The company: Frog Hollow Books. The Challenge: Remain competitive in an volatile Industry. The Plan: Generate greater involvement in the community. The Payoff: Grow a strong local client base ...Read the full article
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Able Bodied Man from Colony of Van Isle, Canada writes: The Borders bookstore chain in the US has coffee shops. Next to the each coffee shop is the magazine rack. Customers can take mags unpaid for and read them in the coffee shop then leave them. There are very few mags lying about and they probably go back as unsold returns. Borders is also open late as their coffee shops on weekdays.
Chapters does not allow unpaid for mags into the Starbucks in the same store. Chapters does not stay open late weedays or as late as the coffee shop on weekends. So the small guy can compete against Chapters here.
Take a lesson from American marketing. And possibly the Brits. Britain is where bookstores in railway stations began.- Posted 28/04/08 at 3:07 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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F A from Vancouver, Canada writes: Sorry to say that my personal drop-in bookstore is a Chapters branch. If I had a choice, though, I'd rather go to a well-stocked independent store. Chapters is OK, but it's too 'corporate', too impersonal. Vancouver's a reasonably cultured town, but it lacks good bookstores. I miss the old Duthies downtown.
- Posted 29/04/08 at 3:01 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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Trevor Ouellette from Canada writes: Who GOES to chapters anymore? Well, Canadians I guess.
Look, it doesn't surprise me that this entrepreneur has moved from one dying industry (newspapers) to another (bookstore). I don't know, why not try writing a book if you like books so much. Why would you want the heartache of a bookstore?
Chapters are going to be closing stores soon (as they overbuilt), and they already implemented 'dual' pricing schemes. An online one and a physical price. What a joke.
Amazon is kicking their butt because people buy books online. It just makes sense... like reading getting your news from the Internet.- Posted 29/04/08 at 12:23 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: Able Bodied Man from Colony of Van Isle,
Chapters may not be open late on Vancouver Island but there are many locations in Ontario where it is open late during the week and on weekends. Secondly, it's a bookstore chain, not a library. Would you let your customers use your goods and services for free if you were a business owner?
Trevor Oullette,
Many people buy books online through Chapters. Your last point does not make sense.- Posted 30/04/08 at 10:09 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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M Liggins from Perth, Canada writes: Indie?
Why would anyone in their right mind open a bookstore catering to the Indiannapolis 500 car race? Wouldn't be much demand imho.- Posted 01/05/08 at 12:08 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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M Manley from NYC, United States writes: I'm a transplanted Torontonian that likes to support the local independent shops in my suburban village outside New York. A few thoughts that might help Frog Hollow:
1) Check out Books for Business in Toronto - they seem to have a niche/independent business model for selling books (high rent location too)
2) If you're niche is Altantic Canada authors then why not target all 4 provinces with web-based sales - it shouldn't take much additional overhead.
Best of luck!- Posted 01/05/08 at 1:35 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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s s from Dorval, Canada writes: This is a well written and researched article that has me reconsidering my purchasing options. Kudos to the Globe for drawing attention to an industry in dire need of our support. - Susan.
- Posted 01/05/08 at 10:42 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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