While running on the dreadmill earlier this week (no, that’s not a typo- it was eight degrees outside and the d-mill was my only option), I heard an interesting piece of news: Barnes and Noble will close about a third of its brick and mortar bookstores over the next decade.
Gasp! That’s right. The chain will shut up about twenty stores a year for the next ten years. I’m afraid that the Barnes and Noble that I use, in the relatively small town of Christiansburg, VA, will be one that disappears.
According to an LA Times article on Barnes and Noble, the plans reflect a business model necessary for the new era of publishing.
At first I panicked. Although I understand that the Internet has dramatically changed the world of publishing, I still like walking into a bookstore to shop.
But then I thought, What do I really use Barnes and Noble for?
- The cool gifts at the front of the store- leather bound journals, clever bookmarks, and word nerdy note pads.
- The atmosphere- for some reason, the smell of coffee and crisp new books calms my nerves and stimulates my mind.
- Entertainment- my kids always HAVE to stop at the Thomas the Train table.
- And, sometimes, books.
Truthfully, I buy most of my books online, via Amazon. When I polled a small group of friends (n=20), I found that more shopped online or at the library for books than they did at brick and mortar bookstores. But just a few more. Also, people seemed split 50/50 in their preference for traditional versus electronic formats.
So, while the bookstore lover in me mourns the loss, I can see why Barnes and Noble needs to trim back its “retail footprint.” I’m guessing the remaining 450 stores will survive in large cities.
But probably not mine.
I wonder how we bookstore addicts will get our fix in the future. Starbucks reported huge profits again in 2012; perhaps it can team up with libraries to offer the coffee scented atmosphere we crave.
Of course, Starbucks currently sells its coffee inside Barnes and Noble stores, and that hasn’t helped the retail book chain.
Are you surprised by the news about Barnes and Noble? Where do you shop for your books? What would you miss about a physical book store?
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and thanks for stopping by!
Julia
Boy oh boy, that’s a point. We have Chapters/Indigo here in Vancouver and I meet friends for coffee at the Sbux inside, but the books usually come from a friend’s used book store or from on-line. Goodbye big box book stores…it’s been nice having coffee meetings in you.
Good for you to support your friend’s book store. I wish we had more of those around.
I am probably a dinosaur, but I still love to go into a real bookstore and browse the shelves. I wish bookstores could remain relevant despite the new ebook and Amazon competition. Maybe they should become fixtures in the community like coffeeshops and event space too?
Good ideas Erin! And, by the way, I would hardly call you a dinosaur!! 🙂
I’m surprised, but you’re so right. If I’m not shopping at an independent book store or Amazon for books, I’m at B&N looking for the cool things in the front of the store. I love their extra products, like the journals, bookmarks, calendars, planners, etc.
And they’re working on expanding their online products, I think so it’s not that surprising! But if you rely on it as a friendly local bookstore for a small town, I totally get it! I’m living in a town right now that apparently have ZERO bookstores!!!! But in the town right next door, we have ONE independent bookstore, ONE teensy B&N, and a couple of textbook stores. So I can understand fully how the B&N closing could feel not so wonderful.
Yes, I don’t have too many options. An optimistic couple tried to run a used bookstore in my little hometown, but it didn’t last.
I love the idea of Starbucks teaming up with public libraries, why isn’t that already happening? You’d think there would be a way for libraries to make some money off of it too. Great idea!
See, we need some more ideas like that!
This is really interesting Julia — it’s amazing to me how times change so much.
For the record, I love your “dreadmill.” Have a great weekend,
Love, Hester 😉
I am not surprised, but I am still sad. Truthfully, I buy on Amazon, too, but I just like the idea of bookstores all over America…where I can browse the books, bookmarks, and the How-To-Make-Bread books 🙂
I’m with you there, Amy.