Kevin Graff

Barnes & Noble Puts Out 'For Sale' Sign

August 9, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
Describing its stock as "significantly undervalued," Barnes & Noble (B&N) last week essentially put itself up for sale. As e-books erode its brick & mortar business, pressure from shareholder activists were said to have prompted the move. What do you make of the struggle for control of Barnes & Noble?      [more...]

I recently did a keynote for the Canadian Booksellers Association. A bunch of nervous folks in the crowd, but also a very determined group. The reality is that the future will see far fewer book stores, but the ones that remain will be outstanding. They will be much, much less about the product (you can get that easier and probably cheaper online) and much, much more about the shopping experience. The parameters of that 'experience' aren't set in stone. It could be brilliant staff, great events, store design or a intertwined product assortment that is more about total entertainment and not just books.

B&N may be the canary in the coal mine, but don't count them out just yet. There is a future for book sellers...it's just that there will be fewer of them.