Category: Books
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“If the stock is stuck, our cash is stuck.”
Two book lovers named Shannon and Mike fell in love with the idea of starting a bookshop together in 2009— and they did it. Ten years later, their shop is an iconic destination for other book lovers, and they even started a second brand. Shannon walks us through the life of a business owner in…
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“This is a different space.”
How to keep a bookshop meaningful in an era of online shopping: one business owner shares their approach.
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Give them something new to discover
Kenny Leck runs an iconic store in Singapore called BooksActually. It is a local bookstore that specializes in carefully curated books, vintage goods, and odds-and-ends that book lovers universally tend to love. They offer an assortment of items such as notebooks, tote bags, and sealing wax, celebrating the art of writing and communication. BooksActually has…
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The bookstore slows you down
Tucked along a vibrant row of shops flaunting kaleidoscopic carpets, bags, and trinkets, stands a shop adorned with nothing but a modest chalkboard on the sidewalk. Passerby need to step inside to see what it holds. This is Wardah Books, a literary haven curated by Ibrahim Tahir for over 16 years. From its humble beginnings…
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Surviving as a specialist of books
Basheer Graphic Books is an iconic shop in Singapore that is known for its design-related books, run by Abdul Nasser whom you can often see at the store. The shop has a rich history dating back to the 1980s when Abdul Nasser’s father would personally go from office to office with travelling luggages filled with…
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Are you stationary?
The owner of Modern Book Store is Mr Tan. He has run the shop for the past 30 years. His stock has stayed the same despite the decades, reflecting a time capsule of objects that bring back tactile memories for students and office workers : highlighters, staplers, glue, and post-it notes. Mr. Tan shares how…
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A gift for you from Shopkeeper Stories
SHARE THE LOVE Share your 3 favourite posts from the Facebook page and I’ll mail you the book for free – no matter where you live in the world! It means a lot to me that you appreciate these posts about small business owners, and this is my way of saying Thank You. Just send me a…
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Books Actually
Passion is not enough. You need commitment. “Business is not just about passion: passion only brings you along that much. There are people who decide they want to be a doctor in their early 20s and go through the process and they are still doctors at 60. A person who has chosen a vocation has…
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His-Story of the USA
Christian is a walking Wikipedia! He can narrate the historical context for everything in his shop like a true storyteller. His journey in the antique industry began in his 20s when he got hooked on the history of art while helping his father. “My dad collected a lot of Japanese art, so I would research…
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Writing your destiny
I came across a visually-arresting bookshop in Mal Deodoro (a neighbourhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil). The space was packed floor-to-ceiling with books! Start small, and grow gradually The owner has been selling books for an impressive 25 years. It all started with a humble street stand offering magazines and books, and over time, his business…
Shopkeeper Stories 