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Originally Posted by Xerxes
I don't think anything could save the poor store, except becoming BN. And you believe that'll be the death of them both. |
Let's just say I don't see a combination benefiting them. I can see why Borders might welcome acquisition by a better heeled partner, but I don't see the benefit for B&N.
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I think like someone else mentioned, being more lounge-esque would be cool. Sometimes all the tables are taking up to study. But I like the atmosphere and the fraps to study. It's sort of like the University library, although now ours is over crowded and students aren't there meeting and discussing. There is also a lot of lollygagging. 
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It certainly would help. Anything you can do to make shopping a pleasant experience is a good idea.
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Ummm where was I... Borders. For one the normally seem darker to start with. And their books aren't ideally stocked. No these are small nitpicks.
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No, they aren't small. They're Retailing 101.
Your first problem is how do you get the customer into the store. Your second is what you do once they are. You want it to be as easy as possible for the customer to find what they want and give you money.
This means brightly lit, well arranged selling space, with proper stocking.
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Prices would probably be the big thing I guess. Sure they give you refund credit, but it's ruled by a odd system. Coupons barely lower prices to competitive prices.
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Prices are a big thing. Convenience may be bigger.
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Amazon and BN seem IN the race to me. Amazon brought a online store, BN brought a just as decent online bookstore. Amazon got ebooks popular to some degree, BN is trying to get in there to some degree. They have the pieces but now they are trying to form into Voltron. All and all Borders on the other hand just seems like the hurt dog in the race. Limping along. Still trying to get the website to matter when they still can't compete price wise. And when I go in there... <shrug>
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I largely concur on Amazon vs B&N. Amazon is the 800lb gorilla of book retailing. If you know what you want, and can wait for delivery, Amazon has it, and probably has it at a better price than elsewhere. It's when you don't know what you want, and you feel like browsing, that someone like B&N can be competitive. Or when you want it
now, not in a few days. There's a Barnes and Noble superstore in walking distance of me, covering a good bit of a block and with four stories of books. If it's a paper book, chances are they have it in stock.
I'm glad to see B&N trying. I think moving into ebooks and developing their web presence is a necessity. But I do expect the number of actual brick and mortar storefronts they operate to decrease.
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Dennis