Talking with a diverse group of Brisbane booksellers, there is a unified tone of realistic optimism. Although sales have slightly declined due to the cost of living crisis, the dream of owning and running a bookshop is more alive than ever. The city hosts several new small stores in its suburbs, while long-term specialist stores and mainstays like Avid Reader are doing well.
Cholm Johnson left a teaching career to open Bright and Early in early 2022. ‘Many people said we were insane,’ Johnson laughs. But the store has seen significant growth over the last couple of years, including in recent months, despite the cost of living crisis.
