Further hints of the crumbling world of major chain bookstores: Barnes and Noble is considering putting itself up for sale. (Specifically, they're exploring "strategic alternatives", one of which is selling.) My hometown contains both a Borders and a Barnes and Noble, and you can see that market factors are hitting 'em hard (limited hours, diminishing stock, fewer employees), while the five or so local, independent booksellers in the area seem to be doing okay. Wave of the future, or just a fluke of my hippie town? Only time will tell....Labels: Booksellers, Economy of Doom, Money
2 Comments:
I think it is more "sign of the times." Many independents carry used books as well as new (I don't know if that's the case where you live) and a recession is a time when buyers look more kindly upon secondhand items.
2:25 PM
Most of the local independents carry used books as well as new (actually, one of them carries nothing *but* used books), but even the one that's limited to new books seems to be doing okay. I think it does a better job of judging local clientèle, however. Barnes and Noble and Borders just seem to stock whatever.
3:18 PM
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