Discover new Hong Kong: physical bookstores The vitality of the century-old brand is still the same

Source: CCTV 06-26 07:03

When it comes to Hong Kong's culture, we have to mention Hong Kong's news and publishing industry. In Hong Kong, a land of scarce land, a series of unique physical bookstores support the humanistic atmosphere of a city.

bookshop

In the past five years, in the face of the great development of online bookstores and the impact of rising rents of physical stores, the century-old brands represented by Sanlian Bookstore and The Commercial Press have continuously rejuvenated new vitality in Hong Kong with tenacity and innovation.

Located in the Book Centre of Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, the Commercial Press is one of the most popular shops in the entire Miramar mall on weekends. Hong Kong residents and tourists come here to read and buy books. However, it is such a popular bookstore that has moved three times in the past five years in the face of rising rent pressure.

Liu Mei'er

Liu Mei'er, store manager of the Commercial Press: Usually in Hong Kong, we will always move. We moved here for several years, but our positioning is actually not very different, we have always hoped to open a relatively large store, in a more important location in Hong Kong, a more complete book store.

In order to expand its business, the Commercial Press opened two more cultural and creative boutiques next to the flagship store, as well as a children's toy store. In order to find ways to keep old readers in the bookstore and attract new readers to the bookstore.

Similarly, Sanlian Bookstore in Wan Chai, under such a business philosophy, has transformed into a "cultural life club" in Sanlian Wan Chai. In addition to cafes, creative product sales areas, etc., there is also an open kitchen attached, providing a place for readers in the surrounding area to consume cultural consumption with a strong sense of books and good service.

Hong Kong readers

Hong Kong reader: I usually, now is the time for dinner, I will come here to take a look, Hong Kong reading culture is still very good, now there are members here ah, I also have to participate.

It has a joint publishing group with a number of century-old publishing institutions such as Sanlian Bookstore, Commercial Press, Zhonghua Bookstore and so on, with a market share of more than 70% in Hong Kong. In the past five years, under the impact of the Internet, the physical bookstores in the mainland have been shrinking. But these long-established physical bookstores in Hong Kong have not decreased but have increased. From more than 30 stores five years ago to 52 today.

Li Jiping

Li Jiping, Vice President of United Publishing Group: The image of bookstore transformation, the improvement of bookstore experience, the improvement of the quality of service for readers, the combination of books and non-books, the combination of books and cultural activities, every year we will hold hundreds of cultural activities.

According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the 27th Hong Kong Book Fair in 2016 attracted more than 1.02 million participants, which has exceeded one million for three consecutive years. Almost one-seventh of Hong Kong citizens go to book fairs and buy books every year. The data shows that although the Internet has brought about changes in readers' reading habits and buying habits, readers' demand for reading and culture has not declined.

Wen Hongwu

Wen Hongwu, President of The United Publishing Group: Since the opening of the Commercial Press in Hong Kong in 1913, the United Publishing Group has been serving readers in Hong Kong for more than 100 years, and from the perspective of future development, we will also take root in Hong Kong, serve the Hong Kong society, take culture as the foundation, adhere to social benefits in the first place, adapt to the changes in the new needs of readers, lead the consumption habits of readers, and cultivate the reading atmosphere of Hong Kong.