Sales of flags, ranging from small ones priced at RM1.50 each to large banners priced at RM10, have become a lifeline. “Although demand is not as great as before, there are still buyers for flags. I sell them not only in-store but online, too,” the 59-year-old told Bernama.
The bookstore, which opened in 1994, was once a haven for bookworms when Kenyalang Park was the main shopping centre in Kuching.
In those days, she recalled, her front shelves would be filled with books from various publishers, popular magazines, as well as newspapers in Chinese, Malay and English. She would sell dozens of copies of magazines in a single day.
“Now, it’s difficult to sell even 10 newspapers. People prefer to read their news on their phones. Bookstores like mine are attracting fewer and fewer customers,” Lau shared.
But as the National Month approaches, there is a buzz in the air as customers come looking for the Jalur Gemilang and Ibu Pertiwi, the Sarawak flag, to decorate their homes, vehicles or business premises.
Lau sells flags of all shapes and sizes, all of them designed according to specifications. Customers can decide on the thickness of the fabric.
She makes use of online delivery platforms to facilitate purchases, but admitted that sales through this method are not as high compared to in-person orders, especially from nearby schools looking to decorate for Merdeka.
For her, every flag sold is a sign that her decades-old store can still endure challenging times. Indeed, Lau pointed out that many longtime traders in Kenyalang Park have closed their businesses, making the atmosphere of the area vastly different from its heyday.
“I don’t plan to pass this business on to my children because it’s too difficult and the profits are uncertain,” she added.
Despite the uphill battle, Lau remains committed to selling quality goods, and maintaining warm and friendly service to ensure people will not forget her store.
Guang Ming Bookstore
38, Kenyalang Shopping Centre,
Jalan Sim Kheng Hong, Kenyalang Park,
93300 Kuching, Sarawak
Contact: 082-48 2202