Well Nick Sherry isn't one of the worst politicians around, and partly he is right, the bookstores need to do something of face extinction. Simple and I agree. What I don't agree with was the comment in the article
Quote:
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Senator Sherry made the comments at a launch of the Driving Business Online campaign, a private sector initiative designed to encourage small business owners to boost their online presence.
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Online presence for bookstores is not the solution. The same article mentioned REDGroup saying increased online competition as one reason for their downfall - this coming from a big company who already had an establish online presence.
If my local got an online presence (former A&R store) what would happen? They would still charge the high price for books plus a postage fee, making it more expensive than if I drove in. Now besides having an online presence, stores need stock, and unfortunately most booktores I go into seem to push hard the latest and greatest 30 titles, and a little mix of other stuff. Being serious, what would the average bookstore have, 3000 titles in stock? 5000? Still doesn't compete with other online stores.
Bookstores need to change their business model. Gone are the days of people happily paying $30 for a paperback. Nowdays one can walk around the corner to Target or K-Mart and pay $22 for the same new released. Why an $8 difference?? (Heck, Towers of Midnight was $19.95 at my local K-Mart when released, A&R had it and still does for $34.99).
Online isn't the answer, because if they just concentrate on an online presence then no-one would visit the physical store, and Nick Sherry would be right, they would close their doors.