Barnes & Noble’s New Comeback Plan

[Cosimo]

Wouldn't eat there. Wouldn't shop there.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Cosimo

Wouldn't eat there. Wouldn't shop there.

Why not? Barnes and Noble has done a lot of dumb things, but in general, they are still nice places to shop. And (in many places) are the only book store left, or at least the only one left at a mall.

[Wearever]

I don't think they will sell anymore books than they do now. They probably will have more people sitting around though but not buying anything. Last time I was in a B&N at a mall, that's all people were doing sitting around browsing but not buying. This was a few years ago, I walked through because it was where I parked near the B&N entrance. Maybe they could charge an entrance fee ? That way they could at least make a few bucks.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by John F

Went to a B&N today; no DVDs or CDs, and they had one table of vinyl.

Did that store once have a music/movies section that they got rid of?

Maybe some older smaller stores don't have that section. I dunno. But every Barnes and Noble I've ever been in throughout California, Texas, Washington and Virginia/D.C. had a section for music and movies.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Wearever

I don't think they will sell anymore books than they do now. They probably will have more people sitting around though but not buying anything. Last time I was in a B&N at a mall, that's all people were doing sitting around browsing but not buying. This was a few years ago, I walked through because it was where I parked near the B&N entrance. Maybe they could charge an entrance fee ? That way they could at least make a few bucks.

B&N eBooks are available inside the walls of their shop. The idea is that you can use an eBook reader to read portions of a book and then you may buy either the eBook or perhaps the hardback book version. Having a restaurant provides a way for you to linger and use their online features which could sell more books. Time will tell I suppose. They have their own app for tablet use.

Dale

[John F]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Did that store once have a music/movies section that they got rid of?

Maybe some older smaller stores don't have that section. I dunno. But every Barnes and Noble I've ever been in throughout California, Texas, Washington and Virginia/D.C. had a section for music and movies.

Yes, they use to have a large section, maybe 1/5 of the store.

I was surprised that they didn't have DVDs and CDs.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by John F

Yes, they use to have a large section, maybe 1/5 of the store.

I was surprised that they didn't have DVDs and CDs.

Well, both formats are dying. And even at their heyday, B&N charged too much for them. The store I briefly worked at made up for it by stocking obscure CDs Their selection was really something.

If B&N replaces the floor space that those sections took up with their new cafe/restaurant, then more power to them.

[Wearever]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

B&N eBooks are available inside the walls of their shop. The idea is that you can use an eBook reader to read portions of a book and then you may buy either the eBook or perhaps the hardback book version. Having a restaurant provides a way for you to linger and use their online features which could sell more books. Time will tell I suppose. They have their own app for tablet use.

Dale

That's true they could be downloading books in the store, I just think that at the time more people weren't , more like catching up on their phones, talking, or even checking the price on Amazon, Google or Kobo. At that time they had a cafe but only one person was sitting at the counter, just had a coffee and talking with the person serving. I remember back in 2010-11 when the place was packed with people in lines at the check out and lines at the Nook help desk in the center of the store. Last time there were no lines or anyone at the check out, and they no longer had a Nook help desk. Just a place where the Nooks for sale could be seen on a shelf. Although each store could be a little different. B&N has changed since then and now want to try something new with restaurants, they may get more people in to eat, but I'm not sure it will translate to book sales for them. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Sydney's Mom]

Last time I was in BN was 2008. There was a horribly long line at the checkout. But, 2008 was when I switched to ebooks.

[fjtorres]

From Publishers Weekly:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...nes-noble.html

Long-time Barnes & Noble executive Jaime Carey will leave the company at the end of February. Carey’s pending departure was disclosed in a filing made with the SEC Tuesday morning.

Carey is currently president of the development and restaurant group, but in the filing, B&N said that last week it determined that Carey will no longer have those duties and responsibilities. As a result, Carey decided to resign, but agreed to stay through February “to provide for the transition of his responsibilities.”

Carey was named to his new role in June just as B&N was planning to launch new test stores that feature the B&N Kitchen. Its first stores opened this fall. Carey's duties will be divided between Demos Parneros, the newly named B&N chief operating officer, and David Deason, v-p of development. Carey's departure is not expected to change B&N's plans to test different prototype stores.

[sakura-panda]

Barnes and Noble has a really nice children's book area. It is so nice that my kids often ask if they can go there. It's sectioned off from the rest of the store with bookshelves and one access area, so that the kids can't accidentally wander into another section. I can take the kids in there, download a complementary ebook, and (in theory) sit back and read while the kids are browsing.

(In reality, there is too much, "Look, Mom!" for me to actually do any reading. It's just a nice idea.)

I can not remember the last time I bought any book for myself from there, but I've spent more there than on all of my ebook purchases combined. It's the best in person selection of new children's books that I know of, including the library. So I am hoping they stay around for awhile.

[Cosimo]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Why not? Barnes and Noble has done a lot of dumb things, but in general, they are still nice places to shop. And (in many places) are the only book store left, or at least the only one left at a mall.

I wouldn't eat there because the idea of eating in a bookstore, or just while reading, doesn't work for me. A coffee (or whatever), yes. Food? No.

My last two experiences at B & N have not been nice. Too many small children running amok, but who can blame them when the place seems more like a toy store than a book store. I only buy ebooks but thought I would walk out with a few magazines. Nope, just walked through the store, dodging kids, and walked out without purchasing anything. I didn't even stop at Starbucks.

[Biks]

Why can't I have this for a book store?

Whatever machine is making print on demand books at Createspace - stick that in the back room. Everything but hard covers will be print on demand. The isles are filled with dog eared copies of all the recent top sellers that I can browse. When I figure out which book I want, I order a copy, go get a coffee and in 10 minutes the book is done.

In addition, I can order ANY indie book and have it printed there. There will also be new hard covers at the front of the store. (for those type of people who want them)

Point is, they wouldn't have to deal with moving of any unsold books. (other than hard covers) The stores could be physically smaller. No book will ever not be in stock or sold out.

How come I can't go there?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Biks

Why can't I have this for a book store?

Whatever machine is making print on demand books at Createspace - stick that in the back room. Everything but hard covers will be print on demand. The isles are filled with dog eared copies of all the recent top sellers that I can browse. When I figure out which book I want, I order a copy, go get a coffee and in 10 minutes the book is done.

In addition, I can order ANY indie book and have it printed there. There will also be new hard covers at the front of the store. (for those type of people who want them)

Point is, they wouldn't have to deal with moving of any unsold books. (other than hard covers) The stores could be physically smaller. No book will ever not be in stock or sold out.

How come I can't go there?

Perhaps Amazon could launch such a store.

But the first thing that would would happen is a competitor store would open and they would begin wrangling for exclusive licensing (all Hachette books are now sold exclusively through B&N. All Random House books can only be found at Amazon stores), similar to what is happening now with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc.

Another thing, is the store would have overstock. How many customers would decide that novel they just ordered to be printed doesn't sound so good after all?

Lastly, lack of stock on the floor would really cut into impulse buying. I can't see a book store being too crazy about that.

Your idea has merit. These issues could be resolved (except the exclusive licensing. There is no cure for corporate greed). Just food for thought.

[AnemicOak]

Robert J. Sawyer's book store from Flash Forward...

Instead, they met at the Chapters superstore in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby. This one still devoted about half its space to actual pre-printed books that were for sale: guaranteed bestsellers by Stephen King, John Grisham, and Coyote Rolf. But the rest of the facility was taken up by individual display copies of titles that could be printed on demand. It took only fifteen minutes to produce a single copy of any book, either in mass-market paperback or as an octavo hardcover. Large-print editions could be had, as well, and computer-translated editions in any one of twenty-four languages could be produced in only an additional few minutes. And, of course, no title was ever out of stock.