无可取代的传统小店正夯！看这些传统店家如何击败电子商店及连锁卖场，感受真诚及最有温度的小商家生态

小型商店正面临新生及转型，从精选商品、极具氛围的装潢到无可挑剔的服务，因为这些迷人的特性，个人风格强烈的店家正逐渐取代网络商店及大型连锁卖场。在这个电子商务盛行的年代，想开一家真正的商店似乎是一项大胆的尝试。然而从维也纳到温哥华，这些新兴的店家不畏大型商家为对手，以独特的风格及服务，店主幽默的性格及专业的知识，被许多顾客喜爱及追随。

转型的小型商店发展出一套全新的商家文化，书中列举世界各地最新潮的店家及传统百年老店，店主以对商品的热情及专业知识，打造各种风格的商家，从贩卖复古镜框、专门从印度或中国进口的纺织品、专业书籍、手工香皂、各种等级的橄榄油甚至到缤纷的热带鱼等。有些店家专职于重新改革家传的店铺，有些则以创新的商品吸引顾客，作者更大方分享许多隐藏于店家的达人，例如闭眼就辨别200多种巧克力及起司的烹饪职人。以出众的产品及原创的店内装潢，创新的思维及最重要的，友善及不可挑剔的服务质量才能真正打动顾客的心，唯有最真诚的面对面服务才能使这些独特的传统店家永续经营。

R. Klanten 为德国《Gestalten》出版社负责人；Sven Ehmann目前为德国《Gestalten》的创意总监；Sofia Borges目前为作家及《Gestalten》的建筑设计编辑。

Good stores still exist. In fact, theirnumber is growing. Well-designed specialty shops that are inspired by the smallmanufacturers and mom-and-pop operations of the past are now sprouting up.These outlets are defying e-commerce and anonymous online shopping withoutstanding products, original interior design, innovative concepts, and, firstand foremost, friendly and competent customer service.The Shopkeepers exploresthis new store culture through examples such as barbershops, fish smokeries,tailors, and milliners, as well as retail spaces specializing in stationery,hardware, buttons, home decor, or coffeemakers.

They can be found off the beaten trackas well as in the hearts of major cities from Berlin to Beirut. The book makesit clear that they are all driven by the passion that their founders andoperators have for their business ideas and products, whether vintageeyeglasses, textiles from India or China, specialty books, soaps, olive oils,or tropical fish. While some shops are based on innovative ideas, others arereinterpretations of traditional family businesses.The Shopkeepers alsointroduces some of the personalities behind these exciting retail concepts.

Manyhave been running their shops for years but are only now being recognized by anew generation of consumers for their acumen, integrity, and knowledge --fromshoemakers who truly understand their craft to culinary experts who candifferentiate between 200 types of chocolate or cheese with their eyes closed.Someare such interesting characters that the chance to interact with them is reasonenough to attract potential customers.In the stores featured in TheShopkeepers, the customer is again king and can find a personal, quality retailexperience that the internet simply cannot provide. The book reminds us all ofthe value of exceptional service and of meticulously selected products whichare built to last and on which one can depend. If they didn't exist already,they do now.