296. A theme bookshop. A doggy bookshop in Singapore?
May 5, 2006 7.40 am Taipei
Young people in Singapore seldom read books, other than their text books. They are the internet generation. Click and SMS type.
So, is the business of a theme bookshop selling doggy books a viable business? Will it be profitable? I don't know. This doggy concept has never been tried before in Singapore nor in Taipei. I visited the biggest bookshop in Taipei near the Taipei Tower 101 for 3 times during my visit to Taipei.
A book lover's dream boat. Six floors of books. I could not believe it. Not more than 10 titles on dogs. Are there dogs or dog lovers in Taiwan or not? Singapore's biggest book store has more doggy books than this super bookstore in Taipei.
TWO THEME BOOK SHOPS IN TAIPEI.I discover 2 theme bookshops in Taipei.
MOVIE THEME
One is at the ZhongShan Road. This is the equivalent of Orchard Road of Singapore. The bookshop is housed in the ex-US Ambassador's Residence. It sells books based on movies. Its cafe is crowded with young people.
ART, TRAVEL, LIFESTYLE & LOUIS VUITTON THEME.
I read from the Taipei Times that the 4th storey of the newly opened Louis Vuitton luxury store has a bookshop. What has LV to do with books? I associate LV with luxurious handbags. What sort of books do they sell?
The Taipei LV store is a 4-storey building. The young salesman told me that Taipei LV's bookshop is the second one. The big one is in Paris. The 4th floor is beautifully decorated. Around 150 sq ft of space. Not enough space to display the books and there are more on the 2nd floor.Black books shelves with rich brown laminated drawers.
Arts, travel and lifestyle. Beautiful books. I presume you can get from other bookshops.But the interesting thing about this bookshop is that electronic images of LV history book in a cabinet hole.
In this cabinet hole, USING BOOK FLIPPING IMAGING TECHNOLOGY, one can read a book. This "electronic" book is on the 2nd floor. There is an opening in the cabinet. A light projector shows an image of a Louis Vuitton book - the history of LV. "Just wave your hand from right to left," the young salesman in black suit and tie said, "And the book pages will turn by themselves." No need to manually flip the pages. Words are bigger. Pictures are bigger. Telling the story of the founder of LV and his heir.
I swept my right palm on top of the cabinet which had 4 small lights. The book turned for first 3 pages back and forward. Very impressive.
After 3 pages, the images of next few pages would not turn anymore. Surely, the history of LV could not be 3 pages? This would be the teething problem of all start ups. But this is a technology that will encourage the internet generation to read. If it works.
LOUIS VUITTON CITY GUIDES to European Cities and New York. Excellent idea. But will they sell?
CONCLUSION.
Is there a place for a doggy theme bookshop in Singapore?
This will be hard to tell. But if there is a strong branded name equivalent to LV and selling dog-related products and veterinary and dog 0services, it is possible that a theme doggy bookshop will be a viable business.
A tourist attraction for tourists who love books and doggies. The brand name of this dog company attracts the visitors. The theme doggy bookshop makes them want to visit the place. It must have a variety of doggy books. From all over the world.
Will this concept work? I think it will. I remember reading about a casino gambling bookstore in Las Vegas. Nothing but gaming. It became a reference centre and meeting place. A theme bookshop specialising in gaming actually. Maybe should open a branch in Singapore with the 2 integrated casinos being opened. The success or failure of the bookshop depends on the operator of the bookshop. The knowledge of the operator. the passion and experience. Where to find such a person?
I have a feeling that a theme doggy bookshop in Singapore will be a viable business proposition if it is connected with doggy products and services. Of course, this bookshop should have books for all pet lovers as doggy owners do keep other pets and do have friends and families who keep more than one species of pets. Like hamsters, rabbits and iguanas?
Online competition and big bookstores are the main competitors for theme bookshops operated by private individuals. Can the profitability be sustained in Singapore? It is a hard question to answer.
Young people in Singapore seldom read books, other than their text books. They are the internet generation. Click and SMS type.
So, is the business of a theme bookshop selling doggy books a viable business? Will it be profitable? I don't know. This doggy concept has never been tried before in Singapore nor in Taipei. I visited the biggest bookshop in Taipei near the Taipei Tower 101 for 3 times during my visit to Taipei.
A book lover's dream boat. Six floors of books. I could not believe it. Not more than 10 titles on dogs. Are there dogs or dog lovers in Taiwan or not? Singapore's biggest book store has more doggy books than this super bookstore in Taipei.
TWO THEME BOOK SHOPS IN TAIPEI.I discover 2 theme bookshops in Taipei.
MOVIE THEME
One is at the ZhongShan Road. This is the equivalent of Orchard Road of Singapore. The bookshop is housed in the ex-US Ambassador's Residence. It sells books based on movies. Its cafe is crowded with young people.
ART, TRAVEL, LIFESTYLE & LOUIS VUITTON THEME.
I read from the Taipei Times that the 4th storey of the newly opened Louis Vuitton luxury store has a bookshop. What has LV to do with books? I associate LV with luxurious handbags. What sort of books do they sell?
The Taipei LV store is a 4-storey building. The young salesman told me that Taipei LV's bookshop is the second one. The big one is in Paris. The 4th floor is beautifully decorated. Around 150 sq ft of space. Not enough space to display the books and there are more on the 2nd floor.Black books shelves with rich brown laminated drawers.
Arts, travel and lifestyle. Beautiful books. I presume you can get from other bookshops.But the interesting thing about this bookshop is that electronic images of LV history book in a cabinet hole.
In this cabinet hole, USING BOOK FLIPPING IMAGING TECHNOLOGY, one can read a book. This "electronic" book is on the 2nd floor. There is an opening in the cabinet. A light projector shows an image of a Louis Vuitton book - the history of LV. "Just wave your hand from right to left," the young salesman in black suit and tie said, "And the book pages will turn by themselves." No need to manually flip the pages. Words are bigger. Pictures are bigger. Telling the story of the founder of LV and his heir.
I swept my right palm on top of the cabinet which had 4 small lights. The book turned for first 3 pages back and forward. Very impressive.
After 3 pages, the images of next few pages would not turn anymore. Surely, the history of LV could not be 3 pages? This would be the teething problem of all start ups. But this is a technology that will encourage the internet generation to read. If it works.
LOUIS VUITTON CITY GUIDES to European Cities and New York. Excellent idea. But will they sell?
CONCLUSION.
Is there a place for a doggy theme bookshop in Singapore?
This will be hard to tell. But if there is a strong branded name equivalent to LV and selling dog-related products and veterinary and dog 0services, it is possible that a theme doggy bookshop will be a viable business.
A tourist attraction for tourists who love books and doggies. The brand name of this dog company attracts the visitors. The theme doggy bookshop makes them want to visit the place. It must have a variety of doggy books. From all over the world.
Will this concept work? I think it will. I remember reading about a casino gambling bookstore in Las Vegas. Nothing but gaming. It became a reference centre and meeting place. A theme bookshop specialising in gaming actually. Maybe should open a branch in Singapore with the 2 integrated casinos being opened. The success or failure of the bookshop depends on the operator of the bookshop. The knowledge of the operator. the passion and experience. Where to find such a person?
I have a feeling that a theme doggy bookshop in Singapore will be a viable business proposition if it is connected with doggy products and services. Of course, this bookshop should have books for all pet lovers as doggy owners do keep other pets and do have friends and families who keep more than one species of pets. Like hamsters, rabbits and iguanas?
Online competition and big bookstores are the main competitors for theme bookshops operated by private individuals. Can the profitability be sustained in Singapore? It is a hard question to answer.
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