I know that the objective of visual merchandising is to attract the attention of potential customers. Well, this attracted my attention. But no, I doubt that I'm a potential customer. (Especially after the revamped Westfield was reopened with stores which, for the most part, you need to go into with a wheel barrow full of gold bullion if you want to purchase anything. Usually if that "anything" is clothing of questionable practicality.)

The tile on the floor in front of the, er, whatever it is reads "Welcome To Earth". It's Earth, Jim, but not as we know it. The rose in the teeth was a nice touch, though.

In other retail news, regular viewers will recall that my PAD for 13 Jan 11 contained some musings on the state of bookstores. Two days ago it was announced that Borders US, pioneer of the "book superstore", has filed for bankruptcy protection. Today it was announced that the no longer related Borders Australia (the brand was bought by the current owners) and stablemate Angus & Robertson have gone into voluntary administration.

A&R will be missed (if it can't trade out of difficulties), having been an Australian institution since 1886. Borders less so, because its prices were always over the odds but some of their stores were somewhat enjoyable to shop and spend time in. Before one jumps to conclusions about the imminent collapse of the Australian book market though it has to be borne in mind that with internet booksellers now mainstream, premium pricing is something that can't be sustained if you can't offer premium service. (And Borders, unlike Dymocks, couldn't in my experience. The prices were high, but the staff seemed to qualify on the number of piercings and "too cool for school" attitude that they could affect rather than their knowledge of books.) Second, both A&R and Borders were owned by private equity groups, who are one step higher than fleas on the parasite scale in my opinion. (Just ask Myer shareholders how they feel about the company that they were left with after TPG went through it.) That meant that they were loaded with debt up the yin-yang and were in a precarious position to start off with.

I have no doubt that the deluxe, big range bricks and mortar store will become more of a rarity, and the ones with quality staff and a relaxed atmosphere including a café rarer still. But there's still a place for them to supplement a low cost internet operation, if it's done right.

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