As if you needed a further reminder that the economy is in a slump, IcV2 is reporting that the country’s two largest book chains, Border’s and Barnes & Noble, expect a very tough holiday season and have cut their graphic novels buys for November and December by 30 to 60 percent:
Leonard Riggio, chairman of Barnes & Noble, said that the chain was “bracing for a terrible holiday season” in an internal memo to employees published by the Wall Street Journal. “Never in all the years I’ve been in business have I seen a worse outlook for the economy,” the memo said. “And never in all my years as a bookseller have I seen a retail climate as poor as the one we are in. Nothing even close.”
Riggio goes on to state that the company is well-positioned to survive the current economic climate, though Border’s which is facing greater debt problems, might not be as lucky.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I would have thought books would sell better as holiday gifts. They are relatively cheap gifts, after all.
Then again, I like using the library.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I hope it’s just cutting the ridiculous amount of mangas they seem to stock in these joints.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Is it wrong of me to suggest In Stock Trades http://www.instocktrades.com/ as a cheap alternative?
November 4th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Cutting the catalogue doesn’t make sense to me, especially when it takes 5+ days to ship to the store. If I go into the store and can’t find what I’m looking for, I go home and order it from Amazon, and I’ll have it in two days, for less than cover price. Why shoot themselves in the foot? But then, the bookstores have had YEARS to update and improve their ordering system, and they haven’t done it, so maybe they are just reaping what they sowed. Man, it bums me out to write this. I <3 the bookstores.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Talk about exageration !!
November 4th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Although it’s undeniably a harsh economic climate and especially for retailers, B&N is NOT closing its doors. It will have to cut back on discretionary spending and tighten its belt, so to speak, but it is seemingly healthy relative to other book retailers, many of whom have just shut down.
I agree with Simon DelMonte… you’d think the place selling plasma screen TV’s and thousand-dollar laptops would be damaged more than a book seller. Of course, we’ve seen what’s happened to Circuit City, so that’s probably not too far off the mark. Barnes & Noble will weather the storm a bit more successfully than the techie-chains.
If book retailers are cutting back on comics and graphic novels, it’s certainly a shame but it’s not as if we couldn’t see this coming. Marvel and DC products continue to get more expensive, as the economy plummets. Expect more titles to be canceled, too (NIGHTWING, ROBIN, and BoP are now on the chopping block).
November 4th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
B&N is simply stocking less, not cutting them out. And, most orders come in 3, 4 days and often with free shipping. Don’t know where the 6 day special order store would be…Alaska? I get most anything I want in the store and if not, in about 3 days. And, here’s a crazy idea… try supporting the local stores, even if it is a ‘chain.’ They’re the ones that will have it so you can look at it, decide, hold it, etc. Hell, have couple of straight shots of espresso and read Umbrella Academy. Wheeeee….
Borders, well, that’s another store (and story)…Poor Borders.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Here are a few things that Barnes & Noble does better then Amazon.com
First, if you order from a Barnes & Noble Store, it usually arrives to the store in 3 to 4 days, sometimes even less. Some titles take longer, but that is rare.
Second, if you request that the shipment come to the store, there is no delivery fee, even if the shipment is less then $25.
Third, you can buy a delicious pumpkin spiced latte while browsing though the selection.