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book cafe

PostPosted: May 16th, 2012, 4:50 pm
by ChadHemady
Hi guys!
Im planning to set up my own book cafe around fort or makati area where I will display my own personal library together with other second hand books available for purchase.
I will create a warm and cozy environment where people can relax and read genuine books and not e-books.
This an advocacy campaign against the so called 'death of books and bookstores'.
Help me in this advocacy campaign so that future generations may enjoy the pleasure of reading good books away from the hustle and bustle of city life. :)


Please share your thoughts about this.

Thanks guys and God Bless!

Re: book cafe

PostPosted: May 16th, 2012, 5:26 pm
by keridas
HIle!

I'll just dump a whole load of my thoughts if ya don't mind. Don't take anything personal. :D

So, I've never really understood the draw of book cafes. But I do commend you in this planned venture of yours and your aim of keeping the printed word alive and well.

Another thought of mine: It'd be really really awesome if there were couches and tables and eating was allowed in Booksale.

So if you could create a space where one could comfortably read and is filled with a wide selection of second hand books for sale, I think you'll do well.

Long days and pleasant nights. :D

Re: book cafe

PostPosted: May 17th, 2012, 2:19 pm
by charlesatan
eBooks are real books too.

But of course everyone has their preferences, whether print or electronic.

Books aren't dying. In fact, they're arguably more popular nowadays.

As for bookstores, that's the case for countries like the US but not quite here. I think the old model of Power Books has shown that just selling brand-new books isn't feasible, but it's adapted. The used bookstore, on the other hand, is thriving, and there were around five franchises when I last counted.

As for the business aspect, the question is where will your revenue come from? The food? Or the books? And will it be enough to pay for Makati's relatively expensive rent? Or is Makati the ideal place to cater to the used book market?

Re: book cafe

PostPosted: May 17th, 2012, 2:57 pm
by keridas
You pose some valid queries.

Where indeed? It all depends on you and your contacts. Where you'll source your secondhand books, how often will new product be available, etc. Maybe like a 50-50 split. Focus on the food and selling books?

And the rent in Makati is scary. Ya gonna have to do some mighty thorough market studies to see where the best place to set up is.

I wish you the best regards on your future venture! :)

Re: book cafe

PostPosted: May 19th, 2012, 7:45 pm
by Wanda
Hi Chad!

As a booklover all i can say is that it's a fantastic idea! I always love to wile away the hours in a bookstores but if there's no lounging area it can be a real drag. For me couches are really the best things. Plus i think drinks (like coffee) and pastries are a basic thing to have. You cant have a lounge area without any refreshments. I've been to this cozy book cafe in manila with a couch but they only serve one kind of pastry and no drinks, not even coffee, so it was really a drag. I never went back to that cafe, not to mention the limited selection of books. Also, it might be a good idea to accept orders for any title from customers and order it for them. Bec I've talked to some booksellers (but mostly online booksellers) and what they say is that customers go to them asking if they have titles theyre looking for that they cant find in the larger more extensive bookstores like national or fully booked. I just think that to survive the cafe must offer something unique that the chain bookstores dont offer as a reason to come back.

ChadHemady wrote:Hi guys!
Im planning to set up my own book cafe around fort or makati area where I will display my own personal library together with other second hand books available for purchase.
I will create a warm and cozy environment where people can relax and read genuine books and not e-books.
This an advocacy campaign against the so called 'death of books and bookstores'.
Help me in this advocacy campaign so that future generations may enjoy the pleasure of reading good books away from the hustle and bustle of city life. :)


Please share your thoughts about this.

Thanks guys and God Bless!

Re: book cafe

PostPosted: May 19th, 2012, 8:48 pm
by Heldervert
This is what in my mind.
1. Coffee + pastry is a good idea, but the risk of the book being stained or damaged is high. If you can take the risk then it's fine.
2. Put all titles in your PC, and will have an easy and fast access if somebody is looking for something. I'll help you make a program if you want, or just an excel file, it will do. Don't leave the office that books are not arranged.
3.Consider not to put possible distractions ,TV's, radios. Mostly of the readers i know prefer a cozy but silent place.
4. Finish of the building should also be considered. Color of the walls, design and illumination to put in mind. Some hue can really hurt your eyes after hours of reading. For design, architecturally speaking, put maybe some cubicles also in addition to the sofas, others can really distract you (they tend to read aloud or over react on what they are reading..and that's so annoying). A glass wall that you can see passersby is also something, no to glass wall. For illumination, my specialty (im an electrical engineer hehe), some people wnat they lights to be bright, other is as dim as their lampshade at home, what i have in mind is that you put lighting that have a dimming capacity. Problem is that when you have a only a general lighting, that's why its best to put cubicles, include there dedicated lamps or fixtures with dimmer switch, and alas, those picky customer will be dealt accordingly.
5. We are now in new generation, ebooks industry is really going fast, so why not cope with it. Run with it. This is only my suggestion, why not sell ebooks also, especially when you're in Makati, most of your customer will have a kindle, a nook, or and ipad. They will always ask you if you have an ebook.
6. Finally, please consider Filipino titles as what i always say in my posts. If you can, have a dedicated best seller list for them.


Those are only my suggestion as i want it to be like that when i'll have one hehe... o some customers, just like me before, will always ask what is a good book that's available, don't answer them "it depends on you", he will not go back anymore if you do that. Learn how to read the personality the moment you saw him, i don't know why, but others can do that. Maybe answer them "A classic or the latest?" then tell them also your personal favorite.

Hope this help. Pardon me for the grammatical error, im used with numbers, but not with words.

Re: book cafe

PostPosted: March 12th, 2013, 12:19 am
by frei
Hi! It's lovely idea, although I'm not so sure about its feasibility. I think you should consider the costs and how your business will make money. Personally, I would love to go to a book cafe since I love reading books in cafes and also possibly meet people with similar interests and exchange ideas. That would create noise though and would probably distract other readers so I'm not sure how to solve that. Hm... Maybe you could start small and in a place where rent isn't so expensive and see how it goes. http://www.housingworks.org/bookstore/ is a bookstore cafe in NYC and it does have a cozy atmosphere, maybe you can check that out.

If ever you do go through with the cafe, I hope it would be one where people could genuinely enjoy reading while having a good cup of coffee (or tea or hot chocolate) and maybe some cake. Doesn't need to be grand, just comfy with quality books and coffee for me :)