Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
No... Blockbuster will eventually disappear from the streets, to be replaced by online DVD buying services, and other non-specialty stores that will display specially-packaged DVD sets, to entice buying for the packaging.
The likely future of books is to become primarily bought and sold as e-books, with a smaller proportion being produced as high-quality hardbacks for gifters and aficionados. B&N and Borders' physical stores will probably be in the business of displaying and selling the pretty hardbacks, plus operating as a go-between to allow you to find and buy e-books.
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Steve...dude...that was my point. BB essentially went tits up a few years ago. There are stores here and there and even those burning kiosks in grocery stores now. BB did not even attempt to add streaming or online DVD rental until it was already a forgone conclusions they were done for. One of the biggest nails in the BB coffin was Netflix. I still use Netflix, especially since they now offer unlimited viewing of their, admittedly limited, online content. But we have fun with some older shows, a few newer ones and some really good BBC or other TV content. I dumped cable (well satellite) about 4yrs ago and have never looked back.
But, yeah, my exact implied point is BB is done as maybe will happen to bookstores which do not aggressively adopt digital & portable media that is device agnostic. I see a 'book store' as being more of a gathering place, a reading & research room. Maybe even a nice place to study, ready or just enjoy some quiet for a change. They will of course merchandise everything under the sun. Basically I see it as the natural evolution of the library/coffee house/internet cafe/book & music store...throw in a bunch of nibbles and you have nice new business model taken to the extreme. Sit, have lunch and browse through their catalog wirelessly or even read sample chapters over coffee, or as others might prefer in the store's "throne room"...
But people like to be around other people sometimes. Doing everything online by yourself does not a healthy mind make. I often I think people like to shop for the social aspect more than the endorphin release they get signing that payment slip. To me, the company who capitalizes on that sort of thing will be the one to survive the coming changes.