The West Australian newspaper carried a report, yesterday, that formalised something that some of us had known for a while. On Sunday, May 20 US retail chain Borders will begin its acquisition of the Western Australian book/music market with the opening of a three storey superstore on the Hay Street Mall. The new store, which will also include a coffee shop, is a short walk from two of the largest bookstore franchises in the state, Angus & Robertsons and Dymocks. I’ve only seen a limited number of Borders stores in Australia or the US, but this is the first I’ve seen that won’t have it’s own dedicated parking, which seems odd. Regardless of that, I’ll be surprised if either chainstore is still in business in 18 months, and a large number of smaller stores will also struggle. Borders have made no formal announcement, but another three stores in suburban centres have also been rumoured.
The Brisbane Borders store (which you’ll see when you’re here for Conjure) doesn’t have dedicated parking either (any parking at all, actually). It is right smack bang in the middle of the CBD just opposite the entrance to the Myer Centre. Interestingly there’s a large Dymocks (2 1/2 storeys large) two blocks away and also two Angus & Robertsons within the same radius (one is directly across the street) and neither have ceased trading yet since Borders opened a couple (2? 3?) years ago.
But those are the commercial chain stores. All the small independents that are also close by to Borders and that we too expected to fold within 18 months of Borders’ arrival – Folio, McGills, the American Bookstore – are still trading as well.
Now I’m not privy to their P&L statements so I don’t know if or how much their sales have been affected by Borders, but it hasn’t been the retail killer we all expected.
Plus (slightly off the point) I really like our Brisbane Borders. It has the best genre collection in Queensland, even counting Pulp Fiction, and that’s saying something. Although, Pulp Fiction is more likely to be carrying lesser known titles and authors and is always reliable for prompt service and good knowledge of the genre, which can’t always be found at Borders.
Wait and see, Jonathan. The outcome in Perth may surprise you.
The Brisbane Borders also devotes a huge amount of space to DVDs and magazines, which probably does bring more people through the door as well. But it also limits the space they devote to novels.
Oh cry me a river, Jonathon. Both A&R and Dymocks are national (and international) franchises and they both operate piddling little stores in the city. If they close, well frankly, good riddance. Perhaps a decent franchisee will buy up the licence and give the people of Perth more than just what is popular this month.
As far as music and DVDs go JBs does it better. For non-fiction Boffins (the only truly local store so far mentioned and larger than both Dymocks and A&R’s city stores) still offers a better range. And lets not forget that anyone with access to an internet connection and a credit card has Amazon.
The arrival of Borders in Perth is a good thing. Whether there is enough revenue for them to cover the monumental rent they must be paying on their site is the real question. It might be them that doesn’t make it past 18 months.
I’m not crying. Not at all. I’ve now been to the Borders store. I think it’ll probably run some small stores out of business, won’t affect the cd or dvd market much at all, and will make all of the city franchises slightly less profitable than they are, but that’s it. It’s a nice, clean store, but not really special. And will they make it? Yes. They have very, very deep pockets, and they’re determined to win.