Taipei Eslite Songyan Store: A bookstore or a department store?

As a student specializing in publishing, visiting Taiwan naturally means checking out the leading chain bookstore in the country—Eslite! As a company that has been operating for years, their growth into what they are today is certainly commendable. However, I must admit that I was somewhat disappointed with the Songyan store. I had seen online that the store spans several floors, so I assumed it would be a massive book city. But later, I discovered that the bookstore is located on the top floor. While there are plenty of books, it still fell short of my expectations. The store seems ill-equipped to handle weekend crowds. Although it has diversified its offerings, the space feels overly cluttered with too many elements. The department store floors downstairs are packed with dense shop counters, making the entire area feel cramped. The bookstore, relegated to the upper floor, has to fit all book categories into a relatively small space, which makes browsing less enjoyable. They provide shopping carts at the entrance, but given the narrow aisles, I wonder how many people would actually use them to carry their selected books. That said, it’s not entirely bad. I later learned that its positioning is more akin to a department store, focusing on cultural and creative products. However, since Eslite started as a bookstore and I’m currently studying the art of selling books, I naturally pay more attention to the bookstore’s layout and planning, and my expectations are higher than the average visitor. Beyond attracting foot traffic, arranging shopping routes and ensuring a pleasant shopping experience are crucial. I feel there’s room for improvement in these areas to help their business thrive even further.