Does a bookstore have to sell coffee in order to survive?

Coffee, juice, tea and other drinks are sold in 1200bookshop.

This is the worst of times, but also the best of times. Employees of Guangzhou physical bookstores describe the changes in the bookstore industry in this way. On this side, there is a lot of news about the closure of brick-and-mortar bookstores, while on the other side, the news of the expansion of 1200bookshop and Downing bookstores also attracts people's attention.

Many bookstore owners say that "the rent is not enough just by selling books." Diversification, selling coffee, postcards and so on, seems to have become the only lifesaver for physical bookstores. But another shopkeeper said: reading is a very serious matter, and my bookstore is determined not to sell coffee.

Prepare for the transformation of the Xiaogutang bookstore and close down for decoration.

Following the closure of Wenjin Pavilion in July last year, Xiaogutang Bookstore, a costume bookstore near CUHK, will also be closed to prepare for the transformation.

Yesterday, the reporter saw that books are currently on sale, and some books have been packed and ready to be shipped away. "We intend to close the door for decoration in mid-August and welcome visitors in a new state before October." Li Jinliang, the owner of the store, said that he has been selling costume books here for more than a decade. Business was booming a few years ago. Since four years ago, business has declined by about 10% every year, and turnover has begun to lose money. "after decoration, I want to open up a leisure coffee and beverage area in ancient books to ease the pressure on the bookstore."

Expand 1200bookshop against the market and open a branch again.

In the wave of bookstore closures, 24-hour bookstore 1200bookshop bucked the market and opened its third branch, Wokai Street Store. In the business district, the 300-square-meter bookstore has a different kind of quietness, offering coffee, juice and other drinks in addition to books. In the corner of the bookstore, there is a bed for sofa guests for free.

According to Hu Bencong, operations manager of 1200bookshop, since its opening in July last year, the first 24-hour bookstore, Sports East Road, has broken even, but books account for only 30% of turnover, drinks account for about 60%, and cultural and creative products account for 10%. The bookstore also offered light meals at the beginning of its opening, but was later cancelled because it was out of harmony with the overall atmosphere of the bookstore.

Bookstore owner Liu Eryi believes that the bookstore is "business during the day and feelings at night." it is not much different from other bookstores during the day, but late at night, the bookstore lights up a lamp for travelers and people who love reading. Now, 1200bookshop has become an influential cultural space in Guangzhou. He revealed that more branches will be opened in the future, and he is now considering opening a bookstore in the form of a youth hostel on Dongfeng Road, which charges for accommodation, and the bookstore, as a separate area, provides visitors with the use of buying books and reading.

Stick to the book.

Borges Bookstore

"firmly don't sell coffee."

Diversification has become a lifesaver for brick-and-mortar bookstores, but Chen Dong, head of Borges Bookstore, said: "my bookstore is determined not to sell coffee."

The bookstore currently has two branches in Guangzhou, which are located on Yile Road and Changxing Street, Zhongshan Wulu Road. Over the years, Borges Bookstore has been relocated 13 times after rent and other pressure and cost tests. At present, the two bookstores still only sell books. Chen Dong admitted that he has been under pressure to keep the bookstore running, relying on writing, borrowing or mortgaging property to make up for the shortfall of the bookstore. "at present, the two bookstores have a combined loss of tens of thousands of yuan a month, but I firmly do not consider selling coffee in the bookstore. Coffee is suitable for leisure and chat, but reading is a serious mission. " He believes that if books really cannot be sold, he can treat the bookstore as a library, hoping that readers can see good books in the bookstore and achieve growth.

Other bookstores

Book sales still account for more than 60% of in-store sales. Through the concept of creating a cultural ecological circle, the bookstore has introduced cultural and creative products consistent with the temperament of the bookstore, and created the format of book × coffee. Because of the diversified business strategy, bookstore turnover is rising steadily, and book sales are also growing. Starting from the end of this year, on the basis of insisting on books as the main body, we will appropriately increase the proportion of cultural and creative products and coffee. Mr. Cai, Logistics Manager of United Bookstore

Although the store's book sales have always been the fastest growing part, book sales currently account for only 35% or 40% of total sales. -- staff of Fangsuo Bookstore

Some lossmaking stores have been closed in recent years, a variety of cultural and creative products have been added to the Xueeru branch store near CUHK, coffee areas have been added last year, and reading salons and cultural events have been held in the coffee area. At present, the proportion of literary creation and coffee is still very low, about 8%.

Chen Dingfang, owner of Xueeryou Bookstore

This page is written by Gao Huayan, a reporter from the Information Times.

Ye Weibao, a reporter from this page's Photography Information Times.