Current location:	Back in NOVA
Current mood:	contemplative
Entry tags:	random

A Word on Borders (or "An Unofficial Endorsement")
In these tough economic times, it really makes me sad when I read that my favorite companies are suffering. Today, I read that another Borders out west is shutting down. So in the effort to both vent and say a thing or two to an audience of people who love books as much as I do, or maybe just for posterity's sake, I'm putting down some very quick thoughts on why I love Borders Bookstore more than any other bookstore franchise.

I could talk about how you don't have to pay a red cent to be a Borders Rewards member, while you have to cough up $25 a year to be a Barnes & Noble member. I could probably also say that a cafe doesn't make a bookstore (although if we really want to address the issue, Seattle's Best coffee is better than Starbucks anyway). But what I really want to say is that I am a Borders Bookstore customer because these folks have, in my experience, extended themselves further than B&N to integrate their customers into a tight-knit community of readers. They cater to our schools, host storytime with local kids, and throw the usual blowout events for all of us fandomers that love HP, Twilight, Jodi Picoult, or whatever else gets us excited and decorates the bedside table... only they seem to do it with more style.

Obvious Case In Point: The Borders near me found out I drew Harry Potter stuff, and instead of just letting me continue to do my thing in their cafe unnoticed, they asked if I wanted to do an art show. They promised me the entire top floor. Invite my friends and family, they said. On my birthday. And then, in return for the art show (although I insisted that THEY were doing ME the big favor), they presented me with a free copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. A year later, they asked if I was interested in joining other local artists and photographers in decorating their upper level with prints of my artwork - not necessarily because my art is so great (there is a huge art community in Arlington/Alexandria that they could have easily tapped into), but because they have maintained a relationship with me and other creative people in the NOVA area. We recognize the unique environment that our Borders creates for its customers, and we want to be a part of it. Heck, I send the staff at Bailey's Crossroads a homemade holiday card every year, making sure to mention that I drew the picture on the cover in their very own cafe.

So yeah. I don't care about big name alliances. I also don't care that B&N is more popular and has extra knick-knacks for sale that have nothing to do with books or reading. It matters more to me that I can always find an obscure book at the last minute or a version of Pride and Prejudice with the original illustrations in it. I care that the staff is made up of poets and writers and people who don't just want to shake me off if I've got a question. I care that the folks at the front counter make conversation about the latest academic periodical someone is about to purchase. Maybe that's location specific, but if that's the case, our local B&N needs to reexamine their hiring processes.

In an age where technology threatens to make face-to-face customer service obsolete, I'm grateful for my local Borders and ardently hope that they continue to thrive. And that's pretty much all I wanted to say. Back to belated Christmas Card writing. :)

[/rant]