Crossword Brick-and-Mortar stores need improvement

I always did a balancing (!) act in books shopping between online and brick-and-mortar stores.
Crossword, JP Nagar and Sapna Bookhouse are the ones I frequent.  Sapna bookhouse theme is a completely different.  Crossword, JP Nagar is not really attractive.

This is despite Crossword, JP Nagar having a Coffee Day outlet and engages Kathalya team for a weekend story telling event. 

Price modified by Crossword

Here are my top annoyances for the bookstore:

• The floor carpet has too many bandaids and really turns me off seeing the carpet cello tape all over.
• The staff do not know anything about books
• They hike the prices 
• Their telephone numbers are incorrect in their bill, on their portal, google search etc
• Book events are too random

 Given the potential residential customers in the neighbourhood and also the Miniforest park visitors, Crossword is failing to bank on.

I discuss this with the shop supervisor time to time. There is no action from his end. 
I wish Sapna were around.

 

30 Ways to show your love for books

May this new year 2016 bring more learning, new learning, fresh insights for all of us.

This new year, let us -

1. read new books
2. meet new authors
3. gift books to dear ones
4. write more
5. talk, tweet, blog, speak about books
6. organize book get togethers
7. participate in book events
8. fall in love madly with books
9. build new libraries at home
10. help others build new libraries
11. let us visit libraries
12. donate books for the underprivileged
13. spread awareness about books to kids
14. make everyday reading day as a daily routine
15. find pleasure, solutions, peace in reading
16. follow every news on books
17. appreciate someone reading on the public transport
18. socialize with everyone who reads a book
19. always carry a book or two whereever we go
20. stop piracy on books
21. collect rare books 
22. rearrange our bookshelves
23. preserve our books by maintaining them properly
24. create cute bookmarks
25. when you want to say "I love you", do it with a book
26. Befriend the booksellers
27. Leave a book recommendation sheet secretly 
28. Write reviews about the books online
29. Buy additional copies of books (to gift) for special occasions 
30. And read books not just english, but also our regional languages

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016! 

Books destroyed in Chennai Floods

Every disaster brings opportunities.

The recent Chennai floods have destroyed books in various libraries at Chennai.

When I used to be in Chennai, I used to frequent Devanaya Paavanar libraries and I used to spend atleast half a day on the college days and on the weekends. 

Books piled up at the entrance of the Ashok Nagar branch public library. (Photo: DC) 

 

 

Books are like living organisms and they have souls.  Sad they got destroyed.  Hope, the human community come together to revive the libraries.

Bangalore Book Festival 2013

[Updated 29.11.2013 7.35 pm]  This event has been called off by the organizers.

[Updated 07.12.2013 10:05 pm] Book Fest may be held in Jan (link)
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My Original Post:

The much awaited Bangalore Book Festival 2013 will start from 29th November.  The grand event is scheduled at Tripura Vasani, Palace Grounds, Bangalore.

The exhibition is between 29th Nov - 8th Dec.

This will be the much awaited event of the year for the book lovers and bibliophiles. The event normally starts in the October and also spread for more than 2 weeks.  However, this time it happens only for 10 days.  The public will get two weekends to visit this book exhibition.

Approximately under 300 stalls, the books are expected to be in English and all Indian languages. Usually, the book stalls give a discount of 20% - this is far lesser than online shopping.  But I personally encourage buying from stores regularly to support the publishing community.

I wish the book exhibition differentiates itself beyond regular and popular books. We also would like to see rare books, unique ones. Also, bibliophiles would love to see bookshelves.  Self Publishing companies and City Libraries also should make their presence wide.

I am looking forward for the event.



[ADDED] Some more personal links:

My daughter Diya at Bangalore Book Festival 2010

Diya exploring the stage in Bangalore Book Festival 2008 (she was 2 years then)

Bangalore Book Festival 2009

I had been to the much awaited Bangalore Book Festival 2009 yesterday. For the first time, I had taken my entire family and they certainly enjoyed. I determined not to buy any English books as I can buy them as well from FlipKart.com for a good discount.  My plan was to buy Tamil books as I would get them for a discount of 10%.  My family picked the most of the books. I got an opportunity to interact with Flipkart folks and shared my feedback. Apart from that we also bought several small books for my kid. I will be adding the purchased books details in my online library catalogue.

I am not sure if I would visit them again today or next week.

I am also eagerly waiting for the Strand Book Festival that is expected around Nov 26th or so near Chaluyka Hotel.

Related News
News in Indian Express
DNA India
Times of India

Online Book Shops

By the way, a mini disclaimer. Its just a coincidence that I write on few websites these days. Recently, I have been frequenting Flipkart.com but have not purchased anything yet.

I have purchased books through firstandsecond.com, rediff, indiatimes and fabmall extensively in the past. I also have received books through Citibank's loyalty points. (Want to share a bad experience here: For a book of worth Rs.96, Citibank took 250 points from my account. They even said 1 point equals 1 Re. but they could not justify how 250 equals 96). 

Many online websites review that Flipkart is similar to Amazon. But I find Flipkart's costs are dead cheap. I get my books from Sapna Books, Books Paradise, Landmark, Crossword, through office library and other book exhibitions. Landmark which never had a discounted sale (probably not realizing the competition from the locals?), recently is running a discount sale.

Next month, we can also expect a discount sale in Palace Grounds followed by one in Strand. 

Flipkart is the online website that provides very discount. No shipping charges!  I am planning to try their services.

Also read:
Interview with Flipkart Founder Binny Bansal