Business of books survives uncertainties
Business of books survives uncertainties
* Traders, readers see pirated books as blessing By Atif KhanISLAMABAD: At a time when most businesses are facing downtrend, business of books, old and new, remains unhurt, reveals a Daily Times survey.“Recent law and order situation, power cuts and inflation hardy affected our business. Our clients keep on buying books come what may,” Ajmal Khan, a bookshop owner at Jinnah Super, said.He said he paid Rs 120,000 shop rent and his expenses reached Rs 135,000 per month but he was earning reasonable profit.He said pirated books were not only good for sale but also opened a new window of opportunity for book readers, who were reluctant to buy expensive books. He said a world bestseller was available for only Rs 120-200.Khan said in order to benefit maximum readers and earn more, he had started a book club. He said the books sold from his shop were bought back at half the price, allowing readers to afford pursuit of their interest.There are more then one dozen old bookshops at Super Market, Jinnah Super, Melody, I-10, 1-8 Markaz, and Blue Area, offering original and pirated books on fiction, literature, science, romance, horror, politics, poetry etc. Old books are available for Rs 20- 200 and pirated editions of new books cost between Rs 100-300 depending on their author, subject and number of pages. Malik Sattar, owner of a bookshop at Super Market, said he was very satisfied with his business of old books. He said along with old books, he also sold syllabus books, magazines and other printed stuff, adding sale of old books accounted for 50 percent of his business.He said these old books were imported from different countries via Dubai, where they were considered a waste and were available at a very cheap price. “I am fond of books. I am very selective and expensive books turn me off. But thanks to these old bookstores, I can afford my hobby. After reading a book I can sell it at half the price,” said Rana Mubashir, adding he read five-seven books a month by spending up to Rs 500-700.Hafeez Alam said he took to book reading after spoiling his many years on net surfing. “Internet, chatting and games on computer are a waste of time that consumed three years of my life. Now I have been pleased to start reading books,” he said.Sarwar Soharwardi, a college teacher, termed availability of old books at lower price a blessing. He advised students to adopt book reading as a hobby.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\10\story_10-11-2008_pg11_5
* Traders, readers see pirated books as blessing By Atif KhanISLAMABAD: At a time when most businesses are facing downtrend, business of books, old and new, remains unhurt, reveals a Daily Times survey.“Recent law and order situation, power cuts and inflation hardy affected our business. Our clients keep on buying books come what may,” Ajmal Khan, a bookshop owner at Jinnah Super, said.He said he paid Rs 120,000 shop rent and his expenses reached Rs 135,000 per month but he was earning reasonable profit.He said pirated books were not only good for sale but also opened a new window of opportunity for book readers, who were reluctant to buy expensive books. He said a world bestseller was available for only Rs 120-200.Khan said in order to benefit maximum readers and earn more, he had started a book club. He said the books sold from his shop were bought back at half the price, allowing readers to afford pursuit of their interest.There are more then one dozen old bookshops at Super Market, Jinnah Super, Melody, I-10, 1-8 Markaz, and Blue Area, offering original and pirated books on fiction, literature, science, romance, horror, politics, poetry etc. Old books are available for Rs 20- 200 and pirated editions of new books cost between Rs 100-300 depending on their author, subject and number of pages. Malik Sattar, owner of a bookshop at Super Market, said he was very satisfied with his business of old books. He said along with old books, he also sold syllabus books, magazines and other printed stuff, adding sale of old books accounted for 50 percent of his business.He said these old books were imported from different countries via Dubai, where they were considered a waste and were available at a very cheap price. “I am fond of books. I am very selective and expensive books turn me off. But thanks to these old bookstores, I can afford my hobby. After reading a book I can sell it at half the price,” said Rana Mubashir, adding he read five-seven books a month by spending up to Rs 500-700.Hafeez Alam said he took to book reading after spoiling his many years on net surfing. “Internet, chatting and games on computer are a waste of time that consumed three years of my life. Now I have been pleased to start reading books,” he said.Sarwar Soharwardi, a college teacher, termed availability of old books at lower price a blessing. He advised students to adopt book reading as a hobby.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\10\story_10-11-2008_pg11_5
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