Booksellers NZ is entering NZ Book Month assuring people Booksellers Tokens remain the trusted gift currency of choice for generations of Kiwi readers.
'This is a very challenging time for our members and with mounting confusion surrounding the redemption of Whitcoulls and Borders vouchers, and the recent rewards points counter-offer by Dymocks, we felt it was important to provide some clarity for our very loyal reading public,” says Booksellers NZ chief executive Lincoln Gould.

Confusion over the worth of book vouchers arose when Australian owned REDGroup Retail, the owner of Whitcoulls, Borders and Bennetts went into voluntary administration in mid February.

Whitcoulls' voucher terms were changed, causing a lot of bad publicity.

Booksellers Book Tokens are secure and guaranteed, says Lincoln.
'It's a very simple and fail-safe system,” says Lincoln.

'We hold all cash used to purchase the Book Token centrally in a secure fund, until that Token is redeemed – which means there will always be money in the kitty to honour our Tokens.”
It's a system that's been in operation since 1963.

Booksellers NZ has administered the national Book Tokens service for more than 48 years.

It enables a bookshop customer to purchase tokens at member stores nationwide.

The tokens can be gifted and later redeemed at any of more than 350 member bookshops throughout New Zealand.
Booksellers NZ is the trade association for bookshops nationwide, from smaller independent and regional stores, to specialist children's bookshops, larger national franchise stores such as PaperPlus and Dymocks, and chain stores, including Whitcoulls and Borders.
'A Booksellers Book Token will be welcomed and honoured at any of our 350 member stores, including all Whitcoulls, Borders and Dymocks stores, without any of the additional cash spend currently required by some store-specific vouchers and gift cards,” says Lincoln.
'Whitcoulls is an incredibly important part of New Zealand bookselling history, and we are doing everything we can to support owners REDGroup in their bid to save and reinvigorate the chain.

'At the end of the day, we just want Kiwis to keep buying, reading and recommending great books.

'It's essential that booklovers support their local retailers, and can continue to have confidence in the Book Tokens they have always enjoyed buying as a gift for friends, family and colleagues.”