Once obtained from the sellers, the books were exposed to direct sunlight and then subjected to an ultra-violet light scan before being dispatched to customers through a courier service. For starters, they had to disinfect the used books and assure customers of the safety measures that were put in place as the items exchanged hands. Operating a business during the coronavirus crisis came with an unusual set of challenges. Once the seller decides on the price, Bookends adds its service fee of Dh5 per book. Sellers can contact the founders through the website, Instagram or WhatsApp to discuss the condition of the books and agree on a resale price.Ī minimum of a 50 per cent markdown on the original retail price is typically advised. The Bookends website allows buyers in the UAE to browse through its collection of used books, place an order online and pay cash on delivery. In the US, adult fiction book sales rose by 23 per cent in the five weeks ending June 5, compared to the previous five-week period ending May 2, when most states were under stay-at-home orders, according to the NPD Group. The trend is helping to offset some of the damage suffered by book shops shut by the Covid-19 pandemic. but there are a few times when you sit back and say, 'Is this the right direction?'”Īround the world, online book sales are increasing as people at home, including those in self-isolation, seek escapism and education amid restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. "Book lovers would say, ‘Now I don’t have to pay so much’. “The feedback we got was overwhelming," says Ms Anwar, an adjunct instructor at the American University of Sharjah’s School of Business Administration. Starting a new business during a global pandemic was no mean feat for the two friends and co-founders, who oscillated between doubt and assurance. They eventually went into business in January as the coronavirus pandemic began to spread, upending the global economy and transforming consumer behaviour. The Sharjah residents did not find the elusive charmed shelf but instead came up the idea for Bookends, a website that allows users to buy and sell pre-owned books at discounted prices. For years, Somia Anwar and Grace Karim wished they could find a magical shelf that would come up with new books once their children outgrew the old ones, helping nurture their love of reading without having to make expensive trips to the bookstore or cluttering rooms.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |