Wow this sounds like it could be something straight out of Italo Calvino's "If on a winter's night a traveler".
Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
31–40 of 73 posts
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
His previous bookstore had also a gallery space for rent, so it may be the case that this new store's model is actually closer to a gallery---author or sponsor may pay some fee. Just guess; I couldn't find an official document stating so.
That's plausible. Indeed it would be pretty hard to break even without an alternative business model: books usually have a MRSP printed on the jacket and charging more than the MRSP is unusual; plus the rent in Ginza is over 400usd per sq m.
The published MSRP is an issue, but generally books are available at wholesale for 40% off. So there is still a decent margin to start from, rent and staffing quickly eat into that cut. It's all about sales volume. Most mainstream hardcovers are around $16-35; after markup would be about $6.40-$14/copy in gross profit.
I used to work at an independent bookstore that had a niche for local and regional(WV/Appalachia) authors and stories. This worked great as we were in a tourist area, so the influx of new customers was readily available.
For local customers we offered custom orders, to address issues with limited supply. Though it would be cheaper to go to Amazon, a large portion of the community are artists and craftsmen so they liked to encourage the local economy.
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#33When playing a board game, like Terra Mystica, where there are choices I can make, and there are random elements that change from game to game, there's two routes I could go - The first is to play out the plan I've thought about so many times previously, to align the choices I make with that plan as faithfully as the random elements allow. The second, is to completely ditch whatever was in my plan, look at the random…
Are digital books really a part of the Japanese market? The Japanese have historically preferred physical goods over digital goods.
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#34It's more of a gallery than a bookshop. The book is on display. The theme of the book is extended into the presentation of the place. Instead of a gallery gift shop you can buy the book the gallery was themed on. It's a nice idea. Gimmicky perhaps, but nice.
It's akin to a musician/artist performing/producing at some minor venue (park, museum, bar, etc just sitting in the side providing ambiance) where just a few minutes experience is enough for some to buy a CD/DVD/book. Give a wandering shopper a reason to drop into the gallery/store and have a remarkable few minutes, and some will buy without planning to.
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#35When playing a board game, like Terra Mystica, where there are choices I can make, and there are random elements that change from game to game, there's two routes I could go - The first is to play out the plan I've thought about so many times previously, to align the choices I make with that plan as faithfully as the random elements allow. The second, is to completely ditch whatever was in my plan, look at the random…
How is the decision to do software because the moneys there not playing to the board?
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#36A lot of people are calculating the cost of the book based off of MSRP and discounting it. However am I the only one that thinks he might consider selling the book above MSRP? In a way buying a book from here is an experience.
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#37Very Zen. Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. – Confucius
Confucianism has very little to do with Zen
Pretty sure that's not true. Buddhism meets chinese cultural values namely Daoism, and later Confucianism, and out pops Chan Buddhism, which travels to Japan and becomes Zen.
There is a clear link. How much influence is probably a thesis topic.
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#38When playing a board game, like Terra Mystica, where there are choices I can make, and there are random elements that change from game to game, there's two routes I could go - The first is to play out the plan I've thought about so many times previously, to align the choices I make with that plan as faithfully as the random elements allow. The second, is to completely ditch whatever was in my plan, look at the random…
> The bookshop-keeper here, is eking out every single edge he can out of books to operate his shop.
It could be, but it could also be the case that he's trying to be 'quirky' and happened to implement this particular idea, picked more-or-less randomly from a set of other quirky ideas. Walking around Tokyo it is not hard to find shops where you really struggle to figure out how they are making money, and often it's the case that they actually aren't and they close their doors after a few months or a couple years.
I guess it's just really easy to get a loan in Japan even if your business plan is utter shit?
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#39When playing a board game, like Terra Mystica, where there are choices I can make, and there are random elements that change from game to game, there's two routes I could go - The first is to play out the plan I've thought about so many times previously, to align the choices I make with that plan as faithfully as the random elements allow. The second, is to completely ditch whatever was in my plan, look at the random…
How is the decision to do software because the moneys there not playing to the board?
What OP means is that this person is following a long term plan which will eventually turn out to make them miserable since they don't really have a passion for software engineering. Hence, it is analogous to following a plan for the board games instead of adjusting to the random element. The random element here is how your talents and interests develop.
Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time
#40I've imagined this repeatedly. When you can buy any book you want online, physical bookstores become, in practice, galleries—and their clerks become salesmen. In such times, there's not much point to having a big store stuffed to the gunnels with anonymous tomes that the clerks don't even know they have, let alone know anything about. Bookstores have none of the things that the book-buyer wants (discoverability, reco…
This Christmas reminded me that as long as there are people like me, who leave shopping for presents to the last minute, physical stores with large stock aren't going anywhere. But I am definitely waiting for the moment when physical stores turn into a purely advertising space, and draw their revenue from there. In a very near future you might not be able to buy things at a store, you will only be able to look at and…
> Clothes are an exception here
If I could buy all my clothes online I would. The problem is sizes are at best a rough guid - different brands and even different styles in the same brand, fit completely differently. I guess I could find one outfit that fits and then just buy that online when I need a replacement :)