fang suo commune in Guangzhou, China is a stunning retail business. It’s a bookshop, magazine shop, gift shop, stationery shop, clothes shop and coffee shop. Oh, and it’s an art gallery – all in the one large open space in a premium shopping mall.
It was quiet, even at the sales counter. The product mix was eclectic and interesting and the staff attentive.
fang suo commune is the best bookshop I have ever seen. Their coffee is among the best I have had. If I lived locally, this is where I would do Christmas shopping.
Here is an example of their approach too magazines. You walk through the tunnel and there are magazines on the inside walls. They have magazines on the outside walls as well. Do not be mistaken by the photo. The experience, live in the space, is extraordinary.
I never expected I would suggest retailers look at retail in Guangzhou, China for inspiration. Having been to fang suo commune and many other shops I’d suggest we have plenty to learn from such a competitive and innovative retail situation.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have seen tis.
The revive of bookshops in major Chinese Cities:
I had just read an analysis report that more and more premium bookshops such as fang suo commune will be back to premium shopping malls in major Chinese Cities. Of course, the shopping malls provides incentives, such as 90% off rent or even free rent to the bookshops and expect the bookshops create a relax and inspiring experience for their customers.
The major reason is the traditional tenants for this type of premium shopping malls, department stores, cloth stores had been destroyed by online retailer such as Taobao and JD. These shopping malls introduces many lifestyle shops. These premium bookshops becomes flagships in this transformation.
Since 2008, Chinese book retailers retreated from major cities because of impact from the Internet. Now they revive for the same reason.