Re:The unnecessary demise of Barnes and Noble
by emodendroket on Thursday February 15, 2018 @11:33PM
(#16389884)
> If there is such space, it will have to be run by kiosk and a few minimum wage employees.
I don't think so. Outside of the airport that's not useful to anyone. At that rate you can just go to the section where they have bestsellers at Costco or Walmart. A bookstore with no selection is practically pointless.
Re:The unnecessary demise of Barnes and Noble
by Digory on Thursday February 15, 2018 @11:54PM
(#16389968)
No, kiosk-based service, not kiosk-sized stores. You want a big selection, but software or other merchandising helping customers locate things and up-sell.
Target has more merchandise than B&N, but there's no career employee on the floor to suggest that you might like Mossimo if you bought Merona.
B&N's 'competitive advantage' today is not experienced staff. I can't ever recall an employee up-selling significant amounts of merchandise, or having a customer relationship that might move a needle.
Like Sears, it has real estate and a terrible retail position. If you treat the stores like mini-warehouses, with Amazon-warehouse-worker-hours, it might work. My guess is that failing to staff-up for the holidays was, seen charitably, a way to get the full-timers through the holidays.