SUPPORT your local bookstores.
This was the call of writer Shakira Sison, whose family owns Booksale to keep their employees afloat during this pandemic following the bookstore’s entry to the e-commerce site Shopee.
“Yes, it’s true that Booksale is online, and my dear father is asking for your support to help keep his employees afloat, most of whom have been with him for decades. They are struggling like everyone else,” Sison posted on her Twitter.
In Cebu, Booksale has branches at SM City Cebu, Emall, Parkmall and Robinsons Place Fuente.
“The nature of the store’s inventory means there’s no database across all stores, but the sales staff are very knowledgeable. If you are looking for a particular author or title, they can hunt it down and bring it to where you can pick it up or it can be delivered to you,” Sison said in a tweet.
The Booksale branch in SM City Cebu accepts GCash for contactless transactions.
The bookstore also implemented a five-person only rule as well as the wearing of masks and face shields.
Bookworms may follow the Facebook page of Booksale Cebu branches to check the stores’ daily stocks. Customers may request for pick-up and deliveries using the online delivery services of Lalamove, Maxim and Grab, among others. They may also post the books they are looking for.
Sison said Booksale’s online queries blew up after she tweeted the announcement. Her father expressed his gratitude for the continued support of their customers.
“Please be patient as they transition their purely analog inventory to offer some titles online,” she said.
Low customer traffic in malls due to the mobility restrictions caused by the pandemic has resulted in low sales. Booksale is one of those businesses forced to diversify online to cater to the rising number of online customers. (JOB)