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Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

theguardian.com

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Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#51

Post by biggestbob »

krallja wrote: post #5
meric wrote: post #2

When 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…

He's only sold 2100 books in 7 months - not much of a success, at least in terms of profitability.

If he can pay the rent for Ginza, must be making acceptable money.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#52

Post by [deleted] »

ma2rten wrote: post #39
jacalata wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

[deleted]

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#53

Post by usrusr »

keithpeter wrote: post #49

The room looks like an art gallery as others have commented. I can remember seeing displays of the catalogue for an exhibition in art galleries - a large array of a single book. The arithmetic implies some form of subsidy, and that room looks lovely. There is a street view here... http://www.takram.com/projects/a-single-room-with-a-single-b... ...looks to be an exercise in branding/design. I'm wondering if a communit…

Coffee shop was also my primary idea of how it could work economically. An entirely new hell of "no spoilers" ;)

Other than that, a carefully balanced mix of freely curated selection and occasional paid features might also be a way to monetize some of the attention generated.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#54

Post by throwaway049 »

lucaspiller wrote: post #40
xixixao wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 :)

I do exactly that for shirts. I just hope they don't discontinue the one I buy.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#55

Post by personjerry »

ramchip wrote: post #23
meric wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We'll see in the next 7. The Guardian article is 1 day old so far. ;)

I don't think an English language article on the Guardian will draw many readers to a Japanese bookstore, unfortunately.

Ginza is already a pretty popular tourist destination. Certainly this article might make the bookstore a destination to visit while in Ginza.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#56

Post by ericpearl »

krallja wrote: post #5
meric wrote: post #2

When 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…

He's only sold 2100 books in 7 months - not much of a success, at least in terms of profitability.

You're not counting what the publisher is paying. Publishers pay for table picks, end caps, face out displays and more.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#57

Post by azm1 »

meric wrote: post #2

When 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…

This is such flat, materialistic comparison. What about going back to roots, hara how its called in Japan, doing one action well, instead of focusing on the amount, focusing on single quality and trying to find beauty in it. I would almost call it practical art. There is something peaceful about it.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#58

Post by kitsune_ »

ramchip wrote: post #23
meric wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We'll see in the next 7. The Guardian article is 1 day old so far. ;)

I don't think an English language article on the Guardian will draw many readers to a Japanese bookstore, unfortunately.

I wouldn't be so sure. Recently Nat Geo featured a place that is located 10 miles from where I live on their cover ('Places of a life time', Äscher, Switzerland) and it's now over-run by tourists.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#59

Post by rlt3 »

azm1 wrote: post #57
meric wrote: post #2

When 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…

This is such flat, materialistic comparison. What about going back to roots, hara how its called in Japan, doing one action well, instead of focusing on the amount, focusing on single quality and trying to find beauty in it. I would almost call it practical art. There is something peaceful about it.

His point was that sometimes business owners can get used to applying a template. It's a bookstore so it gets the bookstore template -- 4000 books and a coffee shop, right? Instead of applying this template, an owner with a pulse on the business can see what their customers are doing/buying/wanting and can change accordingly rather than apply a template.

Re: Japanese Bookshop Stocks Only One Book at a Time

#60

Post by e28eta »

lucaspiller wrote: post #40
xixixao wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 :)

Find a place that's easy to return to, buy +/-1 size, and return the ones that don't work. Bonus points if the extra sizes get you free shipping by inflating the order total above some minimum.
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