Why is Barnes & Noble performing well while Borders is bankrupt?

Why is Barnes & Noble performing well as a business while Borders is near (or has even reached) bankruptcy?
What is so different about how they are run?
1.Failure to adequately address the internet sales channel and the subsequent ebook market.
2.Poor real estate strategy – Borders leased space that was too large, the storefronts did not compare well to B&N, and they were complacent in picking and relocating existing stores to the best locations.
3.Over-investment in music – while this was a big plus for this in the early to mid 90’s, this was a disaster in the long run.
4.Over-reliance on assortment size to compete as opposed to efficient operations – Borders was renowned for its wide and quality assortment of titles.
5.Failure to build efficient systems and processes

February 23, 2011 by Uncategorized 5

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5 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:
    February 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    Assortment
    Actually, Borders’ assortment has been incredibly poor for the last few years, in an attempt to reduce their overhead. It’s why I stopped bothering to shop there.

    Reply
  2. Walt says:
    February 23, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    So it’s not just The End of the Print World As We Know It?
    What a revelation: A company felled by incompetence, not because the market just disappeared. But Borders will continue to serve as ammo for the “Print Books are Dead! Libraries are Dying! We’re All DOOMED” crowd… Even though book sales continue to be at near-record levels and library circulation is at record levels.

    Reply
    • Anonymous says:
      February 23, 2011 at 5:06 pm

      Thank you.
      Yes, my bookstore friends have decided to jump on ebooks this month as the great evil in our midst. All the problems in the publishing world can be laid at the feet of ereaders instead of the economy and bad management. (Especially since I am in Canada and there was a huge backlash against bookstores and publishers when they failed to adjust prices when our dollar hit par with the US.) It has been driving me a bit crazy.

      cathy

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    February 23, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    Even though I have a Borders
    Even though I have a Borders Rewards card, I find Borders to be ridiculously expensive. Both Amazon and B&N have better prices and I find the selection greater at both.

    I’m sad to see any bookstore close or go bankrupt, but Borders management has no one to blame but themselves – it was managerial incompetence that caused their downfall, not e-readers, libraries, competition, etc.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says:
    February 23, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Reason #2 is accurate in my area
    When the brand was Waldenbooks, the stores were more efficient. Then, Borders took over and the Waldenbooks in the downtown mall first downsized, then closed. Borders opened a freestanding location in a more suburban location that everyone had to drive to. Nearby office workers could (and often did) walk over to Waldenbooks during the day or after work. The Barnes and Noble that moved into the downtown mall is thriving.

    Poor customer service at Borders helped convince me not to shop there. I agree, in this case, poor management for years killed the company.

    Reply

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