Image credit: The Printing Report
KUALA LUMPUR: Physical books will stand the test of time as the industry continues to evolve and remain relevant to readers, say experts.
Former Books Kinokuniya's Asia-Pacific senior store and merchandising director Kenny Chan said collaborations among players in the ecosystem were crucial in ensuring their survival.
"The future is still bright for physical books, as long as booksellers and publishers remain connected to their customers.
"Kinokuniya remains true to its core values, while supporting the local ecosystem. For example, Kinokuniya's bookstore in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has a strong Arabic section, while the one we have in KLCC, Malaysia, offers many Malay books," said Chan at a talk titled 'New Models in the Bookselling Business' held in conjunction of the KL International Book Fair (PBAKL).
Chan, who now works as a consultant at Kinokuniya, said it appealed to many customers as it gave attention to ambience, as well as offering a wide range of products and excellent services.
Another panellist, Malaysian Booktube Association (BooktubeMY) president Hafiz Latiff said it was created as a platform for book enthusiasts and content creators to hold discussions on books.
"Booktubers help highlight the works of writers and encourage a reading culture among viewers, regardless of the medium," he said.
As a publisher himself, Hafiz said Instagram was an effective tool to sell books, as the company was able to post pictures of books to appeal to customers.
Malaysian Book Industry Chamber (MBIC) chairman Keith Thong was the talk's host and Book Contractor Association of Malaysia president Adi Irwan was the moderator for the session held yesterday.
One of the publishers taking part in the book fair, Tertib Publishing founder and managing director Khairul Amar Razali said businesses, including those in the book industry, must be willing to invest in studying the market and take advantage of today's technology.
"Our publication caters to a niche market of mostly young professionals who seek knowledge and enlightenment.
"As we focus on English Islamic books, we're able to market our books in other countries like the United States and United Kingdom, while opening doors to collaborative works with authors from around the world," he told the New Straits Times.
He said 40 per cent of the company's revenue was derived from online sales, and he foresees possibilities for it to grow further.
Amar said companies should use social media and online sales platforms to stay relevant, especially with the young audience.
Networking, he said, was as important in introducing the company's name to others in the field and planning future collaborations.
"We have to work with others in order to thrive in the business. Ninety-percent of Tertib's revenue comes from business-to-business (B2B) like public libraries and bookstores; and the remaining 10 per cent from business-to-customers."
Held until Sunday at Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, the 39th PBA is hosted by the National Book Council of Malaysia (MBKM).
It features over 700 booths involving about 200 local and international publishers including those from Indonesia, Singapore and Turkey.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/06/802977/future-still-bright-physical-books-say-experts