KLP Chat: Inside Book Hero, a Fast-Growing NZ Bookstore with Lizzy Lockhart

Some people believe books are dead. But in a beautiful community in Auckland, one business has shown quite the opposite. Books are thriving. Lizzy Lockhart, “Bookshop Hero” at the fast-growing independent online (and physical) bookshop Book Hero, shares the secrets behind this small business' exponential growth. And they've achieved this during a time that retail is tricky and reading is supposedly declining. Or is it? Book Hero is seeing quite the opposite - reading is fast becoming people's salvation ... In this fascinating look inside Book Hero, a New Zealand book retailer and online store founded in October 2024 by Dylan Bland and Tim Wackrow, Lizzy shares how Dylan and Tim blended their e-commerce strengths with their passion for reading to create an online book retailer with big visions. They quickly expanded into a Hobsonville destination shop, driven by strong community demand. Book Hero prioritides physical books, a personal customer experience, and rapid delivery, expanding from an online warehouse to a community-supported retail space in Hobsonville and a team of 15+ people.  Lizzy shares her work across the bookshop, social media, newsletters, events, and author visits, crediting the team’s customer-first approach, fast shipping, and  visibility through their rapidly-growing social media account. We also hear about Lizzy's lifelong love of reading, her background as a primary teacher and Auckland Zoo educator, and her advocacy for reading for pleasure. The conversation also covers Book Hero’s growth into schools and libraries, adding toys and launching Toy Hero, as well as their notable author events. Shara and Lizzy share parenting reflections on emotional regulation and using books as support tools. And we finish off with some of Lizzy's book recommendations. It's a jam-packed episode about community, belief, the personal feel of a business, and books, books, and more books! \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **LINKS** >>>>> Book Hero Website Book Hero on Instagram - @bookheronz Lizzy Lockhart on Instagram - @peppermintpagesnz **MENTIONS** >>>>> Graci Kim - Slinger Duology (MG) Claire Mabey - Raven’s Eye series (MG) and Cass and the Beast (PB) Daniel Devenney - Counting Down with Theodore Brown (YA) Dr. Billy Garvey - 10 Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child’s Mental Health (and the Pop Culture Parenting podcast) (ADULT) Sam Smith (illustrated by César Lador) - Miles and Jones series (JF/early MG) Lily Emo - B is for Bird, and The Boy Who Made Things Up (author Margaret Mahy) (PB) Sacha Cotter (illustrated by Josh Morgan) - A Guide to Rocks (PB) Patrice Karst (illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff) - The Invisible String and The Invisible String Backpack (PB) Karin Slaughter - The Secrets We Hide (ADULT) Asher Emanuel - The Valley (ADULT) Don’t Forget to Smile - Ariane Beeston (YA) Rachael King (illustrated by Phoebe Morris) - Violet and the Velvets (MG) C G Drews - Hazelthorn (YA) Adam Simpson (illustrated by Gypsy Taylor) - Row, Row, Row Your Boat (with Monsters) (PB) \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Follow The KidLit Pod  on Instagram (@thekidlitpod) *Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:* Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett) Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)