Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
Whole, as in keeping all the execs?
|
No. Whole as in keeping all parts of the company, including stores. Probably changing the name, though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
...
Btw, when Circuit City went down, the one near me was doing gangbusters business.
When Borders went under, the nearest one was doing so well the Mall operator wanted to buy it and keep the staff and everything the same. Big traffic magnet.
I've no doubt that 50-60 of the B&N stores are making money hand over fist, especially in the larger metro areas with lots of flowing money. But the other 500 stores...
|
I was in Borders and Circuit City here near the end. Even in my area, in good economic conditions, the stores had the "smell of death." The shelves were half empty, the employees had that lackadaisical, "I'd rather be anywhere else" look in their eyes — the stores were generally unkempt (even the lighting was poor in the Circuit City). That's what I expected at Barnes & Noble the other day, but that's not what I saw. What I saw was energetic employees, a well stocked, well lighted and clean store. The Nook display is gone (three Nook devices at the Customer Service desk now) and a fairly small stand to display their cases, fifteen feet away, or so. But, since the Nook displays had dominated the entrance and were basically moribund, I think taking them out opens up the store and "freshens" it. I still think there is some value there for someone (maybe Indigo, maybe Walmart/Kobo) to take advantage of.