop on the strength of a six-week course in accounting for small businesses and set up her first shop in Takapuna in March 2001 before moving to bigger premises on the Devonport Wharf in August 2002.
"I have always been a very keen reader of fiction and started two book clubs, in Auckland and on Waiheke Island, and joined two other book clubs in Takapuna and Devonport."
She said that although setting up a secondhand bookshop in a small rural community such as Ruawai might raise a few eyebrows it is actually quite practical.
"My main market is internet based - that's why I moved to protect my internet-based sales but to our delight, locals have been very enthusiastic and we have been having steady sales from locals."
Dr Dormer said she set up two bookshops on Devonport Wharf over a period of 15 years.
She started listing books on a database for selling online on a site based in North America (www.abebooks.com) and now has about 50,000 titles listed - many of which have sold.
In October last year, the landlords of the wharf - Auckland Transport - gave all tenants an ultimatum to move out by the end of February, 2017.
Two years before, she had bought a house in Ruawai and then found two vacant shops side-by-side in the main street to house all her books. So the decision was made to lease the shops and move north.
The shift started in November 2016 and after weekly trips in two vans loaded with books, bookcases and shelving, the new shops were fitted out ready for business in March this year.
Dr Dormer estimates she stocks about 50,000 books - mostly non-fiction - but in every classification: history, philosophy, science, art, photography, antiques, movies, cars, trains, planes, adventure, war, economics and a huge range of reference books.
There's a large range of classics including Anthony Trollope, Charles Dickens and also a lot of children's old classics.
"We have a small selection of fiction, thrillers, historical fiction and sci-fi /fantasy. Also a range of children's and young adults."
And, the reaction from locals?
"Pleasantly delighted," she said. "Locals are very keen to come and look and buy."
Dr Dormer said she intends to keep the business going as long as possible - and has new stock arriving every week. Books @ Ruawai also sells CDs, DVDs, LPs, small records, tapes and sheet music.
A friend, Sue, who worked in her Devonport bookshop has also moved to Ruawai and runs the shop each weekday for limited hours.
And with commitments to book clubs in Auckland which necessitates travel between Ruawai and Devonport weekly, she opens the shop during the weekend in the middle of each month starting from July; 11-4pm Saturdays and Sundays.