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Browsing at DC's B&Ns is getting depressing. Every time I walk into the Georgetown or Metro Center store, they've taken out another section of shelving and replaced it with . . . empty space. You can still see the marks on the floor where they used to be.
In the early- and mid- 2000s, I spent many a Saturday there, punctuated by a movie at the AMC Georgetown. Now I can't go in without being reminded of the shrinkage everywhere, cutbacks everywhere.
Exactly the same thing happened at Tysons Corner's Borders over the last few years.
Why is this going on? Is Barnes & Noble trying to continue as a successful bookstore while selling as few books as possible?
I love browsing for books (almost as much as reading them!), but I really feel that the days of brick-and-mortar bookstores are coming to an end. Amazon and other on-line retailers are killing the old model, just like on-line music downloads have killed off most of the major record/cd retailers. I hate to say it, but I find myself contributing to the problem: I will browse for books at B&N and then go home and buy them on-line (not from B&N) at a cheaper price. I know I'm not alone in this.
I think they will adopt an "Apple Store" type retail model, where the purpose of the store is to primarily showcase products rather than physical sales. Imagine walking into a B&N with your Nook, perusing the shelf of hardcover books, then immediately downloading your purchases and go grab a coffee. Instead of employees, they will have "Book Geniuses". Finally an employable job for English Majors!
I think B&N is starting to focus on the Nook. It's pretty much their only chance against Amazon.
That's the irony here. B&N has outlived Borders largely on the strength of its e-reader sales, but those e-readers will ultimately be what dooms B&N as well. I hate to be pessimistic, but I think the only thing the Nook as done for B&N's brick-and-mortar business is issue a stay of execution.
I think you're right. Amazon beat Borders and B&N to the e-reader punch.
You know what's going to change next? Your local public library. I don't know about DCPL but Montgomery County is allowing residents to check-out e-book material. No need to browse the new arrivals in the library and take a stack of hard-copy books home for the three-week check out period. Just click a few buttons and make the check-out remotely.
Furthermore, the entire reference section in each library is obsolete thanks to Google. The internet has all of the important information that you need from learning tax codes, business start-up info, encyclopedias, mutual fund reports etc. etc.
So if you are a local librarian, what is your purpose in the internet digital age? I see a future where libraries will be mostly empty because many of the book shelves will no longer be needed. Public libraries will need to cut back on staff too. You don't need a librarian to check out an e-book when you can make a reservation through the library's web site. You don't need a librarian to help find reference material when you have the internet at home, work or in public space.
I guess people over the age of 40 are still familiar with hard-copy books and they will continue to the same reader habits through their senior years. But anyone younger than 40, is more likely to use e-books and read magazine articles online. All of the publications related to career growth, financial investments, fiction, biographies, travel and more can be accessed through a computer, tablet or smartphone. So, I don't know but I think the internet has proven to be a job destruction machine where librarians and bookstore shops will be swept into the trash can of history.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 14thandYou
That's the irony here. B&N has outlived Borders largely on the strength of its e-reader sales, but those e-readers will ultimately be what dooms B&N as well. I hate to be pessimistic, but I think the only thing the Nook as done for B&N's brick-and-mortar business is issue a stay of execution.
I think they will adopt an "Apple Store" type retail model, where the purpose of the store is to primarily showcase products rather than physical sales. Imagine walking into a B&N with your Nook, perusing the shelf of hardcover books, then immediately downloading your purchases and go grab a coffee. Instead of employees, they will have "Book Geniuses". Finally an employable job for English Majors!
I think this is right. Unlike other media, even as reading books becomes more digital, the demand to experience perusing bookstores will not go away. The Apple Store model could work great for indie bookstores as well. Politics and Prose has started selling e-books but there is never a lack of browsers. I think that's the best future for bookstores.
Also, Borders was mismanaged, so don't read too much into their demise..
The prices at Borders were absurd, charging $40 for a blu ray movie when you can get it for $15 at Best Buy. And even with the clearance and going out of business sale, it's still more expensive than your average B and M store.
Well I never go to a bookstore for a DVD. I'd go to Best Buy first.
I'm saddened by the closing of Borders. I'm old fashioned and have never really used a kindle despite buying one for my mother last Christmas (the best gift I've ever given her she says).
I too think that will probably be what will happen to Barnes and Noble as well it'll be like an Apple store. Which also saddens me but times change you either keep up with them or get left behind. Looks like Borders got left behind.
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You can still see the marks on the floor where they used to be.
