Spotlight On New Bookshop Supervisor - Jake Atkin

What was your previous job?

My previous job was as a visitor host and science communicator at Tūhura Otago Museum. I’d greet visitors and give tours of the museum, and in the Science Centre I’d present planetarium space tours, release butterflies for First Flight, perform experiments for science shows, and much more. It was a challenging and engaging role, but when I saw the supervisor position at the Hospice Shop become available, I knew that’s where I was meant to be.

What prepared you for this role?

Honestly, just about everything! I draw on years of experience in hospitality and retail every day, but my degree in English Literature and Creative Writing is obviously a huge help. I’m also an avid book collector, which really supports my day-to-day pricing and assessment of donated books.

A surprising comparison to my work here is my time as a kitchen hand—lots of washing dishes and preparing food—but more importantly, it’s a job where you must stay organised or things quickly become overwhelming. Staying on top of donations can feel never-ending, but being efficient and methodical makes all the difference.

You’ve been here a few weeks now, how have you found it?

A dream start—I really couldn’t have imagined anything better. I owe a huge thanks to Jenny, Michael, and Blake for setting up the shop and streamlining donation processing. The shop looks so much better than it did six months ago, and their hard work and vision have allowed me to hit the ground running.

I’ve also been given creative input and trust to implement big but necessary changes that are resonating with customers, volunteers, and staff. A special thanks must go to our hardworking and generous volunteers—having them on hand to tidy, sort, and manage the clutter has been massive for our success.

What appeals to you most about the role?

It’s a job where my primary work involves digging through boxes of books — what’s not to love about that? I’m a tidy, organised person, so a role built around sorting and curation suits me perfectly. Plus, like everyone who works and volunteers here, I just love books.

What appeals to you most about working with Hospice?

Each year, the need for hospice care grows, and the impact of shops like ours is felt even more. Being part of something that ensures people in hospice care can live—and die—comfortably is something I can be proud of every day.

I’ve worked purely for the money in the past, and while that’s sometimes necessary, it never feels meaningful. Here, I see generosity and care every single day—and that’s truly special.

What other interests do you have?

Aside from reading, I write fiction and have completed two very bad but very fun novels. I’m also a big movie-goer and love action and horror films.

A major focus for me now is martial arts—I train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu three times a week and Hapkido twice a week. It’s physically demanding, but I love the mental challenge—it’s like in-the-moment puzzle solving, and the more I do it, the more hooked I become.

When I’m not training, you’ll likely see me out walking my dog Willow. I’m looking forward to taking her on some epic hikes once the weather improves!