Bandi & Luni's, South Korea's third-largest bookstore chain, has filed for bankruptcy. The Korea Herald reported that Seoul Mungo, the company behind the chain, sent an emergency letter regarding the decision to "members of a local publishers' association on Wednesday. The company reportedly failed to pay a promissory note due the previous day." An official from the Korean Publishers' Association said they "understand that Seoul Mungo failed to pay a 160 million won (about $141,720) promissory note."
Bandi & Luni's posted a notification on its website telling customers that orders will no longer be available from its online and mobile channels. The company, which had closed some of its retail outlets due to the pandemic, operated eight stores in the capital, excluding its headquarters and logistics center.
Established in 1988, Seoul Mungo "is the third-biggest bookstore chain in terms of in-person store revenue after Kyobo Book Center and Youngpoong Bookstore. In terms of combined revenue, including sales from both online and in-person channels, it is the sixth-biggest franchise after Kyobo, Yes 24, Aladin, Interpark and Youngpoong," the Korea Herald noted.
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The London Book Fair has unveiled its full program for the Online Book Fair, with seminars, panel debates and author events taking place from June 21-July 1, the Bookseller reported.
"We are so excited to announce the incredible program for the Online Book Fair, featuring bestselling authors, award-winning journalists, publishing experts and many more wonderful speakers," said Hannah Brewer, LBF conference manager. "With panels, seminars and talks on topics ranging from censorship to environmental sustainability, literary translation to accessibility, this year's program tackles the key issues facing the publishing world today, and we look forward to hearing the vital insights being shared at these sessions."
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"We're so excited to tell you about Once Upon a Bookstore in Kelowna, B.C.," the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association noted in showcasing a q&a with owner Melissa Bourdon-King, who opened the bookshop in 2019. Among the highlights:
Being connected to your community in Kelowna is a core value for the store. Though the pandemic has likely altered plans, how have you been able to forge relationships with local families?
This has truly been the biggest learning curve, and one I am still navigating. Social media has absolutely played a role, and I cannot discount the value of positive word of mouth. For me, developing personal relationships is essential in creating the kind of business I want to run. Personally, I can be terrible with remembering names (especially now with face masks), but I will remember the books that you (or your children) bought and be able to help you build your library.
As a children's bookseller, do you feel a responsibility to stock and promote anti-bias books? How do you manage this responsibility?
I have felt this responsibility since I was 16/17 starting out at Mabel's Fables. It is amazing how often casual bias creeps in for people. It requires daily work to a) check my own bias and not make assumptions about the kinds of books people will want and b) gently challenge people's ideas about what children will or won't like (gender comes up most frequently). So much is about making the customer feel comfortable so that they trust what you are recommending.
What is your favorite thing about the work that you do?
I'm a traditionalist. My favorite thing after 18 years as a bookseller (and I'm not that old) is to put a book in someone's hand that I know they will love forever. --Robert Gray