teamfinally

Recently it's come to my attention that many of the Borders stores are cutting their events calenders, and scaling back their author signings in favor, of, well,. seeming like a library. Borders should NEVER be viewed as a library where folks sit and read! We used to go to Borders for the current music, magazines, DVD's and being able to rock out in the cafe. Now as Events coordinator for Borders and seeing us amp up our event schedule and others, sadly, take theirs away for lack of hours is sad. So in calling a few other area stores and being told, 'um..we dont have the staff for an author signing is inept! This is the time to host more events and make the store open to folks who are at the 'we klnow you sell books, but what else ya got?' Borders, luckily is still 'hip' among young adults, i.e. Twilight, Vampire Diaries...ect. Those Vampire books are huge. But be creative! Our store has a monthly couple's night, a single's night, a smallb usiness owner night, monthly fashion shows, an upcoming monthly Gothic art/fashion night, and multiple author signings(one night this month we have an event with four authors signing books, along with 5 music acts), HOWEVER we have just as many hours on our schedule as the stores that have all but given up on saving the company! Most customers are patient enough to wait a couple minutes for their drink or book. They know the economy is bad.

And on the subject of the economy, did anyone stop to ask the publishers, record labels why interest in their books and music, Blue Rays is in the can? I'm tired of looking at unsold copiesof the supposed best authors on the planet....Clive Cussler, Dean Koontz(we can't give his MM's away), Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life has dust on most of its copies, John Grisham's new book was  dud! The new Tolkien thing sold poorly, no wonder they're now using Make books, cause the usual suspects aren't selling! So now its up to the publishers to print stuff the general public wants! LOL and it sure isn't Horse Soldiers. Look at the FOS new release table, the only one that's moved a little is Scarecrow! It's becoming the least shopped table in the store. People just don't like whats coming out, so it begs the question of why these labels keep releasing stuff no one wants. Its fine to say people lost interest in Borders, but I doubt it should reflect on the store in general, as much as wats being sold at it! Think of it like that. Most folks can't say 'Gurnsey Literary ....' in one breath. But next time you're at work take a look at the new release table-is there anything on it anyone wants? Dan Browns book comes out in a couple months, that should be hot, but right now there hasn't been anything. Twilight series is over, so is Harry Potter. So what's coming out?

We can't give BluRays away! There a pile of them at the registers, with dust on them. There's no use putting them out, no one wants them. If the economy is bad, does anyone want to fok over 500 bucks for a player and TV to play them on....plus $90 for a set of three James Bond BluRays? I could put that $90 to use many other ways.

As far as bands in the cafe-The cafe shouldn't be idle on Friday or Saturday nights period! Its 'unacceptable' to read and hear of Borders cutting their events. Get to it and plan things. Most bands and musicians don't ask for money to play. The only one that asked for gas money was coming from Milwaukee, and we made sure they were taking care of. Otherwise just because you don't have a budget for live music, shouldn't mean you don't have it at all. Bands will understand this and come and play because it's Borders! Just take a few minutes and familarize yourselves with your local musicians, they will help you! Same goes for authors....I've never heard of an author charging the store money to come and sign. It takes all of ten minutes of set up. I can't imagine a store being so tight with hours, staff, that they can't set up a table, velcro, the Borders skirt and orders 12 or 15 copies of a book for the author and make a sign on the computer (for free) and keep the relationships with publishers and authors both national and local. So there really no excuse for hearing another Borders employee on the phone saying their store has cut out their live music and author signings. Because part of the subtitle for Borders is 'Books/Music' but if we're not utilizing the very things that bring NEW folks into our stores, then we're just begging to be shut down. An idle cafe on a weekend night is a shame!

These are just a few ways and suggestions to help the stores. And publishers...start releasing stuff folks want to read! Very simple. And to the Borders stores....spend a few minutes a month planning events. Its easy. No need to scale back the thing that brings new people in the door.

I hope this helps.