Book Off
{{Short description|Japanese chain of used bookstores}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Book Off (ブックオフコーポレーション)
| logo = Bookoff Corporation Logo.svg
| type = Bookstore
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| foundation = {{startdate|1991|08|01}}
| founder = Takashi Sakamoto
| location_city = Sagamihara, Kanagawa
| location_country = Japan
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| area_served = Worldwide
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| industry = Retail
| products = Second-hand books, magazines, manga, CDs, DVDs, video games, video game consoles, mobile phones and portable media players
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{{nihongo|Book Off|ブックオフコーポレーション|Bukku Ofu Kōporēshon}} ({{tyo|3313}}), stylized as BOOKOFF, is Japan's largest chain of used bookstores. Founded in August 1991, the company has had explosive success, expanding to over 850 stores throughout Japan and several overseas locations. In addition to books, its chains also sell manga, CDs, DVDs, video games, and used video game consoles, mobile phones, portable media players, and sports equipment. Stores are distinguished by their large surface area, cleanliness, and bright illumination.
Operations
Book Off stores are large and browsing is encouraged. Another innovation cited for its success is the practice of shaving the edges off the pages of books using a special machine in order to make them appear newer.{{cite web |title =Screen savers: Japan's latest mobile craze: novels delivered to your handset |newspaper=The Economist |date=May 24, 2007 |url=http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9231860 }} By offering a wide selection of books that appear like new at reduced prices, Book Off has aggressively targeted conventional bookstore chains, which since 1953{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WSoj5nVrpR0C&pg=PA452|page=452|title=Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 5 Japan, Modern Japanese Society|isbn=90-04-10516-6|author=J. Kreiner|author2=U. Mvhwald|author3=H. D. Vlschleger|year=2004}} have been unable to discount new and near-new books and other media due to government regulations which enable a publisher's cartel.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EizYm46Kv_AC&pg=PA390|title=Global Strategy|author=Mike W. Peng|year=2008|isbn=978-0-324-59099-9|pages=390–393}}
Book Off is frequently cited as a rare example of a corporation that was able to grow during the so-called "lost decade" of economic stagnation that followed the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble, through its use of innovative business strategies.{{cn|date=December 2021}} It expanded from merely used books to used second-hand merchandise through its Hard Off stores, and to the video rental market through Tsutaya.
Brands
The Book Off group includes a range of sister brands including:https://www.hardoff.co.jp/shop/
- Hard Off, selling electronic goods and hardware
- Off House, selling household items
- Hobby Off, selling hobby related goods
- Mode Off, selling used fashion
- Garage Off
- Liquor Off
International stores
Book Off also operates several stores in the United States, two in Seoul and three in Paris.[https://lingonbook.fr/nos-boutiques-bookoff/ Nos Boutiques BOOKOFF] In 2012, it closed its only Canadian store in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the United States there are three stores in New York, ten in California, two in Hawaii, and one in Arizona. There are eight stores in Malaysia operating under the Jalan Jalan Japan brand.{{Cite web|title=Jalan Jalan Japan - Pre-loved Goods from Japan|url=https://www.jalanjalanjapan.com.my/page/origin|access-date=2021-12-07|website=www.jalanjalanjapan.com.my}}
Gallery
Image:Book Off Manga.jpg|Manga volumes on shelves at Book Off
Image:Book-Off! Opéra Paris.jpg|Book Off store near Opéra in Paris
Image:Book Off Game Books.jpg|Video game book section at a Book Off store
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Book Off}}
{{Portal|Companies|Books}}
- {{official website}}
- [http://www.bookoffusa.com/ U.S. website]
{{Bookstore Chains}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Companies based in Kanagawa Prefecture
Category:Retail companies established in 1991