There are readers who don’t read books avidly or you can just say they are not serious readers, but they love looking at book stacks in book fairs
READERSGRAM
There are readers who don’t read books avidly or you can just say they are not serious readers, but they love looking at book stacks in book fairs, like glistening photos of hardcovers on Instagram, find quotes on reading extremely gratifying, and they never forget to collect free bookmarks at literature festivals. I am afraid to confess that I fall into this category of readers! Anyway, I am still a reader.
Recently, my friend told me about some “book subscription box” accounts on social media, hoping that I would subscribe and get to read something. Those accounts had snaps of one or two gorgeous hardcovers, mostly new-released, some cool stationary items and themed goodies arranged picturesquely on a table; the captions that follow those pictures would say get all these items in our next month’s box. Of course, for lazy bookworms these pictures are enticing and they drool!
Obviously, there could be nothing more exciting than finding a box at your doorstep filled with things you love. You know what the box is about, but the element of mystery is still intact. You treat it as a gift though you have paid for it yourself; even the process of unwrapping whatever’s inside becomes enjoyable.
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In the West, there are thousands of subscription box services, and people have been ordering their favorite boxes for quite a long time. Owlcrate, based in UK, is hugely popular among young adult readers. Each month they deliver a new YA hardcover, bookish goodies and handmade items. With books, they include pop figurines, tote bags, temporary tattoos and magnetic bookmarks. They ship their boxes all over the world.
The Novel Tea Club is for all the book lovers who need a cup of tea on their side. Their box comes with a package of tea, cookies and candles.
Classics are never out of fashion! Coffee and a Classic is for all the ones who admire the magic of classics. The avid readers in their team pick up their personal favorites and best-sellers for each box. With classics, coffee beans and cappuccino mix goes into the box as well.
There are subscriptions that only believe in the quality of the book and for them goodies are not necessary. Boxwala Book is one of those subscriptions! It includes the best of Literature both classic and current. Each box will come with two books: one from a Nobel Laureate and the second written by a great writer from the past. It appears Boxwalas take reading quite seriously!
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Unfortunately, the shipping cost makes these boxes super pricey for customers in Pakistan. But, do Pakistani readers have to rely on international services anymore? Now, there are quite a few amazing subscription box services in Pakistan that are run by passionate bookworms. Subscription boxes like Absolutely Booked, Kitaabi Keera, Cherry Book Box, The Book Shook, She and Books, Bookaholicstreats are readers’ favourite. They make sure whatever goes into the box excites their young customers.
Let’s find out what is it like to start and run a book subscription box service in Pakistan. Atiya Zahra Zaidi is the Creative Head/CEO of Bookacholictreats and operates from Lahore.
Atiya talks about the process, “The audience is young adults so the box needs to be about them. To come up with a unique theme for the box every month is crucial. Then, picking up a great new-released YA book (most of which aren’t availbale in Pakistan) with a couple of book-related goodies is a challenge.
She launched her first box in December 2016 and was surprised to see how positively people responded to this initiative.
