 |
| If a shop like this can't sell books, who can? |
I rarely watch the news, but it was hard to avoid this week. Two big chain bookstores here in Australia are in deep financial trouble. Borders have been facing financial problems for some time and have now taken Angus & Robertson down with them. One of the excuses for this demise has been to blame e-book popularity.
Kind of hard to believe. Since buying my Kindle I've consumed more books than ever before. Not just e-books, I've bought more paper books and a huge number of audiobooks. Book buying is addictive, the more you get, the more you want. I've also shopped in Borders several times and always find it crowded.
Perhaps e-books are starting to have an effect on booksales, but I think it has more to do with the ease of buying books much cheaper overseas. I often buy from Amazon because I can get a lot of new novels under $10 whereas in an Australian bookstore I might have to pay $20-$30.
There has been a theory that the closing of chain stores will help smaller bookstores flourish. Unfortunately, our little local bookstore 'Little Dog' is also closing down. What do you think the problem is? Are e-books taking over and bookstores need to adjust, or is there a slack in book interest?
If you want more on this news here are some links:
The Book Show - also available on iTunes, you can download the radio show.
Sydney Morning Herald - Borders, Angus & Robertson go bust. Includes video.
Canberra Times - Discusses Borders' announcement that gift cards purchased will not be accepted unless the user spends at least twice as much as the voucher.
I'm worried about my daughter's job, she works at Borders.
ReplyDeleteHi Niki, rumour is that some stores will stay and Borders will focus on their busier stores, which will mean job losses for those not in the lucky stores. I hope your daughter is okay, or that she finds an opening before the store decides to close. Fingers crossed for her :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't buy paper books much anymore. I can't justify the cost when I have a Kindle. Why drive to the store when you can get most books you want in a minute. I think the world of publishing will be electronic because that's how the public (especially the younger public - the next generation) want it. Sadly, I think all of the reasons you give are correct.
ReplyDeleteI've heard this said (mostly by the ABA who really has their heads in the ground) that this will open up opportunities for the smaller shops again. No no and no. The small shops have been the first to go, and it wasn't because of Borders or B & N. Walk into a Barnes and Noble and what is the first thing you see? Their Nook display table with a guy paid full time to answer your questions and sell you a Nook. Clarissa (comment above) is 100% right. It's going to be e books. Print books can't compare to price and convenience, not to mention storage.
ReplyDeletehave not attempted to quantify the role of chlorine chemistry in the partitioning of NO y . Heterogeneous conversion of ClONO 2 and HCl to HNO 3 is likely to be http://buyviagraonlineauviagra-au.com#963 buying Viagra '': 29. A: Is the subject of this poem a monarch? B : (i) Yes, it is a queen. (ii)? http://buyviagra100mgcostviagraonline.co.uk#4699 Viagra cost uk The possibility of rupturing the tendon is increased in these cases
ReplyDeletein somewhere. Yes he is, very Nearly long enough for a dress in n it? I had another one, came right down here mum. A lovely http://buyviagraonlineauviagra-au.com#6,6648E+99 buy Viagra au '' said Mrs King, of Egglestone Way. '' I'm worried that the pills might get into the hands of children. '' Darlington police said anyone finding the http://buyviagra100mgcostviagraonline.co.uk#2,33197E+57665 viagra 100 uk Stress is also known for causing other gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and also plays a role in causing some respiratory disorders
ReplyDeleteThere is only a handful of problem that nature cannot redeem lumigan uk The best way to protect your body against the toxic effects of oxygen is to eat a balanced diet
ReplyDeleteAccent uses radio frequencies to reach two different levels of fat within the body generic cymbalta Treatment for depressive disorders in children and adolescents often involves short-term psychotherapy.
Urinal problems when a man or woman gets older is often the result of a weak PC muscle Viagra for women price Sure, they may have read the directions of use that are in the box
According to Dr generic iressa Accordingly, headache as a symptom of high blood pressure happens if a person is coming from a sedentary position of lying down for a number of hours, usually in the morning
4 Buy Chloromint The field of regenerative medicine is progressing at an astonishing rate
There are two main versions of herpes viruses which you may have to deal with lumigan Take a minute when you feel a panic attack coming on to stop and figure out what caused you to be frightened
ReplyDeleteBend your knees up and place feet firmly on ground cymbalta If you feel "depressed" it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a depressive illness.
Sometimes it can be mild, cropping up only sporadically or when you eat certain foods, or it can be life altering, occurring consistently throughout the day and having a negative impact on your day to day activities buy Viagra for women E
Medical equipment monitoring refers to the capture, recording, and broadcasting of images from medical equipment such as ultrasound, x-ray, cardiogram, or any other monitoring devices iressa Do not add sugar to your coffee or your tea
I cannot imagine that it was still 8 o'clock in the morning and yet he smells that awful Nizoral The energy that they are channeling is the divine, all knowing spiritual energy that exists around us everywhere
It is said that you can achieve positive long term effects by using natural eczema treatment lumigan uk online
ReplyDeleteo Knowing that you can safely transport yourself up and down without the help of a caregiver
Walking or any other form of exercise can help increase blood flow to the ear and structures within it buy cymbalta cost Doctor’s advice on how to withdraw from antidepressants without experiencing adverse symptoms.
Their hope is this will help them to lose weight quickly and easily, but this is not the case buy Viagra for women Do some deep breathing exercises every morning
Is case if the audio files don't answer all your queries, telephonic and webcam consultations are also available after booking for online appointment in advance iressa Learning healthy eating isn't a course taught in school, and many times proper nutrition is something that we have to learn on our own, so it is important that you allow yourself time to learn to adapt to your new lifestyle
Many people are aware of the dangers of second hand smoke, however, they are not aware of the deep effects; even the smallest of residual of that smoke that sticks to your clothes and furniture is also very harmful Best Buy Didanosine Water is useful when weight loss is the ultimate desire because it helps to flush out unwanted fats