It's usually the leather couches people mention first when they tell you about the wonderful new bookshop they've discovered in Roeland Street, Cape Town - the Book Lounge. Opened last December, complete with coffee bar, it has rapidly become a bibliophile 's hot spot in the city centre.
Book Lounge's Mervyn Sloman - Leather couches and lekker reads
"It's been amazing to see how many people have bought into our vision of what a bookshop should be," says Mervyn Sloman, a dedicated book lover who worked in the bookshop chains before achieving his dream.He cites endless reasons for its success. The beautiful old building: "People feel comfortable browsing here." His expert booksellers: "They're passionate about reading and about sharing their passion." His stock: "Many books you won't find in the chains." His book-tracing service: "Speedy." His numerous book launches: "They've become an important part of our identity. We do two to three a week."
- Sloman's Christmas suggestions: A Day at el Bulli by Ferran Adrią (Phaidon, R565). "For foodies. Needs to be seen to be believed." McSweeney's Quarterly Concern Volume 28 edited by Dave Eggers (McSweeney's, R320). "Brilliant mixture of quality stories, with a jaw-dropping design." In A Different Time by Peter Harris (Umuzi, R185). "The trial of the Delmas Four. One of the best books I've read this year."
Nice Books, Parkhurst, Johannesburg
Carla Edgar's Nice Books - People appreciate an owner-run business
Even though publishers make it hard for independents by giving better discounts to the large chains, says Carla Edgar, her little bookshop Nice Books - with the nice coffee and cakes - is doing very nicely, thank you.The ambience has a lot to do with it. You can relax on a sofa, or at a table on the pavement. "We are authentic, and people feel that," says Edgar. "I think they truly appreciate an owner-run business. They can sense each book is hand-picked. And they like the place. It's fun, calm, a bit eccentric."
Previously in corporate retail, first with Foschini and then Edcon, Edgar has always been a voracious reader. "I wanted to open a bookshop/coffee shop in Parkhurst because I live in the neighbourhood, and I think 4th Avenue is one of the best high streets in the country. But despite my best efforts the first location turned into a restaurant. I finally added the bookshop 10 months later."
Her most successful book launch has been, predictably, Harry Potter 7. But it's her Thursday book club evenings, when readers can get a meal and a rundown of the month's best 40-or-so books, that work towards making this a financially viable enterprise.
- Edgar's Christmas suggestions: Wisdom by Andrew Zuckerman (Wild Dog Press, R399). "Amazing people with amazing lives and amazing views." Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Horizon, R133). "Gripping read." The End of the Game by Peter Beard (Peter Hyde, R659). "A classic and an artistic anthology."
Xarra Books, Newtown, Johannesburg
Xarra Books, Newtown, Johannesburg
Trawling from finance house to finance house wasn't easy, says co-owner June Josephs-Langa. "Bankers would rather finance a chicken franchise, which is guaranteed to have them licking their fingers with delight."But this former diplomat and her business partner Kays Mguni finally found a financial institution with foresight, and opened Xarra Books in 2005 in the cultural precinct of Newtown. "Rents were easier to negotiate than in the suburbs, and the city experience is unparalleled."
What gives Xarra Books the edge is that it's a concept store. "An aesthetically pleasing interpretation of modern Afro-chic decor with a special focus on books from Africa and the African diaspora. A celebration of ourselves and Africa's richness."
The timing was perfect. "There is exploded marketability in all things African. So the media interest was phenomenal." And, of course, as wife of author Mandla Langa, she's plugged into a literary network. Xarra Books' reputation has grown from its high-profile book launches. Highlights have been Hugh Masekela's Still Grazing, Chris Abani's Graceland, and literary evenings with luminaries like George Bizos and Pius Langa, as well as Mandla Langa and national poet laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile.
Josephs-Langa says the book-buying market is growing - "especially among parents who want their children to know about their country, their continent and their own and other cultures. They see books as a wonderful medium to support these efforts, especially with the pervasiveness of the American culture."
- Josephs-Langa's Christmas suggestions: The Lost Colours of the Chameleon by Mandla Langa (Pan Mcmillan, R169). "Prophetic fictional mirroring of our current political scene." Magenta by Dennis Beckett (UKZN, R185). "Serious yet funny take on living in SA." Freedom Fighters by Chris van Wyk (Awareness Publishers, R1 300 for the series). "Great way to teach children their history and a refreshing alternative to Playstation!"
Kalk Bay Books, Cape Town
They've had to eat their words, all those pessimists who thought Ann Donald was mad when she opened an impressive bookshop in the False Bay backwoods. Two years later, the blue eyes of this ex-Fairlady editor are still smiling brightly, even though times are trickier.
"We are better positioned than larger stores to get through this period as we're not dependent on fickle, high-volume sales of mass market titles," says Donald. "Our customers are predominantly book lovers for whom not buying books is not an option. But they do become more discerning in what they buy, and our selection is geared to understanding what they'll be looking for."
Location is a vital factor. "We are in a highly visible spot in a key tourist area. Along with the locals who support us throughout the year, we get international visitors and weekend ones from broader Cape Town."
She limits launches to two a month - "though when we have the opportunity to host authors our customers will want to meet, we do one a week. Finuala Dowling, who lives in Kalk Bay, has drawn our biggest crowd, but we've had successful small events when guests engage directly with authors."
She does some trade online - "but we don't replicate the supermarket look of Amazon. Our website offers customers an experience of Kalk Bay Books, and they can place orders online and pay by bank transfer or when they collect."
- Donald's Christmas suggestions: Sartre's Sink by Mark Crick (Granta, R160). "A collection of literary DIY tips from the world's greatest writers that gives DIY-phobe s the perfect excuse not to spend their holidays fixing things." Trevor Manuel by Pippa Green (Penguin SA, R320). "The hottest biography on the shelves this Christmas." Companies that Changed the World by Jonathan Mantle (Quercus, R240). "Fifty companies and entrepreneurs that have influenced social and commercial history over the past 400 years."
Bookworld, Pietermaritzburg
Profits have increased steadily since Coleen Cook and her three partners bought out the Cascades branch of Shuter & Shooter Bookshop, which they'd been running since 1999, and renamed it Bookworld.
"Last year we had our most successful year since the takeover in 2003," says Cook, who was with Shuter & Shooter for 13 years. "We don't rely on any particular market sector. We supply books across the board for everyone, from book club customers to high school libraries. Sports book launches have been the most successful, and every year we have a stand at the Hilton Festival and the Heritage Festival."
- Cook's Christmas suggestions: For Crying Out Loud by Jeremy Clarkson (Penguin, R224). "Men love this BBC motoring chap." Madame and Eve Unplugged (Rapid Phase, R143). "For South Africans of all ages." Pirates of Polokwane by Zapiro (Jacana, R143). "For anyone interested in what's going on."
Ranking the Analysts 2009
Book Lounge: Tel: (021) 462-2425
