Borders Bookshop in the UK

GeoffC · 11-23-2009, 06:45 AM

The Borders bookshop chain in the UK has appointed advisers to try to find a buyer for the business.

Reports have said WHSmith walked away from a takeover deal on Friday, and that Borders UK could go into administration soon without a sale.

BBC link

HarryT · 11-23-2009, 06:49 AM

I must admit that I didn't even know that there were any Borders shops in the UK! I honestly can't recall ever having seen one. Perhaps they're mainly in the South? Waterstones seems to be the chain that totally dominates the market.

GeoffC · 11-23-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I must admit that I didn't even know that there were any Borders shops in the UK! I honestly can't recall ever having seen one. Perhaps they're mainly in the South? Waterstones seems to be the chain that totally dominates the market.

there is a Borders in Glasgow, the only one I know of, otherwise most are in England ... and Borders describe themselves as the UK's favourite Bookstore ....

HarryT · 11-23-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Borders describe themselves as the UK's favourite Bookstore ....

Wierd

.

suecsi · 11-23-2009, 06:55 AM

I think they are mainly in the South (but then I rarely venture north of the Watford gap)

We have one close to my work in Kingston upon Thames with a Starbucks and all, but even before I got into ebooks and was buying pbacks, I preferred Waterstones. This particular Borders was half the size (and it wasn't small) of the Waterstones, hideously laid out, had poor disabled access and was as untidy as heck. Its location is a bit more out of the way as well. Waterstones is right in the middle of the main indoor shopping centre so it gets most of the passing traffic, whereas you have to make an effort to go to the Borders.

The other one I recall is on Oxford Street in Central London.

There was a bit of bother fairly recently about the Borders in Swindon closing, so maybe (unfortunately) it is the beginning of the end?

What is sad if the Kingston Borders shuts is that it is right next door to another empty store which used to be Woolworths .....

ChristopherTD · 11-23-2009, 07:02 AM

Their website is closed for orders as well. Doesn't bode well.

suecsi · 11-23-2009, 07:12 AM

Definitely not good ......

Wetdogeared · 11-23-2009, 07:32 AM

Canada's top three retail book sellers have amalgamated over the last few years. This has hit the independent book sellers hard since they can't compete price wise and all three stores now sell mostly the same products at the same prices.

(Note: We do have an Amazon.ca now, but I haven't bought any tree books from there.)

poshm · 11-23-2009, 07:47 AM

This is sad

We've a very good Borders bookstore in Cambridge and it has hands down the best magazine selection I've seen in the region with lots of imports. Not to mention being a very good book store and a lovely place to go and grab a leisurely coffee.

There is a WHSmiths right next door but not nearly so good. Oh so sad we are losing all these lovely shops.

kindlekitten · 11-23-2009, 08:39 AM

ahhhh

on this side of the pond at least it is a pretty nice bookstore.

camino real · 11-23-2009, 09:45 AM

We have one in north Manchester but I don't go to it a lot as it's a two bus journey away. I'll be sad to see it go because it will leave Waterstone's as top dog which cannot be good for the book trade.

I always love visiting Borders when I travel to Chicago.

sony_fox · 11-23-2009, 10:12 AM

There's also one in Stockport - S. Manchester

It was quite good when it opened, better than the local small Waterstones. But it tried to diversify too far, losing the book selection and gaining music and magazines and Game. Which meant that it has only a tiny stock of anything. I've not been in recently, and have no particular reason to expect to go in the future either. No loss if it does close.

Deansgate Watertones in superb.

GeoffC · 11-23-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherTD

Their website is closed for orders as well. Doesn't bode well.

that's a shock - it was open this morning ....

suecsi · 11-23-2009, 10:14 AM

I think that is very much where Borders in Kingston went wrong as well. Especially since there is also a dedicated Game store in the same shopping centre as the Waterstones ....

deltop · 11-23-2009, 10:16 AM

We have one up here in Gateshead. Only been the once, I rarely get the chance to browse in stores now, but I liked it very much. It will be a shame if they can't find a buyer.

11-23-2009, 06:45 AM	#1
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Borders Bookshop in the UK The Borders bookshop chain in the UK has appointed advisers to try to find a buyer for the business. Reports have said WHSmith walked away from a takeover deal on Friday, and that Borders UK could go into administration soon without a sale. BBC link

11-23-2009, 07:12 AM	#7
suecsi Rock Chick Posts: 429 Karma: 4965 Join Date: May 2009 Location: near Heathrow Device: Kindle 2i, Kindle DX, Kindle 3G	Definitely not good ...... Last edited by suecsi; 11-23-2009 at 07:15 AM.

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11-23-2009, 06:49 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I must admit that I didn't even know that there were any Borders shops in the UK! I honestly can't recall ever having seen one. Perhaps they're mainly in the South? Waterstones seems to be the chain that totally dominates the market.

11-23-2009, 06:55 AM	#5
suecsi Rock Chick Posts: 429 Karma: 4965 Join Date: May 2009 Location: near Heathrow Device: Kindle 2i, Kindle DX, Kindle 3G	I think they are mainly in the South (but then I rarely venture north of the Watford gap) We have one close to my work in Kingston upon Thames with a Starbucks and all, but even before I got into ebooks and was buying pbacks, I preferred Waterstones. This particular Borders was half the size (and it wasn't small) of the Waterstones, hideously laid out, had poor disabled access and was as untidy as heck. Its location is a bit more out of the way as well. Waterstones is right in the middle of the main indoor shopping centre so it gets most of the passing traffic, whereas you have to make an effort to go to the Borders. The other one I recall is on Oxford Street in Central London. There was a bit of bother fairly recently about the Borders in Swindon closing, so maybe (unfortunately) it is the beginning of the end? What is sad if the Kingston Borders shuts is that it is right next door to another empty store which used to be Woolworths .....

11-23-2009, 07:02 AM	#6
ChristopherTD Addict Posts: 343 Karma: 1010002 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London. UK Device: Marvin Reader on iPad Air (via Calibre)	Their website is closed for orders as well. Doesn't bode well.

11-23-2009, 07:32 AM	#8
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,776 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lobster Capital Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	Canada's top three retail book sellers have amalgamated over the last few years. This has hit the independent book sellers hard since they can't compete price wise and all three stores now sell mostly the same products at the same prices. (Note: We do have an Amazon.ca now, but I haven't bought any tree books from there.)

11-23-2009, 07:47 AM	#9
poshm Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1003580 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cambs, UK Device: PocketBook 360, Sony Reader Touch, Ipod touch & Kindle 2	This is sad We've a very good Borders bookstore in Cambridge and it has hands down the best magazine selection I've seen in the region with lots of imports. Not to mention being a very good book store and a lovely place to go and grab a leisurely coffee. There is a WHSmiths right next door but not nearly so good. Oh so sad we are losing all these lovely shops.

11-23-2009, 08:39 AM	#10
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	ahhhh on this side of the pond at least it is a pretty nice bookstore.

11-23-2009, 09:45 AM	#11
camino real Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 58 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Device: Sony PRS-300	We have one in north Manchester but I don't go to it a lot as it's a two bus journey away. I'll be sad to see it go because it will leave Waterstone's as top dog which cannot be good for the book trade. I always love visiting Borders when I travel to Chicago.

11-23-2009, 10:12 AM	#12
sony_fox Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 84 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester Device: Kobo Auroa H2O	There's also one in Stockport - S. Manchester It was quite good when it opened, better than the local small Waterstones. But it tried to diversify too far, losing the book selection and gaining music and magazines and Game. Which meant that it has only a tiny stock of anything. I've not been in recently, and have no particular reason to expect to go in the future either. No loss if it does close. Deansgate Watertones in superb.

11-23-2009, 10:14 AM	#14
suecsi Rock Chick Posts: 429 Karma: 4965 Join Date: May 2009 Location: near Heathrow Device: Kindle 2i, Kindle DX, Kindle 3G	I think that is very much where Borders in Kingston went wrong as well. Especially since there is also a dedicated Game store in the same shopping centre as the Waterstones ....

11-23-2009, 10:16 AM	#15
deltop Zealot Posts: 136 Karma: 244 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kobo Glo	We have one up here in Gateshead. Only been the once, I rarely get the chance to browse in stores now, but I liked it very much. It will be a shame if they can't find a buyer.

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