Business Vitals

Business Name

পুরাতন বইয়ের দোকান (Old Book Shop)

Proprietor

Not visible in image

Contact

017…090222 (Partially obscured)

Location

Roadside shop, Madaripur City

Field Observations

The image shows a small, open-front secondhand bookstore located directly on a roadside. The structure is simple, with a corrugated tin roof and a large banner displaying the name “পুরাতন বইয়ের দোকান” (Old Book Shop) in red lettering. The shop is densely packed with books; the leftmost section is filled from floor to ceiling with orderly stacks. A young man in a red shirt stands near the central entrance, which leads to more book-filled shelves inside. Additional signage, including one that says “পুরাতন লাইব্রেরী” (Old Library) and another mentioning “HSC”, indicates a focus on academic textbooks. The overall impression is of a traditional, high-density, specialized micro-retail business.

Operational Analysis (Inferences)

Business Profile

Micro-enterprise specializing in buying and selling secondhand books, with a strong focus on academic textbooks (e.g., HSC level).

Inventory & Assets

Est. Value: ৳4 Lakh – ৳6 Lakh (4,000 – 6,000 individual books and other materials).

Human Resources

1-2 people, likely an owner-operated business with potential family or part-time help.

Financials (Approximation)

• Revenue: ৳70k – ৳120k / month
• Expense: ৳40k – ৳60k / month (incl. cost of goods)

Digitalization Scope & Impact

Recommended First Steps

• Inventory System: Use a free tool like Google Sheets to create a basic inventory log (Book Title, Subject, Condition, Price). This is the highest priority.
• Local Discovery: Create a Google My Business profile so students searching for “old book shop” or “HSC books” on Google Maps can find the store, its hours, and phone number.
• Targeted Catalog: Create a Facebook Page to post photos of in-demand academic books or popular novels. Use Facebook Marketplace to reach local buyers directly.
• Inquiry Management: Adopt WhatsApp Business to let customers quickly ask if a specific book is in stock, potentially sending photos for confirmation.

Projected Impact

• Massively improve operational efficiency, reducing time spent manually searching for books.
• Attract a wider customer base of students from all over Madaripur district, not just the immediate area.
• Increase sales turnover by making it easier for customers to find and purchase needed items.
• Financial Projection: A 20-30% increase in monthly revenue is highly achievable by becoming the go-to, digitally-accessible source for secondhand academic books in the region.