Dave Berkelouw: Berkelouw Books

A pandemic is the least of the crises Dave Berkelouw’s business has seen throughout the years. 

The Australian version of Berkelouw Books was born in a crisis, post War World II and with Dave’s European family seeking refuge in Australia.  They turned to what they knew: they sold books.

Since then,  Berkelouw Books has faced continuous crises – the rise of eBooks, Amazon and the famous government proclamation that “in five years time, most bookstores will be shut.”  By the time the pandemic came along, thriving in a crisis was in Dave’s blood. They stayed open, unprofitably and almost laughably.  Ultimately, that paid off as books emerged in 2020 as a predominant force in our need for escapism. 

So what’s the secret to the continual rise of Australia’s largest independent bookseller, against all odds?  Listen to find out in this episode of Heart & Hustle.

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