Eslite bookstore story reads like a page-turner

A woman selects books at Eslite's first bookstore on the Chinese mainland on its opening day in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, at the end of 2015. [Photo/China Daily]

Eslite, established in 1989, attracted about 180 million people to its bookstores last year, up 26 percent over the previous year. It introduced a record 300,000 titles as well. Books on humanities, arts, creative subjects and lifestyle serve as its main categories.

Eslite is known for stocking a large collection of English language publications. It is the only Chinese bookstore chain that has outlets on the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Eslite's branches in Taipei are open 24 hours a day. The chain believes physical bookstores have to be irresistible lifestyle options, shopping centers as it were, to attract consumers and book lovers. And to earn customer loyalty, they need to do much more.