The news is that 200 out of 330 outlets will close. But it's not a downsizing:
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.”So don't be sad for the people holding the 1,500 jobs that will be eliminated. Because it's a right-sizing. The best line is this, however:
The company also said it plans to integrate the remaining Walden stores into its superstore computer system to create a single platform.When you think of the superstore computer system, imagine there are lasers.
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This is the first comment on your blog, and is completely content-free.
ReplyDeleteLike Walden!
Sorry to hear about more job losses, but happy to see you have your own blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd blast doors.
ReplyDeleteYou can't have lasers without blast doors.
I was never happy with Waldon or any mall bookstore. As far as I'm concerned they are all horribly taken care of, miss-stocked,and never, ever organized. Sad that people are losing jobs, sad that people are losing a point of access to print books, not so sad that they are going down. I'm doing my victory dance now.
ReplyDeleteBarring school book fairs, I bought my first book from Waldenbooks. That's what I remember. It has always seemed to me a place where new readers begin. Nothing about the story necessarily dictates that roll, but that's what it means to me. In fact, it was the only book store I shopped at until I left for college.
ReplyDeletebingol--
ReplyDeleteI may have to take a screengrab, print out your comment, and tack it to my wall.
Hurray!
Our lives are about computer generated information technology. Eliminate the material world and we have cyber exploitation: Identity theft, Malware, Phishing, Spam, Trojan, Variants, Worm and other computer science insecurities people don't want to discuss.
ReplyDeleteAt least while you're inside a bookstore, the ambiance puts you in a Wonderland of security. Long live the bookstore.