Australian-owned and operated book retailer, QBD Books is opening a new store in the NSW Central West town of Dubbo.
Marking the 87th store in its national network, QBD Books Dubbo is located in the city’s premier shopping centre, Orana Mall, and will be officially unveiled at a grand opening on Saturday 12 August.
The store launch will be attended by QBD Books CEO, Nick Croydon, as well as Dubbo Deputy Mayor Richard Ivey and other community leaders, plus local rural romance author, Alissa Callen.
The Dubbo store opening is the latest example of QBD’s continued efforts to expand into regional areas, according to Croydon.
“We are focused on our future across Australia, and we are resolved to continue opening more bookstores, with regional areas a major part of our growth pipeline,” he said.
“There is the potential for us to open another two stores by the end of the year, while we will also be undertaking refurbishments of many of our existing stores. Currently we have refurbishments planned for our Werribee store in Victoria, and our Caneland (Mackay) store in Queensland, while we will also be expanding our Rockhampton store.”
QBD’s continued investment in bricks-and-mortar stores is a sign of the enduring popularity of physical books.
“People love the tactile experience of reading a book, which is pretty much impossible to replicate,” Croydon said.
“Our sales continue to show how much Australians love their books, and this is why it’s exciting to open in a location such as Dubbo, where there is a community of avid book readers. The new QBD Books Dubbo will give locals the opportunity to browse thousands of titles that appeal to all ages and tastes, from new releases and bestsellers to educational and recreational products.”