Competition with other major brick-and-mortar retailers (like Barnes & Noble) and Internet megastores (like Amazon) has made an already rough economic climate even rougher for Borders. They were forced to close 200 Walden store locations this month, freeing them from burdensome leases on mall space but further contracting their sales base and general visibility in the market. Even if the Borders chain emerges from this dip relatively unscathed, it's not clear how their mall stores (Borders Express and Walden) will fare.
It's not all bad news in Ann Arbor—Borders has reduced shelf space for less profitable merchandise and revamped their rewards program—but, as you can see, they're far from out of the woods yet.
What do you think, fair authors? Will Borders regain their footing as the economy recovers? Do you think mall-based book retailing is still effective? Do you shop at Borders regularly, and if not, why not? If so, why?
They just closed their Borders store near my home. The closest now is at a busy mall I won't go to and the other too far away to even consider. Their rewards program and email pages with new books, offers, etc. are infinitely better than Barnes & Noble's. Their design and depth of info is so darn good. It seems a shame their stores are not as comparably designed. Barnes & Noble stores are bigger and better laid out. I don't know what the answer is but I suspect Borders ain't gonna make it in the long run.
ReplyDeleteHaving staged an aggressive arrival in the late 1990s, Borders has now left the UK completely, going from deep-discounting megastore to airy retail space to let in little more than a decade. Monsters can be scary, but watching them die is even worse somehow. I hope they can pull through.
ReplyDeleteI do shop regularly at Borders, mainly because of their rewards coupons (and their selection). They've been sending out 33% coupons like candy lately, so their prices are pretty close to Amazon's. I've never been interested in their mall stores -- they don't make sense to me -- who's the ideal consumer? They're like airport stalls for the mall, except you're not stuck on an unexpected layover.
ReplyDeleteA Borders came in here about four years ago, and yet I've never bought a book there 'cause they put the locally-owned Bookland - which I'd gone to for over thirty years - out of business within a year.
ReplyDeleteThe Borders in my mall just closed :( There was a nice sale, but it was still sad to see.
ReplyDeleteBorders has always been my bookstore of choice. I have always prefered it to B&N. Why? Because Barnes and Noble feels like a coffee shop that happens to sell books. Borders is a bookstore that happens to sell coffee. There is a big difference in that to me.
ReplyDeleteThe Waldens in my homewtown just closed, which I find really sad. Waldens and I go way back. When I was younger this was the only place I had to buy books. There were no big bookstores. I remember going to Waldens every Sunday in middle school to buy new books. Granted, now I mainly hit up the actual Borders or their website instead of going to the mall store, but when in my hometown, I still bought most of my books from the mall Waldens rather than the big B&N (sadly, no borders). The mall store was simply more convienent.
I shop at Border's regularly, because I prefer their organization system to that of Barnes & Noble. I think I'll make more of an effort to shop there instead of at Amazon now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. I was wondering what was happening with them.
ReplyDeleteBorders used to be my absolute favorite book store. They had a great rewards program and used to have every book I could ever want. The last two years have seen that change. I could go in with a list of twenty books of interest, and only find 3-5 of them. Makes me sad. Still, they've held on longer than I expected, so I can always hope for the best.
I became a Borders shopper because it's the closest bookstore (and still a fifteen-minute drive away). But they also fulfill my personal book-buying needs.
ReplyDeleteI love the Rewards program. I've gotten a lot of good deals through it.
I also shop the Borders Marketplace online quite a bit. It's the only way I can afford brand new hardcovers (which I prefer over both paperbacks and e-books). My last three purchases were $3, $4, and $3. All brand new. All hardcovers. All had a list price of $25. Can't really beat that.
If they go bye-bye, I won't be happy. Unless, of course, something better takes their place. *shrugs* It's difficult to have die-hard loyalty in this ever-changing economy.
I frequent Borders because it's right across the street from my work :). I really do love the browsing atmosphere, so I hope they pull through. B&N is just too large for me. Sure, I love selection, but I also don't like feeling like I'm shopping for books in a Walmart. I enjoy more intimate bookstores.
ReplyDeletePlus, the cozy chairs and wifi don't hurt :).
I can't really comment without my bias showing, but I feel I should anyway. I'm a Waldenbooks retail associate, mostly for the holiday season. Even before I joined the company I preferred Borders/Waldenbooks over some of the other large chains. I can find most anything I want to buy either at one of their stores or online, and the reward program is free.
ReplyDeleteThe associates and managers at my old store in particular (I moved) are great at working with authors for booksignings. I want it to still be around by the time I finish my book so I can hold one there for myself. I know they'll do their best to help make it a success. But then, that's probably one reason why they survived the recent cut.
I really don't want the company to die.
I'm an Amazon girl. But I really wish I were more of an independent bookstore person. Just lazy I guess. I want what I want without making special trips. Or, sometimes, without leaving my sofa.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Borders right next to my office, so I shop there when I need to buy a book during my lunch break. But I have a kindle and read more e-books than paper books. Plus I live in Portland, and have a strong attachment to Powell's. If Borders went under, I'd notice, but I'd get over it.
ReplyDeleteI do not shop at borders. In my area, at least, they frequently wouldn't carry titles they felt weren't suitable - need a book on the history of rap music? too bad, they don't carry "those types of books". Direct quote. Looking for that new YA title? Sorry, they don't carry it because the MC has sex.
ReplyDeleteI'm a B&N girl and always have been (though there were no Borders in my area until a few years ago)
As far as shopping at Borders, Barnes and Noble is currently closer and more convenient. When I was in grad school, though, the town only had a Borders. So I pretty much had to shop at Borders if I wanted a brick and mortar store. But I used to work at B&N so I'm fairly biased.
ReplyDeleteI really like our Borders more so than Barnes and Noble. BN moved into the mall and is more of a hassle to get to. Borders is only a few blocks from my home and I consider them my local bookseller. If we continue to buy everything from Amazon we can kiss our brick and mortars goodbye.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as how I work at B&N as a bookseller, I'm loyal to there (and you can't beat the employee discount... best loyalty program available at any book store).
ReplyDeleteBut even before I worked there, I preferred B&N for it's loyalty program. Sure, I had to pay the annual fee, but I spend enough in books (because I have a bit of addiction) and I saved on every book (plus coupons on top) instead of Borders where I had to buy specific combos or spend a certain amount to get the discount. I liked that I could pop into B&N and just get a magazine and still get a discount.
It's funny the things that inspire "loyalty" in us... most of the comments regarded convenience (not all, but a big majority). I feel bad for the Borders/Walden employees who are being put out of work, and it's happening all over the place in retail (not just Borders and not just book stores). And you have to wonder how that affects the publishing houses--how those sales staff who had Borders/Walden as their clients are being reshuffled. It's trickle-up in this case, and it sucks all around for sure.
I've always loved Borders, but hated Waldenbooks and Borders Express - they never have anything I want and always feel like a lot of fluff in my opinion - plus my thinking is mall storefronts are probably going downhill in general as bigger stores and websites take over the world. But I do hope Borders comes back up. I'd miss it if it were gone.
ReplyDeleteThe only B&N shops I go to are connected to malls. In fact, at the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, Minn., they had both B&N and Walden books, until Walden closed.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Walden/Borders will ever be the major player they once were. But it is always sad to see a bookstore shuttered.
Our Border's Store is not in a mall. It has its own separate building with a parking lot that separates it from a Staples store. The Writers group to which I belong meets every Tuesday morning in the coffee shop located in the Borders store. And the store is always populated with many shoppers. Of course we writers frequently end up buying books. And the staff are great with helping us find reference and research books as well as all the other kinds of merchandise the store carries. Maybe getting out of a mall is the way to go. BTW - Even the Children's Book special section is highly populated with parents, grandparents and children - and not just during the holidays.
ReplyDeleteI virtually never go to Borders or Barnes & Noble. I'm lucky enough to live in an area with (what seems like) dozens of small independent bookstores, which are cozy, inviting, and human-sized. For a better selection, though, I frequent the massive downtown Portland Powell's Books. It may not be small, but it is independent. Despite its size, Powell's is friendly and easy to navigate.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that nearly all commenters so far DO go to large-chain bookstores. I guess I must take my city's independent bookstores for granted. Certainly if I had no other choice, I would buy my books from a national chain, but as it is I'm happy to support local business.
I like Borders instead of B&N for its atmosphere, which promotes browsing. Mostly because that's all I ever do there nowadays. With even paperbacks now at $8 or more, my purpose in going to any bookstore is to see what new titles sound good so that I can go and get them at the library. The only books I buy are from Amazon or Half Price Books. I just can't afford the high prices of buying things new.
ReplyDeleteكيف اشتري اسهم في سوق الأسهم اليوم بأفضل سعر؟
ReplyDelete