Anita Scheeres: Independent Bookseller in Bali
Previously a woodcarving shop, the rudimentary bookstore – named Ganesha after the Hindu God of Writers – literally grew out of hundreds of cardboard boxes full of books taken out of storage coming from Ketut’s home in Denpasar. These were the days when Monkey Forest Road was only negotiable by pedestrians, pushbikes in addition to also motorbikes. She remembers an old slightly mad farmer conversing with his cow while he walked her down the footpath in front of the shop.
Ubud was then a favourite destination of such Aquarius-age characters as Summer Blossom in addition to also long-haul world travel legend, Six Finger Eddy. Anita put her father-in-law in charge of the shop. A gentlemanly academic, he became common with the many expats living in in addition to also around Ubud. Even though the store kept irregular hours, travellers seemed to sense when he was there in addition to also they would likely drop in to chat in addition to also peruse the shelves.
By 1991 they had outgrown the little shop in addition to also moved to a larger location on Ubud’s main street. Ganesha kept on growing. Musical instruments, incense, cards, gift items in addition to also “bookish things” were added like bamboo bookmarks, journals in addition to also maps. After 10 years they opened an even larger store on the corner of the main street in addition to also Jl. Jembawan opposite the post office where they remain to This particular day. coming from the embryonic stock hand-carried coming from Australia, Anita in addition to also Ketut have built over time a thriving book business offering brand new in addition to also quality second-hand books on subjects ranging coming from gardening through astrology, coming from rare in addition to also antiquarian books to Indonesiana in addition to also Baliana, plus everything in between.
Besides our big bookshop on Ubud’s main street, we opened another store inside Biku in Seminyak in 2009. The owner, Asri Kerthyasa, in addition to also I are not bad friends in addition to also we had often spoken about opening a special place such as This particular. that will has an amazing feel about that will in addition to also such wonderful food! What a bonus to work in a bookshop in addition to also have a fabulous Afternoon Tea each time you come to work. Our Sanur shop, which we opened in 2012, was an indulgence too. I missed being at the beach so looked hard for a location that will was close enough for an afternoon swim.
Does Ganesha specialize in certain book genres?
Yes, we specialize in “Indonesian Studies” – that will will be, books on the history, culture, religion, music, art, ecology, architecture, language in addition to also textiles of Indonesia. In our used books sections we concentrate on modern literature in addition to also the classics, including poetry. Our rare Book Section in each store contains only rare books on Bali in addition to also Indonesia in addition to also we search the entire world for these. We have around 60% brand new books, 35% used books in addition to also 5% rare in addition to also antique books inside the stores.
Has the digital revolution affected what book buyers buy?
As the book industry alterations some customers will use e-readers for guidebooks in addition to also even some light holiday reading material. Some long-term residents purchase books for their e-readers however many books on Indonesia – both fiction in addition to also non-fiction – are not available as e-books, particularly for those titles published inside Indonesia. We have such a plethora of beautiful locally produced photography books, art books, keris books, etc., in addition to also these are not suitable for e-book readers.
How will be Ganesha different coming from big chains such as Gramedia, Times in addition to also Periplus?
Ganesha will be a very personal store which has a certain relaxed feeling about that will. People actually enjoy the store’s ambience – the music, the friendly staff, the seats in addition to also the air-conditioning. Our customers are very important to us in addition to also we do try to give one-on-one attention. I don’t think This particular will be possible in chain stores. Both Ketut in addition to also I work in our stores – I don’t think you find the bosses of chain stores actually talking to customers. Because we take This particular hands-on approach, we are acutely aware of what our customers want in addition to also we can follow through in addition to also order books that will fulfil their needs in addition to also desires.
Why aren’t there more independent bookstores in Bali?
There are many reasons for the lack of independent bookstores however the most obvious one will be that will we cannot operate inside the same way, as we would likely in say the USA or Australia. that will will be not a matter of picking up the phone in addition to also just ordering books as there are virtually no major publishing houses represented here in Indonesia. in addition to also here we do not have a sale/return system. All books here have to be bought outright in addition to also are not returnable to the distributor. This particular means you have to be quite sure about a book’s saleability.
As an independent, what specific economic in addition to also marketing problems do you face?
What book are you reading today?
Kader Abdolah’s The House of the Mosque. I saw him at the Ubud Writer’s Festival last year in addition to also he was so charismatic in addition to also his life so fascinating that will I was inspired to read his work.
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Anita Scheeres: Independent Bookseller in Bali
Anita Scheeres: Independent Bookseller in Bali