The bookstore chain started by a Singaporean
once boasted seven outlets across the region.
But over the past five years, Basheer Graphic Books has
had to shut four of its stores.
And its Hong Kong branch will close on Dec 19, after 14
years, leaving an outlet in Bras Basah Complex and one in Kuala
Lumpur.
Its co-owner, Mr Abdul Nasser Basheer Ahmad, 52, said:
"I'm very sad to see it go.
"(The Hong Kong) outlet got our brand known among the
design community in mainland China and into those places-to-go
lists."
A 60 per cent drop in sales accompanied by high rental
forced its closure.
The Bras Basah Complex outlet also been recording lower
revenue - in 2006, it made sales of $120,000 a month. Nowadays,
monthly revenue is barely half of that.
Mr Nasser said: "It may seem like a decent amount, but
we've to cover the losses in our overseas stores and inventory
cost.
"It now takes longer to sell our inventory. What used
to take two months to sell now takes seven months.
"We often have to draw on our reserves to pay suppliers
because the books haven't been sold yet."
What used to take two months to sell now takes seven
months.Mr Abdul Nasser Basheer Ahmad
Mr Nasser first opened the store at Bras Basah Complex
in 1991. It mainly stocks graphic design, architecture and
photography books.
The store made its overseas foray soon after, opening
outlets in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Bangkok.
Mr Nasser said: "I predicted that readership would drop
one day, but not this fast. Looking back, even if I tried
something, I don't think I could've done anything to arrest (the
decline)."
Mr Nasser said books that cannot be found online or
have no discounts online sell better.
Freelance graphic designer Kite Koh, 24, has been
frequenting the Singapore bookstore at least once a month over the
past seven years.
Ms Koh said: "It's very important to have a
bookstore...
"You've to look for specific things online, but in a
bookshop, you can scour through the different books to find
inspiration."
Course manager for Temasek Polytechnic's diploma in
retail management, Mr Samuel Tan, 55, said Singaporeans prefer
reading online now.
"The library's physical visitorship and number of
library loans have decreased between 2012 and 2014, while digital
visitorship and e-retrievals have drastically increased between
2008 and 2014."
He suggested that bookshops should reconsider what
products were relevant and how to market them.
"Having an e-platform, negotiating with publishers to
make e-versions available, expanding the merchandise variety into
non-book areas like gift wares created by local artists are some
things they could consider," said Mr Tan.
BooksActually owner, Mr Kenny Leck, 38, said it was
possible to keep a physical bookstore afloat.
"As long as the rental does not skyrocket, we can still
make money. The key is to sell the right books - the ones you think
will sell as opposed to what the publishers want (you to
sell)."
Mr Nasser has tried to revitalise his bookstore's
fortunes by organising book-signings and reducing its staff by
half.
"These will tide us through a bit. We're not greedy...
We just want to sustain ourselves and see how far this can go," he
said.
TNP