KUALA LUMPUR: Physical books will stand the test of time as the industry is evolving to remain relevant, say experts.
Former Books Kinokuniya's Asia-Pacific senior store and merchandising director Kenny Chan says collaboration among industry players in the ecosystem is crucial in ensuring their survival.
"The future is still bright for physical books, as long as booksellers and publishers remain connected to their customers.
"Kinokuniya remains true to its core values, while supporting the local ecosystem. For example, Kinokuniya's bookstore in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has a strong Arabic section, while the one we have in KLCC, Malaysia, offers many Malay books," said Chan at a talk titled "New Models in the Bookselling Business" held on the sidelines of the in conjunction of the KL International Book Fair (PBAKL).
Chan, who now works as a consultant at Kinokuniya, said the book retailer appealed to customers for its ambience, as well as offering a range of products and excellent services.
Another panellist, Malaysian Booktube Association (BooktubeMY) president Hafiz Latiff said the group was created as a platform for book enthusiasts and content creators to hold discussions on books.
"Booktubers help highlight the works of writers and encourage a reading culture among viewers, regardless of medium."
Hafiz, who is a publisher, said Instagram was an effective tool to sell books as the company was able to post pictures of books to appeal to customers.
Malaysian Book Industry Chamber chairman Keith Thong, hosted the was the talk, while Book Contractor Association of Malaysia president Adi Irwan moderated.
Tertib Publishing founder and managing director Khairul Amar Razali said businesses, including those in the book industry, must study the market and take advantage of today's technology.
"Our publications cater to a niche market of mostly young professionals who seek knowledge and enlightenment.
"As we focus on English Islamic books, we're able to market our books in other countries, like the United States and United Kingdom, while opening doors to collaborative works with authors from around the world," he told the New Straits Times.
He said 40 per cent of the company's revenue was derived from online sales, and he foresees it would grow.
Amar said companies should use social media and online platforms to stay relevant, especially with youth.
Networking, he said, was important to introduce the company to the industry and plan future collaborations.
"We have to work with others in order to thrive in the business.
"Ninety per cent of Tertib's revenue comes from business-to-business, like public libraries and bookstores; and the remaining 10 per cent from business-to-customers."
Held until Sunday at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, the book fair is hosted by the National Book Council of Malaysia.
It features over 700 booths from about 200 local and international publishers, including from Indonesia, Singapore and Turkey.