ASIA BOOKS REPORTS "FLAT SALES GROWTH"
The Bangkok Post reports today that Asia Books, Thailand's largest English language bookstore chain, is expecting "flat sales growth" this year, citing fewer foreign tourists as the reason.
The company, with has 67 branches across Thailand (37 of which are branded as Bookazine and two as Book Outlet), reports a 30 per cent decline in sales to foreign buyers this year. It also says sales to local customers are expected to rise 10 per cent this year.
Interestingly, the company also reveals that foreign buyers account for 40 per cent of sales. I wonder how they differentiate between local and foreign? I am a local foreigner.
Asia Books, the article says, accounts for about half of Thailand's market in English language books. In recent months it has also started to carry a small range of the most popular Thai language magazines. Given Thais are responsible for 60 per cent of their business I can only see this increasing.
2 comments:
If Asia Books were to display the magazines publishers send them it would help their sales hugely.
For example, at the All Seasons Place branch on Wireless Road, past editions of Director have sold out reasonably quickly. We send 10-15 copies. They have failed to put any of the latest edition on display, meaning the magazine loses valuable exposure and Asia Books lose sales (as do I).
I have been to other Asia Books stores and the same story is repeated. What makes it worse is they are our distributors! They have managed to find Kinokuniya and Villa Market, but not their own stores.
It's very disheartening.
Gareth,
If the 30 per cent decline in sales to foreigners is replicated in the imported magazine sector (which I guess will be, because a lot of the imported mags will be purchased by non Thais), that spells even more bad news for Asia Books because Distri Thai, the import company, is also part of their organisation.
Asia Books isn't alone, in my experiences, in having occasional distribution issues. A few months ago we had three-month old copies of one of our own magazines still on sale. The moment we notified them they were removed.
But that said I have personally found them to be responsive to any problems, and also open to suggestions.
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