The judges said Ms Myles’ initiative, smart thinking and sheer hard work saw her stand out from the other very worthy contenders.
"Mandy has made some bold business decisions that have paid off. She has consciously and self-reflectively learned to work smarter, not harder, as a crucial lesson for long-term success. She has skilfully procured sponsorship and strategically beneficial partnerships, and her marketing and programming skills are among the best in the industry."
Ms Myles said she was honoured to receive the award.
"[I’m] absolutely blown away. It’s such an honour to be recognised in an industry packed to the brim with legends."
Ms Myles had the idea for an online store during the Covid lockdown.
Her pivot was completely out of the blue — she had studied fashion and worked in lingerie and fashion retail, including at 47 Frocks in Wānaka.
"I wanted to bring the feeling of community that independent bookstores create directly into people’s homes in an effort to make reading feel fun and accessible for everyone."
During lockdown she posted some book recommendations on social media, which sparked questions about where to get them.
Ms Myles was inspired to provide an alternative to major online booksellers, and in August 2020, she launched a curated, sustainably packaged online book range.
She believed reading could be very social. "Books spark such rich conversation, which inherently creates connection, whether you loved a book or not, there’s always something to unpack with someone else who’s read it. Being able to discuss stories with others is one of the true joys of reading."
