THE PAPERSMITH, A MAGAZINE SHOP THAT POSITIONS ITSELF AS A PLACE THAT SELLS, SERIOUSLY AND EXCLUSIVELY, INDEPENDENT MAGAZINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
Over the past couple of years, we have witnessed chain bookstores (the kind that sell both Thai and international books) dedicating more space to products that are not books with the idea of attracting more customers who are not exactly enthusiastic readers. Since when did this type of space begin to expand and overshadow the book and magazine section in a bookstore, we are not exactly sure, but it is there and its growth is omnipresent. The approach is a mainstream solution that big, chain bookshops we see in shopping malls employ for the sake of their business survival. But that is not what Gaysorn Plaza and Sirote Jiraprayoon, the owner of The Booksmith are aiming for. The Papersmith, a magazine shop and The Booksmith’s new branch opened for operation in July of this year. Located on the skywalk that connects Gaysorn Plaza to BTS stations, the shop positions itself as a place that sells, seriously and exclusively, independent magazines from around the world.
The Papersmith, Photo by Napat Charitbutra
It’s safe to say that The Papersmith is a return to the basics, being a bookshop that sells nothing but books and magazines. Although we expected to see a greater diversity of publications on their shelves, we are certain that it won’t take long for The Papersmith to find more interesting independent magazines besides Kinfolk, Cereal, Uppercase, Another Escape, BRAND, frankie, elephant, Brutus, Popeye, B or Volume, which can be found in other premium bookstores nowadays anyway.
TEXT: PIYAPONG BHUMICHITRA
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