| POP Popular @ Bras Basah Complex | |||
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Wednesday, 28 March 2007 Written by Jasmine - See all my reviews  SilverKing Writer
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I'm sure that most of us have fond memories of Bras Basah Complex. This is the building where I religiously visited every school holidays to replenish art materials, stationery, textbooks and assessment books during my sec days (not long ago). A lot of shops still remained to date such as Art-friend,TecMan and not forgetting our all time fav, Popular bookstore.
Surprise surprise when I recently popped by. Popular, renamed as POP has undergone massive transformation into a fashionably chic MPH-like bookshop. The reason why I say MPH-like bookshop coz it reminds me of the Old MPH at Stamford Rd. Old MPH comprises 2 storeys with rows of antique bookshelves and on the upper floor, used to house a cafe. Somehow, there's a English aura lingering in the air. Similarly, POP has 3 levels on which the 2nd floor was converted into a cafe with a graffiti wall. There's nothing British about it but can tell a lot of effort spent to distinguish POP with rest of their outlets. Pretty successful though but still lacks that X-factor. The winning formula of success for a bookstore is not based entirely on no. or types of books sold. It is the atmosphere created by the customers & staff. Popular has been associated as a fav hangout for aunties who bring their kids along to read the books freely as though in a library. Plus the recruiting staff are mainly aunties who can communicate well to their peers. In my opinion, their service is mediocre. If you ask them pleasantly for help to search a book, couple of times, they will juz point to me and say there lor...you just go there lah. I once worked for Borders. Most of the staffs are youngsters. Although workin as a temp, we still hav to go thru like 1 week training in customer service. No wonder Borders SG branch generated lotsa of revenue last yr.
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