barnes and noble

Online retailing is big business, and growing. As virtual storefronts become major revenue generators, many retailers are realizing the value of free shipping, which has the potential to greatly increase sales. Consider these seven promotional strategies, good for consumers and investors.

Some Street-related dispatches from last week's entry in the Human Comedy: Kim Kardashian filed a silly sounding but well-grounded lawsuit against Old Navy's use of a lookalike; gaming magnate Steve Wynn went all FOXNews on a conference call; and Barnes and Noble surged, nonsensically, on Borders' liquidation.

Following Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Borders now plans to liquidate its remaining stores. But there's a bright side to the big box bookseller's death: Its long and tragic tale provides plenty of fodder for investors. Use these lessons to ensure that your future investments have a happier ending.

Liberty Media, the conglomerate controlled by John Malone, made a $1 billion bid Thursday to buy Barnes & Noble. The bricks-and-mortar bookstore business is declining everywhere, so for Malone's gamble is to pay off, the Nook will have to gain some ground against Apple's iPad and Amazon's Kindle.

California's pending legislation to collect sales tax from Amazon.com has prompted the online retailer to threaten cutting loose its affiliates. Now several retailers -- Barnes & Noble, Sears and Walmart -- are trying to get Amazon affiliates to jump ship and replace that revenue with links to...

Should the deeply troubled Borders chain close, publishers will survive just fine. But for authors who don't have instant name recognition with book buyers, the loss of an outlet with scads of shelf and floor space is a serious blow. Plus, it's one less place where authors and readers can connect.

Barnes & Noble had its best holiday season in over a decade with store sales up 9.7% over last year, and online sales soaring a whopping 67%.

The country's second-largest bookstore widened its third-quarter loss to nearly double that of a year ago. Even worse, the estimated value of its inventory has declined, making it harder for Borders to borrow money. Will the company find a way to transform itself?

Just as rumors of a merger with Borders Books began to fade, the bookseller is once again in the spotlight as a major stakeholder, Aletheia Research and Management, is embroiled in legal troubles and an SEC investigation.

When Barnes & Noble announced it was looking for a buyer, we entertained the fanciful notion that struggling rival Borders might put in a bid. As absurd as the idea was, that buyout offer has been made. Here's why it has virtually no chance of succeeding.