Street level graphic novel sales are about to take a hit...

[thefreakytiki]

...Borders is closing 200 stores.


http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6705797.html

"Borders Group is accelerating the pace of closing stores in its Waldenbooks Specialty Retail group, announcing Thursday that it will shut approximately 200 outlets in January. The retailer has been steadily closing its mall-based stores since 2001 and will have about 130 mall stores after the downsizing is completed. Stores to be closed fall under the Waldenbooks, Borders Express and Borders Outlet names. Superstores are not part of the downsizing nor is the company’s mall kiosk business and airport stores.

Borders CEO Ron Marshall said that “through this right-sizing, we will reduce the number of stores with operating losses, reduce our overall rent expense and lease-adjusted leverage and generate cash flow through sales and working capital reductions.” The closing will result in the elimination of about 1,500 jobs, the majority of which, Borders said, are part-time positions.A company spokesperson said the stores slated for closing "will be fully stocked for the holidays," but will begin clearance sales in mid-December that will run into January. She had no comment on the total amount of sales generated by the stores targeted for closure.

The company also said it plans to integrate the remaining Walden stores into its superstore computer system to create a single platform. Despite attempts to merge the two operations in the past, Borders and Walden have always operated on separate systems, much to the frustration of publishers. The spokesperson said the company hopes to have the stores moved into superstores' inventory and point of sale system within the first quarter.

Commenting on the closing, Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy said she is "never happy to see the number of outlets diminished." She added, however, that if closing the stores helps to strengthen Borders, the move is a positive one."

Think of all the kids who roam malls that buy their books this way.  UGH!!!!



the Tiki

[Wood]

I never want to discount the loss of ANY book outlet. Too few kids are reading these days and it's as though most American families have forgotten that libraries exist, so any time a place someone, anyone might have bought a book closes = THE SUCK.

That said, I don't think closing down 200 Waldenbooks is a big deal in the grand scheme of things. You have to remember that Borders announced this plan back in April, amidst the most troubled time in its financial history. This very announcement led to the stock being up 26% in a day, as investors began to feel better about Borders ability to stay afloat.

By doing this, Borders will remain in existence. The alternative was VERY MUCH losing the #2 bookseller to bankruptcy and dissolution. So would I rather lose a few hundred unprofitable Waldenbooks, or Borders on the whole? What's worse for comics and reading in general?

BTW, I haven't bought something from a Waldenbooks in years, having frequented them plenty as a kid in malls. As a percentage of Border's sales and broadly as a contributor to overall book retailing, their influence had long since flown the coop.

[thefreakytiki]

I understand WHY their closing but it still is another way a teenager (or younger) loses out on a chance at availability.  Out of site, out of mind you know. 



the Tiki

[Wood]

I understand WHY their closing but it still is another way a teenager (or younger) loses out on a chance at availability.  Out of site, out of mind you know. 



the Tiki

As I said in my last post, on the margin any place that allows people to find books is worth keeping open all else being equal. I just disagreed with the tenor of the headline, as though this set of closures is going to have any kind of material impact on book sales on the whole, much less comic book sales.

[thefreakytiki]

As I said in my last post, on the margin any place that allows people to find books is worth keeping open all else being equal. I just disagreed with the tenor of the headline, as though this set of closures is going to have any kind of material impact on book sales on the whole, much less comic book sales.

I guess this is where we disagree.  I feel if there is even 1 kid who can't get a book they want or an opportunity to open themselves up to a new world, it breaks my heart (comics or not).

To me 1 = material impact. 


the Tiki

[Wood]

I guess this is where we disagree.  I feel if there is even 1 kid who can't get a book they want or an opportunity to open themselves up to a new world, it breaks my heart (comics or not).

To me 1 = material impact. 


the Tiki

Sure, we agree with that. But imagine how many more books that same child can have access to thanks to Amazon.com and eBay than he ever would have when his only option was whatever his tiny Waldenbooks carried in stock.

[thefreakytiki]

Sure, we agree with that. But imagine how many more books that same child can have access to thanks to Amazon.com and eBay than he ever would have when his only option was whatever his tiny Waldenbooks carried in stock.

But... How many 16 year olds who just got off work at Wendy's can whip out a credit card and buy a book on Amazon? 

We actually agree on 99.9% of the subject matter here.  I hope that Borders can get their stuff in order (because they have been hemorrhaging profits for about 2 years because they can't compete with online competition) and come back stronger than ever. 


the Tiki

[Wood]

But... How many 16 year olds who just got off work at Wendy's can whip out a credit card and buy a book on Amazon? 

We actually agree on 99.9% of the subject matter here.  I hope that Borders can get their stuff in order (because they have been hemorrhaging profits for about 2 years because they can't compete with online competition) and come back stronger than ever. 


the Tiki

Not to turn this into a Borders conversation broadly, but I think it's a horribly flawed business. Were it not for those 40% off coupons, I would never set foot in the place. Their costs are bloated, their inventory management needs massive overhaul, and their selection, in spite of massive shelf space, leaves a lot to be desired. Every time I walk in to find a trade to buy with my coupon, it's literally like choosing to ram my head against a brick wall even though I rammed my head against that same brick wall the month before.

[Andy Jewett]

the best thing about borders is that they serve Seattle's Best (at least mine does)... but the overpriced books tend to keep me from going there anymore honestly, which is sad because I used to frequent it.

[thefreakytiki]

Not to turn this into a Borders conversation broadly, but I think it's a horribly flawed business. Were it not for those 40% off coupons, I would never set foot in the place. Their costs are bloated, their inventory management needs massive overhaul, and their selection, in spite of massive shelf space, leaves a lot to be desired. Every time I walk in to find a trade to buy with my coupon, it's literally like choosing to ram my head against a brick wall even though I rammed my head against that same brick wall the month before.

Funny thing is, I used to remember a time before the explosion of Border's and B&N when there were "specialized" genre bookstores.  There were stores who dealt in nothing but mystery novels.  Others that were purely history books (and collectible 1st edition tomes).  And let's not forget the LCS.  

Sometimes when you specialize in ONE thing, you know it better than anyone else and cater to that unique audience in ways that big boxes can't.  Do you think this consolidation of any business has worn out it's welcome?  Is the one stop shop, synergy lost it's electric hum?  


the Tiki

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

I stopped going in when they wouldn't honor their online price at the store. I understand how and why there are 2 prices, but don't care. I won't pay the higher one. I politely asked why the store price didn't match their site's price, listened to a brief explanation, thanked the employee for helping me, and left and ordered it through a competitor for a bigger discount. Money's too tight and I want more comics for my dollar. 

[Wood]

Funny thing is, I used to remember a time before the explosion of Border's and B&N when there were "specialized" genre bookstores.  There were stores who dealt in nothing but mystery novels.  Others that were purely history books (and collectible 1st edition tomes).  And let's not forget the LCS.  

Sometimes when you specialize in ONE thing, you know it better than anyone else and cater to that unique audience in ways that big boxes can't.  Do you think this consolidation of any business has worn out it's welcome?  Is the one stop shop, synergy lost it's electric hum?  


the Tiki

I love good genre stores. There's this great mystery bookstore in the heart of Boulder that I adore, for example.

I think where stores like B&N, Borders, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc...have gone astray a bit is the loss of specialty expertise in-house. When they were consolidating their industries, many of the former niche store owners/employees "joined the Borg" as it were, and would be on hand to lend their expertise. But over time, b/c of a desire to optimize labor costs, they've all been largely recycled with lower priced workers with precious little expertise.

I know it drives me NUTS when I got into Lowe's and its clear the guy at the paint counter knows less about a project question than I do. That shouldn't happen.

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

I love good genre stores. There's this great mystery bookstore in the heart of Boulder that I adore, for example.

Yeah, good genre stores are amazing. Too bad they've gone by the wayside due to changes in business practices. I love The Seattle Mystery Bookshop and Murder by the Book in Portland. Nothing beats a fat old cat sleeping in a window seat and a person who knows and loves their stuff.

[Alec B.]

Bought my first comic at a Waldenbooks.

Just saying....

[Wood]

Bought my first comic at a Waldenbooks.

Just saying....

My dad got his milk delivered to his front door.

Just sayin'...

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

the best thing about borders is that they serve Seattle's Best (at least mine does)...

The ultimate misnomer.

[zack kruse]

I guess this is where we disagree.  I feel if there is even 1 kid who can't get a book they want or an opportunity to open themselves up to a new world, it breaks my heart (comics or not).

To me 1 = material impact. 


the Tiki

I absolutely agree with your sentiment but, playing the devil's advocate, doesn't that presume that kids and/or their parents aren't savvy enough to know where to find comics (or other books) if they want them?

I mean, if we stick with comics, I think they are more present with kids and adults now than they have been for a VERY long time. They're very much exposed these characters in ways that we were not. Public libraries, school libraries now routinely have well stocked comic and graphic novel sections, and don't forget about school classrooms, either. To imagine that we live in a time where there are legit lesson plans for teachers to use for teaching comics in the classroom blows me away and makes me proud. When my pre-schooler brings home her book order forms, there is always some sort of comic character in there. Add to that the last 10 years of comic book based movies (and not just the superhero flicks), the fantastic cartoons that our kids (and we) enjoy, and so on, and so on. Without trying to be hyperbolic, comics are, to me, as present in our collective minds as they have ever been. We won't lose them. They may change, but they won't go away. And I'm not even talking about manga, just regular American-style comics.  

To illustrate that point I offer this anecdote: every Halloween when I offer comics to the kids in my neighborhood, they almost ALWAYS take them. Even when offered candy in its place. This year I went through over 200 comics, no exaggeration. Every year it at least seems like I go through more than I did the year before. We had friends over this year and they couldn't believe how many kids wanted comics OVER candy.

Last year I bought several bundles of the Bone Halloween Ashcan to give away, just about every kid who came to my house knew who Bone was and wanted that particular comic--boy or girl, small child, tween, or teenager.

My point to this very long and rambling post is that kids ARE exposed to comics, and they are exposed to them regularly. Moreover, kids are savvy. They know where to find comics. I did, too. They know that they can get books from school, their LCS, Wal-Mart, Target, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, online stores, motion comics, digital comics, and on and on. When I was a kid, the nearest LCS for me was 30 minutes away. I had no idea what street it was on, or how to get there, but I bugged my parents, they checked and they got me where I wanted to go. The mileage will and does vary on each kid and how much they know about it, but they know how to get things done and will get what they want.

Sorry for the long post. Tim's post got me thinking and I sort of let it all out.

[Andy Jewett]

The ultimate misnomer.

Aww I like that coffee... owell

[Dotanuki]

For my money, Seattle's best = Vivace, especially for lattes, cappuccinos, straight-shots, etc. Stumptown from PDX gives them good competition.

I was reminiscing about Waldenbooks just the other day. In my Kirkland, WA late-high-school daze I would prowl Waldenbooks over at Bellevue Square, usually reading rules out of the D&D players handbook & thumbing through graphic novels. I spend more than 30 minutes in malls maybe once every five years now...

[InspectorSpacetime]

My dad got his milk delivered to his front door.

Just sayin'...

my grandfather still does

borders is not my favorite bookstore, and this goes along with the announcement a couple of months ago that they were going to focus more on books and less on cds and dvds.
listen i dont like people losing there jobs, but companies need to evolve or die.