It started as a one-year experiment to cure a career frustration. Eight years later, Lit Books has become a favourite among many readers, particularly those who enjoy a more curated and meaningful book browsing experience. But behind the curated shelves and cozy atmosphere lies the tough reality of running an independent bookstore in Malaysia.
Co-founder Fong Min Hun joins us to share the story of Lit Books. He discusses the transition from journalism and consulting to retail, the operational challenges of slow logistics and cash flow, and how they survived the pandemic by hand-delivering books via the LRT.
We discuss:
The "do it or shut up" moment that launched Lit Books.
The commercial reality of being "two months away from shuttering."
Why cash flow, not just profit, keeps a business alive.
How they expanded to e-commerce overnight during the pandemic.
And much more...
Some book mentions and recommendations from Min Hun:
The South by Tash Aw
Fierce Land by Omar Musa
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Meltdown: Scandal, Sleaze and the Collapse of Credit Suisse by Duncan Mavin
For book lovers and aspiring retailers, this is a candid look at the passion and pragmatism needed to keep an independent business alive.
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