Cosy Ballan bookshop open for browsing

HAVING always worked in book retail, it made good sense for Ballan’s Sharon Peterson to strike out on her own.

Peterson had long dreamed of having her own bookshop and now that dream is coming true as the local opens Wilde About Books on Inglis Street.

The name honours one of her own favourite authors, while the new bookshop builds on her first foray into business when she started selling medical books online about three years ago.

“I was trying to think of something bookish and I like Oscar Wilde,” Peterson said.

“I loved The Picture of Dorian Gray when I read it in high school. It made a big impression on me.

“I’ve worked in bookshops all my life as a seller and manager, and I currently own an online medical bookstore, JR Medical Books, that I’m running out of this building in Ballan as well.

“That’s going to allow me to open the shop front. I’ll be sitting at a desk working here anyway.

“A lot of people are very enthusiastic about the idea which has been really nice.”

Peterson said Wilde About Books will stock both new and second-hand titles across all reading genres and she plans to be guided by what her customers want.

“I hope it’s a space that people will feel comfortable,” she said.

“I kind of want to make it as cosy and inviting as possible so people will just hang around and browse.

“I’ll be opening from now, initially just Saturday mornings to start with, from 10am to 1pm.”

Further down the track Peterson plans to expand operating hours at the store that is accessed off Fiskin Street.

“I opened for a couple of days in May, just testing the water, and it was really lovely,” she said.

“Everyone who came in was just so enthusiastic and supportive. It was a really nice day. I wasn’t expecting quite such a response.

“I’ve been here in Ballan since 2009 and there’s been a couple of places that sold a few books since I’ve been here, but no dedicated book shop – until now.”