B&N being bought?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They're fronted by James Daunt, who fixed Waterstones by ditching payola and going hyperlocal: letting individual store managers select their stock and store layout according to local tastes.

He even tried renaming individual stores with different local names, to see if the Waterstones name might be a liability.

This could be good for B&M pbook buyers.

Be careful. You're in danger of making me feel optimistic.

I do think B&N moving into smaller stores in malls would be a good idea. Go back to the old B. Dalton model. I partly feel the mega bookstores were an ego move

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Be careful. You're in danger of making me feel optimistic.

True, but just how could it possibly get any worse?
At least for pbooks.

As I said, the ebook side is...undetermined...

The big box model was a good idea...for the 80's. Pre-online sales.
Even today, there is room for a couple dozen big box regional destination bookstores. But 600? Doubt it.

Edit: of course, if you really want a "glass half-empty" take, I could point out that between the closures to come and the downsizings--from 30,000 sqft to 3000(?)--the chain might lose up to 75% of its book shelf space, most of it coming from midlist and backlist.

[Calenorn]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I do think B&N moving into smaller stores in malls would be a good idea. Go back to the old B. Dalton model. I partly feel the mega bookstores were an ego move

The Mall. Sure, okay. Down at the Sears end, between the Radio Shack and the Blockbuster. In fact, B. Dalton's old location is still available.

For a reason.

[Apparition B5]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

The Mall. Sure, okay. Down at the Sears end, between the Radio Shack and the Blockbuster. In fact, B. Dalton's old location is still available.

For a reason.

Yeah, malls are a dead end today. Many are abandoned and the ones that aren't are clearly dying with many empty, closed up shops.

As for Barnes & Noble, I fully expect the Nook division to be sold by early next year. The Glowlight Plus will be the last Nook. If you want one, buy it while you can.

[Tony1988]

I personally still buy most everything at physical stores. If I want something I dont want to even wait one day. If I have to return something I want a replacement that day. I only buy online what i cannot find out at stores. Plus Amazon used to have good prices but they are pretty much on line with physical stores now. Even if they weren't i would still pay $50 bucks extra for a tv I can see rather than take a chance thru the mail.

[tomsem]

Malls. I figure that before too long they will become Amazon distribution centers.

[Apparition B5]

I am the opposite. I buy almost everything online, and have since the early 2000s. I even buy groceries online and have them delivered every other week. I don't think I've been inside a Barnes & Noble since around 2005.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

The Mall. Sure, okay. Down at the Sears end, between the Radio Shack and the Blockbuster. In fact, B. Dalton's old location is still available.

For a reason.

Originally Posted by Apparition B5

Yeah, malls are a dead end today. Many are abandoned and the ones that aren't are clearly dying with many empty, closed up shops.

Maybe where you live. Where I am there's still the traditional enclosed mall that's doing just fine and has two separate 'outdoor malls' (aka: shopping centers) right across the streets that are also doing very well.

Then downtown there's the Houston Galleria: Galleria's new luxury wing proves not all malls are dying

To be fair, I live in an upscale suburbia. I do know some malls are struggling. But if my idea isn't a good one, what should be done with a chain of paper book stores? Should they go online only? Do you really think they'll compete with Amazon?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

True, but just how could it possibly get any worse?
At least for pbooks.

As I said, the ebook side is...undetermined...

Quite honestly, I don't much care what happens with B&Ns ebook side. I do like the Nook hardware and am glad they are still turning out devices. The Nooks tend to be nicely designed and differ from their competitors. But they squandered their golden opportunity and short of a merger/acquisition with Kobo I don't see them ever coming back.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Apparition B5

I am the opposite. I buy almost everything online, and have since the early 2000s. I even buy groceries online and have them delivered every other week. I don't think I've been inside a Barnes & Noble since around 2005.

Same here (except for groceries). Mainly because I'd have to drive at least an hour to get somewhere that may have exactly what I'm looking for. If they don't, I'll be making the return trip empty-handed. Much easier, more efficient, and cost effective to order exactly what I want online. I've gotten quite good at it. I think I've had to return maybe two small items in the past decade or so.

If I lived in a place where there was a wide variety of businesses close to me, then sure, I'd probably go to more stores, too. But when you live in a place where choice is limited to pizza shops, drive-throughs (beer and wine), and farm-implement dealers, the ability to shop online can be a godsend.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Apparition B5

I am the opposite. I buy almost everything online, and have since the early 2000s. I even buy groceries online and have them delivered every other week. I don't think I've been inside a Barnes & Noble since around 2005.

I'm mostly where you are. I buy pretty much everything online with the exception of some groceries. I've started buying some basic groceries on line in the last couple of months. The online presence of the two grocery stores that I use (Publix and Wholefood) only have limited online selections.

How good stores are can be very location specific. The indoor mall that I use to frequent is dying with a lot of stores closed. On the other hand, a more upscale outdoor mall a couple of miles from there is doing great. You really have to understand your target audience and get the right stores.

I do hope that B&N puts effort into it's ebook store. Competition makes everyone better.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Be careful. You're in danger of making me feel optimistic.

I do think B&N moving into smaller stores in malls would be a good idea. Go back to the old B. Dalton model. I partly feel the mega bookstores were an ego move

The mega-stores, with extended hours and a coffee shop, software shop, etc., were very successful at one time. I remember going into them and browsing for hours. Borders and Barnes & Noble did well with them. "Did" — past tense. There used to be four or five rows of computer books alone — now maybe a small row and a half. It would probably be a good idea to down-size the stores at this point, but I don't think ego was involved. Hopefully they don't downsize so much that going into the stores is a waste of time, though.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by rcentros

The mega-stores, with extended hours and a coffee shop, software shop, etc., were very successful at one time. I remember going into them and browsing for hours. Borders and Barnes & Noble did well with them. "Did" — past tense. There used to be four or five rows of computer books alone — now maybe a small row and a half. It would probably be a good idea to down-size the stores at this point, but I don't think ego was involved. Hopefully they don't downsize so much that going into the stores is a waste of time, though.

I think that mega stores that cater to the social aspects of reading much like the old B&N did could be successful. Coffee shop, seats for a book club or just reading, order a book and have it delivered at home. You would need to customize it to the local clientele.

The other thing that I hope is that they will dramatically improve the ebook store.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

The other thing that I hope is that they will dramatically improve the ebook store.

Well, if Wasterstones is any indication, that doesn't look too good — as they handed off their eBook business to Kobo.

EDIT: I now see that was "pre-Elliot" though.

EDIT 2: But the CEO now (and who will control B&N) was there when the decision was made.

[lumpynose]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Malls. I figure that before too long they will become Amazon distribution centers.

Yeah, where they park their vans. They have their own blue vans doing delivery here. I'm still waiting for the flying drones to deliver stuff.