In a surprise move Mamhut [sp?] has brought in James Daunt of Daunt Books to run the bookseller.
I give HMV until Christmas . . .
Waterstones: Sold
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In a surprise move Mamhut [sp?] has brought in James Daunt of Daunt Books to run the bookseller.
I give HMV until Christmas . . .
I am not sad. Tears will, however, flow freely if such a tragedy were to befall my beloved Hatchard's in Picadilly.
Waterstone's are the only bookshop we have in Stirling, Glasgow had already lost Borders. That would have meant going to Edinburgh for Blackwells.
I'm pleased, it was starting to look like HMV might drag Waterstone's down with it even though it is a viable [and profitable] business.
I'm pleased, it was starting to look like HMV might drag Waterstone's down with it even though it is a viable [and profitable] business.
Good excuse to go to Edinburgh! Save up extra for the trip and treat yourself to lunch or tea at Harvey Nick's on the 4th floor. Great view of the castle 
Well, crap! Waterstone's was one of my favourite bookstores and it was the only decent one in the town where I used to live. Great, now if I visit England again, I get to go to London if the local shop has nothing I want in it. Expensive trip. Blah.
Well, crap! Waterstone's was one of my favourite bookstores and it was the only decent one in the town where I used to live. Great, now if I visit England again, I get to go to London if the local shop has nothing I want in it. Expensive trip. Blah.
Sorry, should have explained better, the Waterstone's brand isn't going to disappear.
I half caught the business news before. The plan is to take Waterstone's back to its roots: local bookstore with local stock, more knowledgable staff etc.
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Eh, you have to admire HMV's business acumen. They swallowed up the only nationwide competitor Waterstones had, and still couldn't make it pay.
From what I've heard they have done some serious asset stripping from the Waterstone's brand.
I, for one, welcome our new Amazon overlords and offer them my undying devotion.
Paperbacks for £4-5? Fuck yeah!
Paperbacks for £4-5? Fuck yeah!
Really? I'd like to know more. Where did you hear this, and precisely what assets did HMV strip from Waterstones?
It's what friends who work for Waterstone's have told me. I'll try and see if I can get more details out of them.
@Old Hack and gothicangel - there's a well-written piece on yesterday's ft.com, updated last night (UK time). FT requests that we don't send links but to email the articles instead. If you want to read it, please PM me your email addresses and I'll be happy to send it to you.
"Waterstone's Is Our Core Market"
An interesting counter argument to the domination of Amazon by Faber ceo:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/publishers-celebrating-after-waterstones-takeover.html
An interesting counter argument to the domination of Amazon by Faber ceo:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/publishers-celebrating-after-waterstones-takeover.html
The browsing experience, for me, makes going to the bookstore a pleasurable experience. Not sure about Waterstone's but I think it will be much better under new management.
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