This isn't how Barnes & Noble wanted to write its final chapters. The liquidation of rival Borders this summer should have been an opportunity to grab market share, and it's Nook e-reader should have kept it relevant. Instead, a price war is exposing the retailer's financial shortcomings.
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 book retailer had been counting on a Christmas miracle to rescue it from deep financial doldrums. But the holiday season played Scrooge instead. Now, confronting a liquidity shortfall, a bankruptcy seems more likely than ever.
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?
Google opened its long-anticipated Internet book store Monday, putting itself in direct competition with Amazon.com. Buyers can read its 3 million e-Books on any Web device or reader -- except on Amazon's Kindle.
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.
Matthew Biberman had a story to tell about his dad and a one-of-a-kind motorcycle, and he soon turned his passion into a book deal. But the newly published author says the book deal is just the beginning -- learning how to pitch your story is what builds audiences.
Bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc. may enact limitations on the size of single shareholder stakes, as the family of founder and chairman Leonard Riggio and activist shareholder Ron Burkle battle for control of the company.
The sale of Borders' Ann Arbor, Mich., headquarters for almost $18.4 million adds to persistent rumors of the company's imminent demise. But the truth has more to do with the real estate market than books sales.
Borders, the nation's second-largest book retailer, is trying a new tactic to gain a much-needed sales boost heading into the end of year shopping season: It's opening 25 "pop-up" shops meant to last only for the holidays, the company announced Tuesday.
In a tumultuous year, book retailer Borders is dealing with another bump: It's chief financial officer, Mark Bierley, has resigned "to pursue another employment opportunity" -- nine days before the company is scheduled to post quarterly earnings.
For investors, Books-A-Million stands out for its stability in a turbulent industry. The bookseller reported that second-quarter profits climbed to $1.9 million, although its sales fell.
Think struggling book retailer Borders finished with layoffs in 2010? With four rounds of layoffs so far this year and no new ideas for a turnaround, don't be surprised if co-CEO Bennett Lebow pulls out his old 1980s playbook and makes a bid for, say, Barnes & Noble.
Apart from the many strategic issues that have weighed down Barnes & Noble's stock price, there's another good reason for the company to put itself up for sale: An effort to liberate itself from the manipulations of investor Ron Burkle.
