- +27 82 328 2755
- [email protected]
- The Old Mushroom Farm, 11 Karkloof Rd, Howick, RSA
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If you’ve ever walked into Midlands Books in Howick and wondered,
“How do they keep track of all these books?”
Here’s the honest answer:
We don’t.
Well… not exactly.
We have a very good idea.
But it’s still just an idea.
And that’s part of what makes us one of the most exciting independent bookshops in the KZN Midlands.
The Book Buying Problem (A Midlands Story)
Midlands Books was founded by Robert and Adam — two people who thought starting a secondhand bookshop in KwaZulu-Natal would be a sensible hobby.
What followed was a steady escalation into what can only be described as a book buying problem.
We specialise in:
And when collections become available… we buy them.
Our Buying Footprint: Mainly the KZN Midlands… Mostly
Our primary sourcing area is the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands — from Howick to Hilton, Nottingham Road, and beyond.
But occasionally we lose perspective.
We “quickly pop” into:
And every so often, things escalate dramatically and we drive to Gauteng to collect a hundred or more boxes of books.
Yes. A hundred.
At this point, “accurate inventory control” becomes more of a philosophical concept than a practical one.
The Erik the Bookworm Factor (Western Cape Incoming)
As if that wasn’t enough, we also regularly buy from our friend Erik the Bookworm in Somerset West, Western Cape.
Which means books arrive from the opposite side of South Africa with impressive consistency.
We haven’t yet crossed any international borders to buy books.
But honestly, we wouldn’t rule it out.
So How Does Stock Control Actually Work?
We operate a working system — but it’s dynamic.
Because we are constantly:
Unlike a big retail chain bookstore, we are an independent bookshop in Howick with constantly changing stock.
That means:
We know our categories well, we know where the strong sections are and we know what we specialise in.
But knowing every single title on the premises at any given moment?
That’s optimistic.
Why This Is Good News for Book Lovers
The fact that we don’t know every single book in stock is actually what makes Midlands Books special.
We are:
If you’re searching for:
Quality used books near Howick
There is a very strong chance we either have it… or will have it soon.
The Real Challenge
Our biggest challenge isn’t stock.
It’s explaining our book buying problem to:
Because when another delivery of boxes arrives, and someone asks:
“Do we need more books?”
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Midlands Books Store Room aka “The Dark Side”
The honest answer is:
Probably not.
But we bought them anyway.
Visit Midlands Books in Howick
If you’re looking for a secondhand bookshop in the KZN Midlands, or searching online for rare books in South Africa, Midlands Books is always worth a visit.
We may not know exactly what’s on every shelf.
But we can promise you this:
There are thousands of quality books waiting to be discovered — and every visit offers something new.
📍 Midlands Books (Pty) Ltd
The Old Mushroom Farm
11 Karkloof Road
Howick, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
Come and see what we’ve bought this week.
Robert (Rob) Cronjé is co-owner of Midlands Books & Collectables, based at The Old Mushroom Farm in Howick, KZN Midlands. He runs the shop alongside co-owner Adam Riley. Walk in on a weekday and you'll usually find one of them behind the counter with a coin, a rare book or a customer's collection spread out in front of them.
