When the digital revolution threatened to turn the page on physical media, Michelle Wheatley decided to write a different story for Armidale. Over a decade ago, she stepped away from the familiar to rescue Reader’s Companion, the town’s last independent bookshop, from permanent closure. Despite having no prior retail experience, Michelle transformed a struggling business into a warm, analogue sanctuary for the community. Here, we chat with Michelle about why Reader’s Companion is more than a place to buy books – it’s a vital hub for community connection.
Just over 12 years ago, the future of our local bookshop was hanging by a thread. The long-term owners of Reader’s Companion had been trying to sell for years, and they finally decided they’d had enough. They were ready to pack up everything, close the doors, and sell what was left online. Roy and I had a conversation about how terrible it would be if the town lost its last independent bookshop. It felt like a gap that couldn’t be filled.
At the time, the ‘scare story’ was that paper books were dead and ebooks were taking over everything. I didn’t even own a Kindle, but I knew the feeling of browsing in a real bookshop was something worth saving. So, very spontaneously, I asked if I could just buy the stock. I’d never worked in retail or the book industry before. I sat with the previous owner for five mornings while he showed me the technical side of ordering, and then, on a Friday, I handed over the money. By Monday, they had left town, and I was standing there alone.
Those early days were a steep learning curve. I made plenty of mistakes – like the time I accidentally ordered 33 copies of a book instead of three. I just had to tell myself, “Okay, don’t do that again. We eventually moved from being a tenant to buying our own building, which used to be an old Adairs. We saved a lot of money by repurposing old shop fittings that once held sheets and pillows. Transforming the space with secondhand furniture was important to me; I wanted it to feel less like a shop and more like a warm lounge room.
Over the last 12 years, there has always been some kind of external disaster to navigate, from economic shifts to the drought and nearby bushfires. People often asked me if I was crazy, but if you wait for the perfect time to start, you’ll never do it. During the COVID lockdowns, we didn’t stop. We covered the shop floor in books, wrapping them for delivery, and Roy spent five hours a day on the road in our bus. It was so sweet; the kids would wait at their front doors and wave, shouting, “Mr Bookman!” as he drove past.
I truly believe reading is an analogue art. People are realising that digital spaces can be overwhelming, and they miss the tactile joy of a physical book – the action of touching the paper, flicking back a page, or dog-earing a corner. We even play vinyl in the shop now instead of Spotify, because that analogue warmth adds to the experience. It’s about more than just receiving information, it’s about the gathering and the connection. I even see it in our cookbook club – we get together regularly to share recipes and beautiful home-cooked meals, but it’s also about gathering, talking, and the opportunity to meet new people.
That’s one of the greatest joys of being my own boss, the opportunity to connect. When someone from Sydney walks in and says, “I wish we had a place like this”, and I point out all the big shops they have access to, they just say, “Yeah, but this is different”. Knowing I’ve given someone a little bit of sparkle through a book or a conversation gives me so much joy.
124 Beardy Street | Armidale NSW 2350 | (02) 6771 2544 | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Monday to Friday 10.00am–5.00pm | Saturday 9.00am–1.00pm
