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| Company type | Bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | August 1, 1991 (1991-08-01) |
| Founder | Takashi Sakamoto |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Second-handbooks,magazines,manga,CDs,DVDs,video games,video game consoles,mobile phones andportable media players |
Book Off (ブックオフコーポレーション,Bukku Ofu Kōporēshon) (TYO:3313), stylized asBOOKOFF, isJapan's largest chain ofusedbookstores. Founded in August 1991, the company has had explosive success, expanding to over 850 stores throughout Japan and several overseas locations. In addition to books, its chains also sellmanga,CDs,DVDs,video games, and usedvideo game consoles,mobile phones,portable media players, and sports equipment. Stores are distinguished by their large surface area, cleanliness, and bright illumination.
Book Off stores are large and browsing is encouraged. Another innovation cited for its success is the practice of shaving the edges off the pages of books using a special machine in order to make them appear newer.[1] By offering a wide selection of books that appear like new at reduced prices, Book Off has aggressively targeted conventional bookstore chains, which since 1953[2] have been unable to discount new and near-new books and other media due to government regulations which enable a publisher's cartel.[3]
Book Off is frequently cited as a rare example of a corporation that was able to grow during the so-called "lost decade" ofeconomic stagnation that followed the collapse of theJapanese asset price bubble, through its use of innovative business strategies.[citation needed] It expanded from merely used books to used second-hand merchandise through its Hard Off stores, and to the video rental market through Tsutaya.
The Book Off group includes a range of sister brands including:[4]
Book Off also operates several stores in theUnited States, two inSeoul and three inParis.[5] In the United States there are four stores inNew York, ten inCalifornia, two inHawaii, and one inArizona. There are eight stores in Malaysia operating under the Jalan Jalan Japan brand.[6]
In 2012, it closed its only Canadian store inVancouver,British Columbia.[7] It was previously opened in July 2005.[8]
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