[Boboff]

Very sad news.

If they all work as hard as S4B then thats like loosing about 3 million jobs.

People still need to read in a recession, right?

Personally I love the Book store and coffee room concept.

They do not sell enough soft porn though, and I think in this day and age to protect jobs they should start to sell it. Mills and Boon but with pictures, shaving foam and ladies dressed as firemen. Ta Da, sorted.

[MK Chris]

If they all work as hard as S4B then thats like loosing about 3 million jobs.

Hahahahaha. Thanks Boboff!

[Andy B]

Wait they have a coffee shop, thought that was Ottakas. Loving the soft porn idea though.

[MK Chris]

Ottakar's were bought out by Waterstone's.

[Andy B]

Shows how much I pay attention to the fast paced whirlwind world of books stores then.

[Zenon]

I can see Waterstones going to at least administration this recession, the only book shop left in my town!

[MK Chris]

Thing is, their other business HMV could well struggle as well.

[Andy B]

HMV is owned by Waterstones? I've got a load of HMV vouchers for christmas but the one near me is rubbish so I can't think of anything to buy.

[MK Chris]

HMV is owned by Waterstones?

Nope, Waterstones is owned by HMV.

[Bonanzoid]

I certainly hope not, HMV is great.

[Johnny 1989]

I certainly hope not, HMV is great.

I agree, I know HMV is pricey but most of them have a huge range of music & DVD's. They're buying 15-18 of the Zavvi stores (sadly not the Piccadilly Circus Tower-Virgin-Zavii Records Megastores* one.)

I'd imagine if anything Waterstones will be inter merged into HMV stores in a special section.

*The Picadilly Branch was Tower Records until 2006, Virgin Megastores until 2007 & Zavvi until 2009 hence my rather stupid name above

[unclejoesmintballs]

hurrah

[Zoot]

So can you use HMV vouchers in Waterstones?

[MK Chris]

I believe they're separate voucher systems, so I doubt it. They are separate companies, even if they're part of a group - at work, we own two or three companies and are careful to keep the costs and income of each one separate.

[Nicola_Red]

I love Waterstones. I can happily spend hours in there. Altho ours has a Costa coffee and I'm a Starbucks girl myself. Nevertheless, I'd be extremely sad to see it go. The only other bookstore in the city centre is Smiths and I hate it in there, not enough of any one category of books cos they have to make room for all the pencil cases, bags of sweets and overpriced CDs. Do other city centres have branches of Borders, or are they all on retail parks?

[Bonanzoid]

So can you use HMV vouchers in Waterstones?

Read the back of it, but I think you may be able to. If I remember correctly, I think it's possible to use Waterstones vouchers in HMV, but don't quote me on that.

[Boboff]

but don't quote me on that.

Will if I want to.

[MK Chris]

The only other bookstore in the city centre is Smiths and I hate it in there, not enough of any one category of books cos they have to make room for all the pencil cases, bags of sweets and overpriced CDs.

The problem with WHSmith is... well, you've hit the nail on the head. They're kind of similar to Woolworth's in that they do everything, so maybe they'll struggle as well (although they have a big wholesale business distributing newspapers as well). Didn't they do stationary before books?

Do other city centres have branches of Borders, or are they all on retail parks?

We have quite a big a Border's on a retail park, none in the shopping centre though.

[Bonanzoid]

but don't quote me on that.

Will if I want to.

I feckin' knew that was coming.

[Boboff]

but don't quote me on that.

Will if I want to.

I feckin' knew that was coming.

Can I quote you on that?

[Bonanzoid]

Whatever floats yer fancy, sire.

[Yudster]

We are lucky enough to have quite a few little independant bookshops in Colchester, one in particular which whilst it doesn't serve coffee (yet) does have a gallery where they exhibit and sell local artist's work. It also stocks a lot of books which Waterstones don't and liaises with local schools and colleges in order that they can supply AS/ A level texts for students - which again Waterstones don't bother to do locally.

[MK Chris]

I want an independent bookshop run by Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey.

Yep, finished that recently.... and I'm extremely pleased I bought it, thanks to people who recommended it!

[Johnny 1989]

I want an independent bookshop run by Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey.

Yep, finished that recently.... and I'm extremely pleased I bought it, thanks to people who recommended it!

A great series, wish they'd do another. From the opening scene of the first episode (where Bailey buys the book & he decides to shut the shop because he's made the one sale of the day) I knew it was going to be great.

[unclejoesmintballs]

phenominal serries .with which both stars have fantastic stand-up carears having seen both live many times they are just great