To infinity and beyond
‘It’s the unquenchable thirst for knowledge that drives human learning into infinity.’
THERE is a lot to see at the newly reopened Popular Bookstore at IPC Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya.
Go down it’s spacious walkways and admire your reflection in many mirrors, located at strategic spots of the store, or admire the stylish, slightly futuristic, semitransparent furniture, delightfully contrasting with the grey and brown of the bookstore’s new fittings.
Take in the various quotes on reading and knowledge scrawled across the walls. Spot the green: take in the little succulents that bloom in tiny terrariums on shelves and tables.
But while you’re looking left and right, don’t forget to also look up, for it is there the prettiest treasures lie: Rows and rows of florescent bulbs, alongside tiny plants suspended in teardrop-like cases from the ceiling. It’s the closest thing to a garden in the sky.
There are so many things to check out at the relaunched Popular@IPC, and that’s not even counting the books and stationery they have. Its new look, which is based on the concept of “Infinity”, has been specially designed to give shoppers the best experience when visiting the outlet.
“Everything is different from a regular Popular outlet. Its concept can be seen all over the interior. People always say reading opens you up to the unlimited. So infinity can relate to knowledge, and this is a message we want to impart,” explains Alicia Goh, senior marketing manager at Popular Book Co Sdn Bhd.
“And the plants, they’re decor that also serves to give customer’s peace of mind. People nowadays are very busy. We at Popular wanted to create an atmosphere that encourages people to slow things down a little bit, and take time to enjoy their surroundings.
“We’d like people to come in and appreciate all these soft touches.”
Popular@IPC has always had a special place in the history of Popular Bookstores: opening in December 2003, it was the company’s first ever mega-store, serving countless customers over the years. When its host mall, Ikano Power Centre, decided it wanted to carry out renovations, Popular took the opportunity to also revamp the store.
After six months of extensive refurbishment, the more than 2,000sq m store once again opens its doors for book lovers.
Like any regular Popular outlet, the place sells English, Malay and Chinese books, textbooks and revision items, CDs and music items, and stationery.
One new addition to the place is Urban Writes, which sells a variety of up-market, trendy stationery items.
“Urban Writes is our in-house brand through which we introduce stationery and lifestyle items to cater to current needs. The younger generation especially now likes fancier stationery to write with, with high product quality,” Goh says.
According to Goh, every detail had been given close scrutiny in the design of the store’s interior. This included creating wider walkways, placing bestselling titles in easy-to-spot locations, and even adjusting the store’s lighting to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Other highlights of the place are the very on-trend “selfie spots” located between two mirrors to create countless images that stretch into infinity, and the Air Space at the heart of the store, where book lovers can read beneath the hanging lights and plants.
There is also an events area to hold author signings and other such events.
While the store is already open for the public to visit, Popular@ IPC’s will have a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony next Saturday.
Celebrity guests such as comics artist Keith, Discover Malaysia travel journalist Chok Yen Hao, and Taiwanese author Na Na Ma are scheduled to make appearances.
In conjunction with the grand opening, the store will be offering promotions from Dec 23 to Jan 1, 2018, such as product rebates, a member’s rewards day on Dec 23, and free gifts and promotions. Popular card members who spend a minimum of RM150 will be entitled to RM10 vouchers, while members who spend RM300 will be entitled to RM30 in vouchers.
The store will also be holding a Cultural Infinity Carnival from Dec 24 to May 2018. Activities in the pipeline include arts and crafts; cultural and photography workshops; a baba-nonya cultural fest, and an urban green living and recycling art seminar.
“Regardless of one’s interests, each workshop and each ensuing month promises new knowledge for all – and it’s the unquenchable thirst for knowledge that drives human learning into infinity,” Goh says.