So, Borders in the UK has finally gone into administration.
I’ve been horrified to watch this train wreck happen over the last week or so – especially the uncertainty of the past few days. As an author, Borders has always been ‘my store’; incredibly supportive of my books and supremely welcoming whenever I’ve come in store to run events. It’s almost been like having a nationwide chain of caring, book-loving independents wherever you go.
I can quite honestly say I haven’t met an unhelpful, unfriendly bookseller in any of the branches. Everyone at Borders knows their stuff, and does their best to get people reading what’s right for them as well as try to get them into something new. Trust me – that doesn’t happen with every chain, or even every bookshop.
I’ve made some good friends in branches across the north east and north west (Gateshead, Silverlink and Stockton to name but three), and those of us at Trapped By Monsters would like to wish them – and everyone at every branch – the very best for the future.
Tommy
27/11/2009 at 7:32 pm Permalink
what do u mean into adminastration?
27/11/2009 at 11:05 pm Permalink
It means they’re going out of business.
28/11/2009 at 12:20 am Permalink
It’s a sad day for everyone in the book trade … except Waterstones. They pretty much have a monopoly now. It will be interesting to see if anyone will be able to build a chain to give them any competition. WH Smith don’t really count, as they’re not a serious booksellers. First Hammicks, then Ottakars, now Borders. It’s bad news for books and readers in general.
28/11/2009 at 12:25 am Permalink
what?! nooooooooooo, that is my fave chain of bookstores, they can’t go out of buisness!!!!! most of the ones i have been to have had starbucks… i just hope this doesn’t affect north america… save borders!
28/11/2009 at 10:45 am Permalink
Don’t worry, Scott – it’s only the UK version of Borders that’s in trouble.
It is a sad day, indeed. I worked at Ottakers in Putney for a while, many years back, and there simply couldn’t have been a better working atmosphere. The end of Ottakers – and Books Etc. – was bad enough. Now Britain will only have one book chain, and that’s not good for anyone.
28/11/2009 at 3:23 pm Permalink
yeah, this stinks, the staff are always so polite, i hope that another chain opens, because it would really stink if waterstones closed down. then again one chain is better than none right.
optimist out.
*runs away sobbing* lol just joking
03/12/2009 at 12:38 pm Permalink
Maybe it’ll lead to a new rise in small, quality independent booksellers, although I suspect the ebook is going to kill off a lot of those guys, too.
It’s all a bit bleak, really, but readers will find a way to get their hands on stuff to read, I’m sure.