Quote:
Originally Posted by Connallmac
The model that B&N built is no longer competitive. Sure they can stock a lot of books, but they can never stock as many as Amazon. Is there a new model that could work in today's retail environment? Possibly, but who would be willing to invest in with what's happening with B&N?
The best thing B&N could do is take a trip through Chapter 11, lose a lot of it's bigger real-estate, and build a smaller floorplan completely focused on books. I can buy a big best-seller at Wal-Mart or Costco or any one of a number of other places that sells a small selection of books. Focus in on the core business of books and go after readers who read beyond the best-seller list.
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Or, like B. Dalton did, focus on the bestsellers and go very small. Then use POD to expand the in-store catalog and modern logistics for ship to store online sales and next day special order home delivery. Whatever one may think of the Amazon B&M store it is clearly an extension of their online operations not a separate disconnected effort like B&N online, Nook, and the storefronts.
B&N already has a fairly decent logistics system but it isn't as good as it needs to be and it needs to be better integrated with online and digital.
Essentially, for B&M to prosper the meaning of the term needs to change from Bricks & Mortar to Bits & Mortar. Less real estate and more tech.