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INDIES IN ASIA
that do not have at least a dual function,
such as a range of gifts.”
Certain bookstores in Asia stand out in
Kenny’s mind. “Many stores throughout Asia
are beautifully curated and aesthetically
stunning,” he says.
Kenny also recommends specific
bookstores – both independent and chains –
in East and South-East Asia:
• The family-owned Bookazine in Hong Kong
• Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street,
Taguig City in Manila, Philippines, featuring
the “Discarded romance” mural
• Kinokuniya Books, Japan
• Tsutaya Books in Daikan-Yama, Japan
“Bookstores in Asia are very nimble and
cater to their local markets,” he says.
“The independents have survived in
Australia and globally because the major
chains were in shopping malls and the DDS
market offered price.
“The indies realised they could not compete
on convenience or price, so they developed
an incredible level of service.”
Below: Established
in 1985, Bookazine
in Hong Kong is a
thriving, family-owned
chain of independent
English-language
bookshops.
Photo by Bookazine.
Paul Kenny, marketing, product and
data manager at Affirm Press, is a 37-year
veteran of the book industry who spent
12 years in Asia as a sales director for
Pan Macmillan, then Hachette.
“I was based in Hong Kong but
covered Japan to Singapore and Guam
to Burma,” he says. “[Mainland] China
and the Philippines both came into me
via agents, so I was looking after
them, too.”
The biggest difference with independent
bookstores in Asian territories, compared
to Australia, is that they tend to carry
out multiple roles, Kenny says.
“They sell trade books to the public,
they do educational library supply to
public libraries and schools, and textbook
supply – things like that,” he says.
“Commercial real estate is incredibly
expensive throughout the region.
None of these stores have warehouses,
so they have to make the dollar stretch
as far as they can. I cannot think of any
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