Interview by Ishaan Kaila
2020 brought many challenges for businesses all over the world. Bookstores, already an endangered species in many parts of India, were further threatened, and it was heartbreaking to see some very large stores also close shutters.
But one bookstore in Gurgaon stemmed that tide. Not only did this bookstore survive, it actually expanded its area while the world was shut down during the Covid pandemic, and opened to a larger, more spacious presence.
Ishaan Kaila, our young Empower Journalist, spoke to Mr. Amit Sarin, the owner of Kool Skool, about all things under the sun – from how he got interested in books, to how they managed to work well in Covid.
Tell us about your childhood? What got you interested in books?
I have a distinct memory of where it all started. My very first memory goes back to play school, the first book I was awarded, a Peter Pan. That essentially started my journey with books. But I fell in love with books during a summer break, we did not have much to do during our summer break as there were no video games, no cable. We could either play or just be bored at home. So, my father got me 3 books, a top ten of everything, a thick book on inventions and discoveries, and a world map. That’s where my love for books really started. I remember I had this notebook where I marked down all the countries that were there at that time, their capitals, currencies etc. I created basically a general knowledge book for myself. That was my first memory.
You know a lot about books, are you an avid reader yourself?
I have always been an avid reader, though if I’m being honest, I never saw myself running a bookstore. That was coincidental. In school, I used to read very specific kinds of books, because we weren’t exposed to the genres and authors there are today. All of us at school followed a very similar reading style. Now I do read multiple genres and categories.
Why did you start the bookstore?
So, me and my wife Ritu Vaishnav, who is a published author herself, decided to start a bookstore. We started the bookstore mainly because of the lack of variety in children’s books. The need for our bookstore was born there. We started the bookstore in 2011. We will finish 10 years in July.
What do you enjoy about books?
I love storytelling, in any format. My personal favourite genres are mystery, historical fiction, and children’s books as a category. There is just something about the children’s books, I enjoy them more than adult books. They are so magical and innocent. I love the fact that I am able to travel with the books. Currently I am reading a historical fiction book based in the 10th century Europe, and I feel as though I am visiting these places. Books can transport you to places you may have never been to before!
Did you choose your location? Was there any thought behind starting it where you did?
(The store is located in a family shopping complex in Gurgaon)
We did not choose our location. As a matter of fact, the location in which our bookstore is located did not get much footfall when we first opened. I am very grateful for the love we have received. Running a bookstore is not an easy business, it has its challenges and the kind of competition we faced with online marketplaces.
But competition has always been a good thing for us. Very early on, we decided we were not going to be a discount store. We do have a loyalty plan In place where we give 15 percent credit to our loyal customers as points. But we don’t support discounting of books because it takes a lot of effort to curate those books. We have to read hundreds of books and then find one or two gems.
What did you do differently to succeed during Covid?
I think, we as a team realised very quickly that things have changed and that we were also going to have to change. I remember that in March, which is usually our best month because of school fairs and parents coming back after the exams have finished, we had nothing to do.
All our book fairs got cancelled, we were sitting on piles of books and we had no idea what to do with them. We had to go online. I was very clear in the early days of our business that I will not go online but since times had changed, I had no choice.
I would say that the pandemic was a blessing in disguise as I would never have started my own website if it wasn’t for it. The access that it gave us was great. Earlier we could only cater to Delhi NCR readers. We had help from our friends who helped get the word out. We did our best to make the books available. We work on the website every day.
We also decided that we are not going to fire anyone; we still have all our staff. We did a lot of recommendations online.
Is there a difference between running a children’s bookstore and running a adult bookstore?
Yes, the curation is entirely different. I remember when we started, there were no children’s books available, we were always importing books.
Nowadays people have lots of children’s books. I still think the range that we have is incredible, the sheer depth of that range is amazing, and it has taken years to get that depth. I believe that the children’s book sector is a largely untested sector. So many young authors don’t have any recognition. There is always more books to add to our collection. It is an amazing experience when a parent comes in and says my child does not read, it’s a challenge to me. I believe every child is a reader. All of us are readers we just have to find the right book for us.
A child is also honest. If he or she does not like a book they will say so, that keeps us on our toes.
Do you think reading is important for a person?
Yes, I think it is important, not just for the typical reasons we associate with it.
I think it is important because of the experience it gives as well. Nowadays, when people cannot travel, books give that experience. It helps you as a person.
Do you have any advice for bookstore owners?
Bookstore owners are a resilient lot; they don’t need my advice. For us, survival is an everyday thing. Bookstores everywhere are doing their own thing to survive. But we will all have to innovate and be more flexible. The situation we are in is difficult but is still possible. Being connected to your customers is the key. We must read, you cannot run a bookstore without reading.
What, according to you, is the future of bookstores and libraries?
It is going to be challenging, no doubt. But I definitely feel like bookstores have to be there. Readers must support bookstores and libraries. To everyone who thinks they are saving money by ordering online, try a different thought. Calculate the amount of money you have wasted by buying books online that you didn’t like vs the amount of money the bookstore did not discount.
Suggestions on books is invaluable. It saves you money! We will also save time. Unfortunately, we don’t put a price on suggestions.
As a community we have to start supporting bookstores and libraries. Ask for recommendations.
You can also watch this interview on our Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O55YsUTxsNg