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Lit Books: "Always 2 Months Away From Shuttering"

Nov 25, 2025

Guest

Fong Minhan

Fong Minhan, co-founder of Lit Books, shares his journey from journalism to running a beloved independent bookstore in Malaysia. He discusses the challenges of starting a business, including cash flow struggles that kept them 'two months away from shuttering.' Minhan reveals how they adapted during the pandemic by shifting to e-commerce and delivering books manually. He also highlights the joy of curating unexpected titles for customers and shares recommendations of impactful reads, blending both fiction and nonfiction for book lovers.

39:22

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ANECDOTE

Do It Or Shut Up Moment

Fong Minhan launched Lit Books after his wife told him to "do it or shut up."
He planned to run the shop for one year as an experiment before deciding its future.

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ADVICE

Give Your Idea A Fixed Runway

Test a new retail idea with a fixed runway and measurable benchmarks.
Use on-ground research and competitor visits to set realistic performance targets.

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ADVICE

Inventory Is The Biggest Cost

Expect inventory to be the largest startup cost for a bookstore.
Budget generously because initial stock often leaves shelves looking sparse until replenished over years.

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Why Minhan Left Consulting to Open Lit Books

01:12 • 2min

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Setting a One-Year Experiment and Benchmarks

02:46 • 3min

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Startup Costs: Inventory Was the Biggest Expense

05:38 • 1min

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Design, Suppliers and Sticking to Curation

06:38 • 3min

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Customer Surprise: The Joy of Curation

09:10 • 2min

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Early Operations: Processes, Greeting Customers and OCD Details

Commercial Realities: Profits vs Cash Flow

13:30 • 3min

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Why Cash Flow Trumps Profit on Day-to-Day Survival

16:50 • 2min

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Malaysia's Book Ecosystem and Supply Delays

19:17 • 3min

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Logistics Pain: Weeks to Source Curated Titles

Growth: Second Outlet and Staffing Changes

23:14 • 2min

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Surviving the Pandemic: Going Digital Overnight

25:40 • 3min

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Pandemic Years: Nimbleness Became an Advantage

28:48 • 45sec

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Post-Pandemic Sales Patterns and Current Slowdown

29:33 • 34sec

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Book Recommendations: Contemporary Fiction Picks

30:07 • 2min

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Business & Nonfiction Picks: Investigative Reads

32:30 • 3min

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What Minhan Looks For in Books

35:06 • 2min

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Plans Ahead: Refresh, Possible New Location

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Oliver Burkeman

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Children of time

Henry Maxwell

Children of Time is a book by Henry Maxwell, published in 1967. Due to limited information, specific details about the book's content or themes are not available.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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