tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15624230.post5437527817375306346..comments2023-12-24T18:29:26.864-05:00Comments on BOOKSTEVE'S LIBRARY: R.I.P. BordersBookstevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09797445163866512849noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15624230.post-75601713506859696372016-06-22T10:23:06.147-04:002016-06-22T10:23:06.147-04:00The almost Piscean quality of the Waldenbook/Borde...The almost Piscean quality of the Waldenbook/Borders dyad leaves an indelible mark on our spirit. My time at Borders is sometimes looked back on with the forgetfulness or even fond regard that comes after labor. Labor we did...even though it became a fair weathered relationship, I am changed for the experience. For all the good, bad and ugly...what I learned is invaluable to me. I learned that one should be passionate in their career..that it truly conveys over. That good leadership makes a difference because I saw the effect and affect of the upper echelon choices during many of a change process. I especially learned that above all else it is relationships with people that not only drive business;it drives our hearts. Thanks for writing and sharing your journey...it was refreshing to my soul.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08749043263946691897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15624230.post-49782887111507138252011-07-22T01:30:26.028-04:002011-07-22T01:30:26.028-04:00I remember the store in Cincinnati. I believe it w...I remember the store in Cincinnati. I believe it was fate that led me into that store on that specific night where I met you and you basically adopted me. If I have any reason to mourne for Waldenbooks/Borders, it is foremost because once they close those doors, meetings like ours won't happen anymore.<br /><br />Incredible piece full of history and humor. You never disappoint me.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18031944246798524800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15624230.post-24436985384184562322011-07-19T15:32:55.654-04:002011-07-19T15:32:55.654-04:00Incredible stories, thanks for sharing.
My relatio...Incredible stories, thanks for sharing.<br />My relationship with Borders was as a customer. I live in Mexico where bookstores are scarce so imagine my surprise when on a visit to the United States I found at a Mall a GIGANTIC bookstore. I couldn't believe my eyes, I had on past visits visited Waldenbooks and the long defunct B. Dalton's Booksellers but this was a whole other level. The store was as big as a warehouse and they had CD's and DVDs as well - I was in heaven.<br />I became a regular customer on each trip to the USA. I bought 3-6 books on every visit and then became a Borders rewards member and even bought online a few things, but the best experience was ALWAYS a visit to a store. Yes, I said experience because that's what it was. It was almost a magical place, rows and rows of books.<br />By the time I make my next visit to the US more than likely ALL of the stores will be closed and that saddens me. Who's to blame? Ebooks? Management? Amazon's competition? Lack of readers? Who knows.Luishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07631388281199815121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15624230.post-81516013406194127752011-07-18T22:24:40.110-04:002011-07-18T22:24:40.110-04:00Wow it's amazing to read your history with Bor...Wow it's amazing to read your history with Borders. I worked with a number of folks who had similar experiences including the alcohol and other substances at store meetings :) <br /><br />Unfortunately I joined the company in 2000 and by the time I got there most of the store level freedom was disappearing. I came over from Barnes & Noble and started with Borders as an assistant manager. I would soon learn there were 7 assistant managers an events manager and a full store manager. It was SOOOO top heavy. <br /><br />Within 3 months of my joining the company they restructured. There would be 1 GM, 3 Managers and several supervisors. I was the only one chosen to become one of the managers at my store over all the others who had worked for the company for years. Needless to say there were a ton of hard feelings and my first year was a complete nightmare. <br /><br />That nightmare was nothing compared to the complete clusterfuck that was the last 3 years I spent with Borders. At one point things got so bad, they cut our hours so far that we couldn't schedule booksellers, the managers and supervisors staffed the floor. At times there was only one of us on the floor covering the registers, helping customers at the information desk, answering the back door, etc. It was hard. Customers walked out of stores in droves.<br /><br />Eventually they added some hours back into the stores but not many and in a desperate flailing attempt to save the company they had us running around changing everything. We relayed the store twice in 2 years, moved entire sections in cases to new homes. It took months of backbreaking labor and the only thing it did was confuse customers.<br /><br />You were completely right the biggest mistake Borders continued to make was hiring people with zero book experience to lead their company. Books are different then groceries and clothes and inexperience ruined the company.<br /><br />The worst of the lot however was George Jones, he made so many terrible decisions starting with spending that outrageous amount of money to buy the website back from amazon and ending with his golden parachute, lots more stupidity in-between too. There have been many blaming a slow rate in adding ereaders to our stores but I think that was only a small part in this mess. It was bad leadership that killed Borders pure and simple .<br /><br />Wow this is long, guess I just had a lot to say. Kind of feels like attending a wake. <br /><br />thank you for sharing your story.Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01650210980795003057noreply@blogger.com