A Chapter of Local Support: Inside Mabel and Mack

Mabel and Mack is a local bookstore in Tannum Sands, where a good book can be enjoyed with great coffee. More than just a book shop, Mabel and Mack is a hub that supports literacy and connections. Offering a calm, quiet space where people can connect with books, coffee, or a shared interest. Welcoming everyone through their doors and striving to ensure all voices are represented, fostering connections through monthly social events and lifelong learning through workshops.

Mabel and Mack love supporting and reaching out to local authors in Gladstone libraries. As Mabel and Mack become more well known, new authors have started reaching out to their local support. Mabel and Mack are always happy to display local talent.

Each month, Mabel and Mack try to focus on a different local author to allow the community to get a chance to know the person behind the books. Mabel and Mack highlight them through social media, in-store promotions, and social events. Mabel and Mack collaborate with local authors to facilitate and host events that they feel comfortable hosting. Supporting local authors is important for the same reason Mabel and Mack support local businesses.

Mabel and Mack are excited to be able to support Rural Aid with their Women of the Valley Project and have created a book of women’s stories from the Boyne Valley, fostering connections and supporting mental health. Mabel and Mack also have a journaling workshop by local author Claire Roe, a bookish Trivia Evening, and a Zoom chat about menopause from the fabulous Shelly Horton, the author of I’m your Peri Godmother.

The biggest challenge for Mabel and Mack was the same with any small business, trying to compete with bigger companies, struggling to offer books at the same lower prices as big department stores, but in replacement of that Mabel and Mack offer personalised service, recommendations, purchasing in most books at request, a range of alternative authors and genres, and a welcoming space to sit and read. The most rewarding thing about Mabel and Mack has been the amazing connections made with customers, authors, and the community; it has become so much more than just another bookstore.

Mabel and Mack would love to continue building partnerships and connections with other local small and larger businesses to ensure they can continue to advocate for literacy development in young people and promote connections and a love of literature.

Come and check out what’s new each week as Mabel and Mack are always getting in different books, gifts and treats. There are always gluten-free goodies as well. Come along to an event and support local, or visit for a relaxing space!

Questions and Answers

What inspired you to open a bookstore in this community?

As an Early Years Teacher, I have always advocated the importance of literacy development in the early years. I wanted to bring something unique and different to an area that doesn’t have any bookshops. To give people, young and older, the chance to share a love of books, imagination and creativity.

How would you describe your store’s identity and what makes it unique?

We are more than just a book shop, we are a hub that supports literacy and connections. We offer a calm, quiet space where people can connect over books, coffee or a shared interest. We welcome everyone through our doors and try to make sure all voices are represented. We foster connections through monthly social events and life long learning through workshops.

What has been the biggest challenge (and reward) of running a locally owned bookstore?

The biggest challenge for us, as with any small business, is trying to compete with the big companies. We cannot offer books at the same lower price as the big department stores, we don’t have that buying power. We can, however, offer personalized service, recommendations, purchasing in most books at request, a range of alternative authors and genres (not just best sellers) and a welcoming space to sit and read.

The most rewarding thing about our business has been the amazing connections we have made with customers, authors, and the community, it has become so much more than we could have imagined.

How has the community supported your business since opening?

The community embraced us from the beginning, coming to workshops, ordering in books (instead of online shopping) and coming in for a chat to see how we are going.

How do you engage with local readers beyond just selling books?

What I love about books is how it brings people of all walks of like together. We can read the same story but get something completely different out of it. It’s not until you have those conversations with fellow readers that you hear different perspectives and ideas.

Every person who comes into the shop is greeting warmly, like seeing an old friend. Kindness and connections are really important to us.

How do you source and select books from local authors?

In the beginning we found a lot of the local authors through the Gladstone Libraries and reached out to see if they would be interested in joining us. As our name becomes more well known, new authors have started reaching out to join us. We are always happy to showcase local talent.

What opportunities do you offer local writers to showcase or sell their work?

Each month we try and focus on a different local author, to allow the community a chance to get to know the person behind the books. We showcase them through social media and instore promotions, with question and answers and a social event, such as meet and greet, book club, book reading or launch of a new book. We collaborate with local authors to facilitate an event that they feel comfortable hosting.

Why is it important to you to support local authors?

Supporting local authors is important for the same reason we support local business – To keep great things in our community. We have some very talented people in our community, and we need to celebrate that.

What are your hopes for the future of your bookstore?

We hope our brand becomes more widely recognised within our region. We would also love to continue building partnership and connections with other local small and larger businesses to ensure we can continue to advocate for literacy development in young people and promote connections and a love of literature for life.

Are there any upcoming events, programs, or initiatives you’re excited about?

We are really excited to be able to support Rural Aid with their Women of the Valley Project. They have created a book of women’s stories from the Boyne Valley, fostering connections and supporting mental health. The books will be available to purchase instore – with most of the sale going back into the project.

We also have a journaling workshop by local author Claire Roe, a bookish Trivia Evening and a zoom chat about menopause from the fabulous Shelly Horton – the author of I’m your Peri Godmother !

How can the community continue to support both your store and local authors?

Come and check out what’s new each week. We are always getting in different books, gifts, or treats. Come along to an event – to be able to keep running these workshops, book clubs, etc we need community support. Tell your friends, neighbours, everyone you know to come check us out, we need your support. We also recommend having a look through our local author section and giving them a go – you are supporting someone’s dream!