my bookstore
I was recently asked which bookstore I favored given that I have worked for five brands (both major chains and one independent). Good question. When the need arises I just go to the closest outlet available. Superstores, mall stores, airport shops, discount stores, or magazine shops are all fair game.
But if I had to choose one of the two big stores … hmmm … here’s my opinion from three different perspectives.
As a manager, I can say without hesitation that I’d prefer B&N. I bitched and moaned about how everything was managed from the home office and how we had little or no free will when it came to making decisions, but now I prefer it to the mess at Borders. Every rule was bendable, breakable, and often ignorable. A planner with no details until the Friday before displays were due, displays that were never supported by stock, promotions stopped midway because they were too successful (giving away too much). BLAH! Give me structure over chaos anytime.
As an employee, I think it’s a tossup. I strongly feel that you’re only as good as your boss lets you be. I’ve seen good and bad management teams at both ends so I would suggest shopping in the store and taking in the atmosphere. An unhappy store is easy to spot … dress code out the window, customer service is lacking, no visible management on the floor, staff bitching right on the sales floor, that “Now Hiring” sign that never comes down. You get the picture.
As a customer, I’d have to settle on … Borders ... better sales, more inventory, customer look up stations, free loyalty program, and, most importantly, generous coupons on a weekly basis that I can apply to what I read and not what the publisher has paid to promote and discount.
And the winner is … Borders … the customer is always right … okay, I have never believed this so let's just say the customer leaves the store with that impression.
But if I had to choose one of the two big stores … hmmm … here’s my opinion from three different perspectives.
As a manager, I can say without hesitation that I’d prefer B&N. I bitched and moaned about how everything was managed from the home office and how we had little or no free will when it came to making decisions, but now I prefer it to the mess at Borders. Every rule was bendable, breakable, and often ignorable. A planner with no details until the Friday before displays were due, displays that were never supported by stock, promotions stopped midway because they were too successful (giving away too much). BLAH! Give me structure over chaos anytime.
As an employee, I think it’s a tossup. I strongly feel that you’re only as good as your boss lets you be. I’ve seen good and bad management teams at both ends so I would suggest shopping in the store and taking in the atmosphere. An unhappy store is easy to spot … dress code out the window, customer service is lacking, no visible management on the floor, staff bitching right on the sales floor, that “Now Hiring” sign that never comes down. You get the picture.
As a customer, I’d have to settle on … Borders ... better sales, more inventory, customer look up stations, free loyalty program, and, most importantly, generous coupons on a weekly basis that I can apply to what I read and not what the publisher has paid to promote and discount.
And the winner is … Borders … the customer is always right … okay, I have never believed this so let's just say the customer leaves the store with that impression.
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