Book Off
| Bookstore | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Second-hand books, magazines, manga, CDs, DVDs, video games, video game consoles, mobile phones and portable media players |
| Website |
www |
Book Off (ブックオフコーポレーション Bukku Ofu Kōporēshon) (TYO: 3313) is Japan's largest chain of used bookstores. Founded in August 1991, the company has had explosive success, expanding to 866 stores throughout Japan and eight overseas locations (as of August 2006). In addition to books, its chains also sell manga, CDs, DVDs, video games, and even used video game consoles, mobile phones and portable media players. The stores are distinguished by their large surface area, cleanliness and bright illumination.
Operations
As stores are larger it is easier for shoppers to find what they are looking for. Browsing is encouraged, shown with a typical scene of high-school students who read through entire series of manga standing quietly in the aisles. Another innovation cited for its success is the practice of shaving the edges off the pages of books using a special machine in order to make them appear newer.[1] By offering a wide selection of books that appear like new at reduced prices, Book Off has aggressively targeted conventional bookstore chains, which since 1953[2] have been unable to discount new and near-new books and other media due to government regulations which enable a publisher's cartel.[3]
Book Off is frequently cited as a rare example of a corporation that was able to grow during the so-called "lost decade" of economic stagnation that followed the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble, through its use of innovative business strategies that are covered in the Japanese business press. It expanded from merely used books to used second-hand merchandise through its Hard Off stores and to the video rental market through Tsutaya.
International stores
Book Off also operates several stores in United States, two in Seoul and three in Paris. In 2012, it closed its only Canadian store in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Gallery
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Thousands of manga volumes at Book Off
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Book-Off! store near Opéra in Paris
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Japanese used game books sold at Book Off
References
- ↑ "Screen savers", The Economist, May 24, 2007
- ↑ J. Kreiner, U. Mvhwald, H. D. Vlschleger (2004). Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 5 Japan, Modern Japanese Society. p. 452. ISBN 90-04-10516-6.
- ↑ Mike W. Peng (2008). Global Strategy. pp. 390–393. ISBN 0-324-59099-7.
External links
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