In a significant development in Malaysia’s retail sector, American bookstore chain, BORDERS, has announced the closure of its operations in the country by August 31, 2023. This decision was confirmed by a spokesperson from BORDERS, operating under the Berjaya Group’s directive.
Berjaya Books, the operator of BORDERS Malaysia, extended gratitude towards its loyal customers who have steadfastly supported the bookstore over the years. A notice expressing this sentiment was displayed in one of its stores and also shared on its official Instagram page.
The notice read, “Our deepest gratitude is extended for your unwavering support throughout the years. Your trust and loyalty have been instrumental to our journey. We would not have reached this far without you.”
Despite the forthcoming closure, the company assured its commitment towards offering the best customer service to its patrons until the end. “While BORDERS is ceasing operations, the brand continues to belong to Berjaya Group. Therefore, a potential future re-opening, contingent on Berjaya Group’s discretion, remains a possibility,” shared a spokesperson from BORDERS.
The scheduled closure dates for its remaining outlets include Pantai Hospital KL on June 30, Bangsar Village 2 on July 31, Gleneagles Hospital KL on August 15, and BORDERS Junior at Quill City Mall on August 31, 2023. Meanwhile, the BORDERS online store has been non-operational since May 31, as verified by A+M.
BORDERS currently runs a promotional sale to clear existing inventory. All books are priced below RM5, and selected items are offered at discounted rates.
This closure follows recent news about Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia, which is set to shut down most of its operations in the country. CFM Holdings, Panasonic Manufacturing’s cleanroom equipment supplier, confirmed this development.
While CFM Holdings Group has not yet received an official notification from Panasonic regarding the cessation of operations in Malaysia, it plans to engage in discussions to evaluate the financial impact of the plant closures. It has pledged to make further announcements on material developments related to the aforementioned issues in due course.
This news is based on a report by Marketing Interactive.