Karnataka - Bangalore   

Avenue Road is abuzz as schools re-open

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MAY 26. With the school and college admission season switching to top gear, textbook sales have shot up in the city. The crowd favourite is still Avenue Road, where wholesalers and retailers, second-hand booksellers and publishers have all lined up books of a thousand subjects.

The beginning of a new academic year could not have been more market-friendly. The buzz around Avenue Road is deafening.

A majority of the 300-plus bookstores are crowded most of the day. Institutions mushrooming all across the town with brand new courses have given a fillip to the textbook sellers. Some old students have turned market-savvy, selling off their old books at the flourishing second-hand market.

Books on engineering, medicine, pre-university and general degree subjects, law, management, State and national-level entrance examinations, are in high demand. Ramachandra of Mahesh Book Stores, a dealer in both first and second hand books, says: "Business is seasonal. During June, July and August, when the schools and colleges re-open, the business is high and we earn a profit of 10 to 15 per cent for new books and around 5 to 20 per cent for second hand books."

Customers' choice of second-hand books depends on various factors. Mr. Ramachandra explains: "People prefer second hand books to the new ones as they can buy different publications of the same book for the price of the new one.."

But it is not always rosy for these retailers. Any change in syllabus triggers heavy losses, says Narayan, a salesperson of the same store. But another shop owner, Balakrishna, is hopeful.

"With the introduction of semester system for degree courses, we are expecting an increase in the sale of second hand books and selling of old books as it is in the case of engineering. There is no definite profit in this business as the profit differs from publication to publication."

What makes Avenue Road so special? "It is preferred because of the variety and discount for new books. It is the only place in Bangalore where one can find second hand books in plenty."

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