Entrepreneurs showcase the business of books through ‘Sheraa Community Talks’ at SIBF 2023
Entrepreneurs have emphasised that despite the prevalence of digital books, traditional paper books still hold a prominent place among readers. This assertion came during a panel discussion organised by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) at the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, where entrepreneurs showcased their startup journeys and innovative projects in the book sector.
From Diplomat to Founder of a Cultural Cafe
In the session Khaled Al Ali, Chairman of the Zayed Bookshop, shared his journey to launch his startup. “Having served as a diplomat, I visited numerous libraries during my foreign trips. The abundance of books in various languages impressed me to the extent that I created a list of books I wanted to buy from every country I visited.”
Upon returning to the UAE, he launched the business curating his book shop with the many titles he had discovered abroad. The retail outlet, located in Umm Al Quwain, caters to the diverse needs of readers, serving as both a bookstore and a cultural cafe.
He pointed out that the project started months before COVID-19 and he quickly had to adapt and collaborate with delivery services to bring books directly to readers’ homes. He affirmed that readers derive greater enjoyment from reading paper books than electronic ones, noting that they have regained their status as the preferred medium for reading.
Monthly Subscription for Children’s Books
Nada Al Awadhi, Director of ‘The Bookshelf,’ shared her mission to instil the love of reading in society and prepare a generation ready to lead and innovate. “I used to purchase Arabic and English books every month or two to encourage my children to read.”
Due to the convenience of accessing English content online, especially during the pandemic when libraries closed their doors, the mother of two children decided to establish a monthly subscription service for Arabic children’s books to provide culturally relevant and engaging content.
She stressed that children’s extended use of tablets is one of the most challenging aspects of their upbringing, especially since it impacts their mental growth, affirming that reading is the best means for the education and upbringing of children.
Selling Used Books Online
Asma Alkamali, Founder of ‘Naqraa,’ an environmentally conscious startup dedicated to restoring and selling pre-owned books, launched her initiative during the pandemic when she had an excess of books after reading 200 books above her reading average. She found it imperative to get rid of the excess books.
Starting on Instagram, the project gained popularity, selling around a thousand books per month. Most of their books are in Arabic, and the concept of selling used books was initially unfamiliar in their community. However, she said the idea succeeded, and they plan to launch a website and open a bookstore soon.
Circulating and Recycling Used Books
Grace Kareem, Founder of the ‘Bookends’ project, operates a platform for buying and selling used books. The project involves acquiring pre-owned books, showcasing them on the platform, and compensating the seller with either cash or book purchases.
She said: “The platform offers around 20,000 books in 13 different languages, catering to Dubai’s diverse population. We also established a physical store with 5,000 titles to encourage reading by offering books at affordable prices and encouraging the circulation of books before they reach a state where they need to be recycled.”
The founder noted that they worked on delivering books to all seven emirates during the pandemic, a move that received praise from everyone, asserting that paper books will continue to be in demand.
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