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The Dymocks George
Street store is Sydney's greatest bookstore. Our story begins in
1879 when William Dymock commenced business as a bookseller in a
rented room in Market Street. As his business grew, he moved to a
larger and grander premises until, in the 1890's he could claim to
have a million books in stock. William Dymock died in his
thirty-ninth year. Unmarried and childless, he left the business to
his sister Marjory, who was married to John Forsyth. From that time
onwards, the Forsyth family has managed Dymocks.
1922 was a landmark
year for Dymocks. It was in this year that the family purchased the
site of the old Royal Hotel in George Street upon which was built
the historic Dymocks building, completed in 1930.
Though still the doyen
of Sydney bookstores, by 1980, Dymocks was looking and feeling a
little shopworn. It would have been very easy for the grand old
store to slide into a gradual decline. However, it was at this time,
that John Forsyth, William Dymock's great nephew, decided to take
over the company in 1981, selling his own successful printing and
publishing business.
As chairman of Dymocks
Group of Companies, John Forsyth wished to preserve the company's
19th century character, charm and tradition. He also realised that
it was impractical to live in the past.
After investigating
book retailing methods in the U.K., America, Europe and Japan, he
returned ready to implement retailing concepts which were unheard of
in Australia, and only recently introduced overseas.
The old store in
Sydney was completely revamped on the inside without destroying its
Old World charm. Specially designed gondolas and displays were
built, colour corrected lighting was introduced and the most
sophisticated computerised customer enquiry service for books in the
English speaking world was designed and installed. Dymocks also
established a telephone ordering facility to cater for those
customers who were unable to visit the store to purchase books.
Dymocks was prepared
for the 21st century while having preserved more than a century of
tradition.
In 1986 a decision was
made to allow people to have their own piece of bookselling
tradition with the establishment of the Dymocks Franchise System.
Since this time, Dymocks stores have been successfully opened in
every mainland state, and now internationally. By applying modern
retail techniques to a century old tradition, the Dymocks Franchise
System has been helping to realise the business dreams of many
Dymocks Franchise Owners. |
