![]() ![]() They did so by increasing the inventory and product selection in their e-commerce channels.īut because of this focus, other aspects of the businesses had to suffer – Daez said that one of the initial challenges they had was temporarily closing down “non-essential” physical stores. Instead of us expecting the customers to walk into our stores, we need to do everything possible to bring the product directly to the customer in the comforts of their home,” Daez said. “We needed to adapt to the situation, and pivot by selling more online. The pandemic saw Fully Booked’s first branch closure at Venice Grand Canal Mall in August 2020, only a few months after Fully Booked reopened their online store in April for Metro Manila and provincial deliveries. “Like all retail stores, the challenge for us was the huge decrease of people walking into our stores due to the pandemic,” Daez said. Since March 2020, Fully Booked’s branches have never been the same. Plastic covers remained unopened books gained dust on shelves. Demand for online transactions spiked, and suddenly, customers who would spend hours shelf shopping and book surfing inside their favorite branches no longer showed up. The Fully Booked website, back then, was more for customers who didn’t have a Fully Booked branch to visit near them.īut the pandemic changed that. They also have shops on Lazada and Shopee. But prior to their recent strong online presence, Daez shared that Fully Booked’s main pre-pandemic focus had always been the growth of their physical stores. It was an organic and gradual growth, always striving to be customer-driven,” Daez told Rappler, sharing how Fully Booked was born.Īlmost two decades later, Fully Booked now has 27 stores nationwide, plus a Metro Manila and provincial online store. “Eventually, our customer base grew, and so did their demand for a wider selection. He then started what was used to be called Bibliarch. Daez noted a lack of these materials in the local market, and brought it upon himself to meet that demand. From Bibliarch to Fully Booked: Turning the pageįully Booked actually started as a niche bookstore selling only art and design books, because of founder and managing director Jaime Daez’s education and training as an architect. And for a bookstore that started as a mere specialty shop in 2003 and organically grew to what we know as Fully Booked today, the homegrown brand tells Rappler why they aren’t ready to close that chapter just yet. Despite closing a few doors, their other doors would remain open. Other branches would still be open, and customers could still order via their website. However, despite news of the closures, Fully Booked reassured customers that they wouldn’t be going anywhere. What did it take for such an established, successful bookstore chain to buckle to the pandemic’s dire effects that suddenly? What does this mean then for the smaller, local businesses and struggling mom-and-pop shops? And what may be most unsettling for many was the fact that such a big name wasn’t spared. It was inevitable – the pandemic has ravaged almost every industry, especially the retail sector – but the expectation didn’t make the reality feel any less sad. However sudden the announcement was, many weren’t too shocked. Patrons were at an emotional loss – a favorite safe place, hangout spot, and reliable refuge they used to frequent pre-pandemic would no longer be waiting for them after. Their S’Maison branch was also temporarily closed until further notice. The worst part was that most patrons couldn’t physically say goodbye – by the time Fully Booked announced the closures on January 13, Fully Booked’s branch in Torre Lorenzo, Taft Avenue already closed the day before, the Century City Mall branch was closing shop on that day, and the Ayala Vertis North branch only had a few weeks left. As if the pandemic wasn’t harsh enough, now their favorite community bookstores had to go, too? MANILA, Philippines – When Fully Booked suddenly announced that they would be closing down three of their Metro Manila branches for good, bookworms and loyal patrons around the city were crushed. ![]()
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