January 28th, 2008, 08:24
Bookazine founder sets up online store to sell foreign titles
WORANUJ MANEERUNGSEE - Bangkok Post
The former owner of Bookazine, a local retail chain for foreign magazines and books, has set up an online bookshop, which claims to be the first of its kind in Thailand to specialise in English-language titles.
Richard Murray, a Canadian, founded Bookazine in the early 1990s and sold the chain to Asia Books in 2001. He said his new venture, Megabooksthailand.com, would sell foreign novels and magazines, the products he had specialised in when he ran the physical bookshop.
A company representative said the website would offer prices cheaper than those at bricks-and-mortar bookshops to attract customers. The strong baht is one factor that has made imported titles cheaper.
Mr Murray, the chairman of RAM Holdings, which runs the website, said that as the local currency strengthens, readers should benefit. But that was not the case in the magazine business where prices have remained unchanged despite the continued baht appreciation.
The site will provide convenience to shoppers by offering a delivery service. It targets the foreign community in Thailand, including long-stay visitors as well as the growing number of Thais who buy English-language magazines and books.
Though there are many stores in Thailand selling foreign-language books and magazines, it is still difficult for readers outside major cities to find bookshops selling English-language material. The online bookshop will be the answer for them, Mr Murray said.
In addition to its online store, Megabooks has two physical shops in Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand's fastest-growing retirement destination for foreigners.
Asiabooks also have an online bookstore which I have used and it works well.
WORANUJ MANEERUNGSEE - Bangkok Post
The former owner of Bookazine, a local retail chain for foreign magazines and books, has set up an online bookshop, which claims to be the first of its kind in Thailand to specialise in English-language titles.
Richard Murray, a Canadian, founded Bookazine in the early 1990s and sold the chain to Asia Books in 2001. He said his new venture, Megabooksthailand.com, would sell foreign novels and magazines, the products he had specialised in when he ran the physical bookshop.
A company representative said the website would offer prices cheaper than those at bricks-and-mortar bookshops to attract customers. The strong baht is one factor that has made imported titles cheaper.
Mr Murray, the chairman of RAM Holdings, which runs the website, said that as the local currency strengthens, readers should benefit. But that was not the case in the magazine business where prices have remained unchanged despite the continued baht appreciation.
The site will provide convenience to shoppers by offering a delivery service. It targets the foreign community in Thailand, including long-stay visitors as well as the growing number of Thais who buy English-language magazines and books.
Though there are many stores in Thailand selling foreign-language books and magazines, it is still difficult for readers outside major cities to find bookshops selling English-language material. The online bookshop will be the answer for them, Mr Murray said.
In addition to its online store, Megabooks has two physical shops in Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand's fastest-growing retirement destination for foreigners.
Asiabooks also have an online bookstore which I have used and it works well.