JAKARTA POST: New Harry Potter flies off shelves in Jakarta

Liputan Jakarta Post pada launching buku HP6 di toko
buku di Jakarta, termasuk acara Indo-HarryPotter QB Pondok Indah.

Hadi Patronussto
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20050718.G02



New Harry Potter flies off shelves in Jakarta

City News - July 18, 2005


The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

He did not actually disappear into a puff of smoke but
the Harry Potter look-alike made a huge impression on
Sam, 5, at the launching on Saturday of Harry Potter
and the Half-Blood Prince at QB bookshop, Pondok
Indah.

"Cool...," the little boy said.

The latest in the series written by J.K Rowling was
flying off the shelves in Jakarta bookstores with more
than 800 copies sold in less than a day.

In fact, the book was the number one seller on
Saturday at bookstores all over the world.

"We already have 220 of the 600 pre-ordered copies
taken on Saturday," said Prasidawardani, head of QB
bookstore's children's section. There are 900 copies
of the book to be shared between the three QB outlets
at the QB warehouse, she added.

Although the Harry Potter books are expensive for many
Jakartans at between Rp 189,000 and Rp 225,000 a copy,
the battle between Harry and his long-time enemy
Voldemort has left local fans captivated and eager for
more.

Published by US-based Scholastic and Britain's
Bloomsbury, Rowling's latest book portraying Potter
and his wise guardian Dumbledore comes in hard back.

"Customers started ordering the book from as early as
February," Prasidawardani said, adding that most
buyers were adults as the version launched on the
weekend was in English.

Meanwhile, Sogo's book section Kinokuniya sold no less
than 422 copies through its two outlets on Saturday.
"Most of our pre-ordered copies have been taken and so
we displayed 240 more copies," said Lina, a supervisor
at Kinokuniya in Plaza Senayan, South Jakarta.

English bookstore Aksara sold more than 250 copies
through its three outlets.

"We sold 70 copies in one day," said Evi, a customer
service officer at Aksara's head office in Kemang. To
sell as many copies of other books, Evi said, took at
least a week.

"It is undoubtedly our top-seller," she said.

Many bookstores have staged special events for the
launch ranging from art projects to science
experiments for children -- even those who are not
reading yet.

Well, in business, book selling included, all it takes
is a little imagination.(003)