Get to know our Sales Hero Shirl in the first of our Behind the Scenes series, where you will meet the Heroes responsible for getting New Zealand’s largest range of awesome books to your door overnight, anywhere in New Zealand.
Hi, I’m Shirl! I’m the book buyer at Book Hero, which means I get to buy books for a living. I spend a lot of time meeting with publishers and going through upcoming releases across the year, keeping a close eye on what readers are loving and what is about to take off. Trends are a big part of the role too, so if you have noticed a certain hockey romance series all over social media lately, that is exactly the kind of thing I am watching for to make sure we have enough stock for our customers.
I like to get a head start on the day, so I am usually in the office by 7:30am before the rest of the team arrives (although I have a hard time beating Alastair 👀). I make a coffee first thing, then use the quiet time to get on top of the day’s priorities. My go to morning drink is a flat white with no sugar. I definitely need music playing in the background while I work, so there is almost always something on the office Sonos. We also have a shared Friday playlist that the whole team adds to, with a different theme each week.
At lunchtime, I try to step away from my desk or take a short walk around the pond by Book Hero to reset. For my commute, I am a long time listener of 95bFM, which is where I discover emerging local New Zealand bands, DJs, and musicians. Lately, I have also been listening to a Laneway playlist while counting down to the festival in February.
When the workday is done, you will usually find me at the gym or down at the beach for a swim or a long walk. Outside of work, I love unwinding with board games, especially a quick game of Carcassonne or a co op game like Nemesis. Thanks to CrossFit, I can also climb a rope and do a handstand push up, which tends to surprise people.
My house is full of growing TBR piles, and I always have a book in my bag wherever I go. I am currently reading a few things at once, with no shortage of options close by. If a customer ever asks me for one must read recommendation, it is always Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Without fail, everyone I have recommended it to has loved it.
Looking ahead, I am especially excited our push into board games this year, so definitely watch this space!
😍 Shirl’s Hand-Picked Favourites
📢 Keep your eyes peeled next week where we'll go behind the scenes with Dom - aka The Weapon ⚔️
