Taiwanese bookstore Eslite admits 'survival is not easy' in Hong Kong
Ahead of the debut of its third store in the city, Eslite's top executive says each one is tailored to its location
Facing a variety of challenges, Taiwanese bookstore chain Eslite is tailoring each new store to match the nature of its district, with the next one in Taikoo Shing focusing on family and lifestyle elements, its chairman said.
Visiting Eslite's second store in the city in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday, company founder and chairman Robert Wu Ching-yu said it was imperative the chain learned more about the city. It wanted to "build stores that correspond to the character of the local community and the needs of local readers", he added.
Noting that its space in Taikoo Shing will be "totally different" from its offering in Tsim Sha Tsui, Wu said a "classic and contemporary style" will be featured at the newest store and that "family and lifestyle will be the focus".
He added that the store would be similar to what customers experienced in Taiwan, which he called "our ideal Eslite style".
The new store in Taikoo Shing is expected to open early next year.
"From the beginning, Eslite has not just been about selling books," he said. "Our belief is to integrate the humanities, arts and creativity with daily life. It's only in recent years that we've enlarged our participation in the cultural and creative industry."