EP 32 | Andrew Yap - Crazy Low Prices from Big Bad Wolf Books&BookXcess - a podcast by Derek Toh

“One day, a book distributor from overseas approached us and said ‘Hey, we have some books to clear’. We tried selling all the books for RM8 and it just went crazy.”  --- Andrew Yap 

 

In this podcast episode, Andrew shares personal stories of how he started his entrepreneurial journey at 14 years old. Andrew talks about the Big Bad Wolf book sale and how he managed to sell books at such affordable prices. He shares the biggest challenges during the pandemic and how it has forced his company to grow stronger. He shares advice to people who want to start a reading habit as well as the future plans for Bookxcess and Big Bad Wolf.

 

To check out Book Excess and Big Bad Wolf as mentioned in the podcast, here are the links: 

https://www.bookxcessonline.com/

https://bigbadwolfbooks.com/

 

As a self-made businessman, Andrew Yap, Managing Director of BookXcess, has built an alternative book empire from the ground up. For Andrew, accumulating profits is a distant goal to his personal desire to sell books at affordable prices, inculcate an enthusiasm for reading, especially among children, and raise the country's literacy level. 

Yap is an ambitious risk-taker with a sharp eye for business, while his wife and partner, Jacqueline Ng, is the by-the-book, level-headed, strait-laced administrator. Together, the husband-and-wife team have made it their aim to make books more affordable and accessible to people worldwide.

Due to his love for cars, Yap started off operating a petrol kiosk and car workshop and was sourcing for car magazines when he chanced upon an opportunity to sell remainder books (brand new, overprinted books unsold by publishers) in a 500 sq ft bookstore in 2006, known as BookXcess.

Since then, BookXcess has grown by leaps and bounds, making a name for itself for providing English books across a variety of genres at 50% - 80% off regular prices. BookXcess opened its first outlet in Amcorp Mall in 2007 and has retail outlets at the Starling and Fahrenheit88. BookXcess has also been the organiser of the signature Big Bad Wolf Book Sale since 2009. Known as the World’s Biggest Book Sale, the event runs for 24 hours for up to 11 days, offering millions of books at unbeatable prices. 

 

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