Borders demise signals end for chain bookstores

Retail Gazette UK

High street book shops are becoming increasingly rare, with many of the biggest names in the sector pushed into oblivion by buying online and the increasing popularity of reading devices such as the Amazon Kindle and the Apple iPad.

Yesterday The Guardian reported that US book retailer Borders is poised for bankruptcy after a recent sales and shares nose-dive, which leaves the company contemplating the closure 150 of its 674 stores dotted around the US.
Just over a year ago Borders closed the doors of all of its UK stores, marking the start of a disastrous down-turn for the industry.

The next to go was British Bookshops which announced its move into administration in January, and more recently Waterstones closed of 11 stores in the UK and Ireland following disappointing December sales trading.

So the question is whether there is still space for a large chain bookstore on high streets around the world?

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