Barnes & Noble VS. The Nook
Barnes and Noble’s biggest competitor may just be itself.
With the announcement that the 774 U.S. book store behemoth will mostly be selling it’s newest product, the Nook eBook reader, online, Barnes and Noble is creating the largest Internet kiosk on the planet.
Barnes and Noble was already cannibalizing its retail outlets with bn.com, but like Steve Riggio said about Amazon.com, “It’s better to cannibalize yourself than to be cannibalized.” Now it is more than just BN.com VS. Amazon.com, it’s Nook VS. Kindle in Round 2.
While Amazon.com was all about having a large selection, it was by it’s very name, a website. The only way Barnes and Nobles was able to differentiate was by moving more towards Starbucks, further utilizing the retail space they had available to sell coffee and cappuccino. They added wi-fi and encouraged patrons to hang out and drink a cup of coffee. And while the Nook will only be available online, once you get it, what is going to make you want to come into the store?
A Forced Hand
Being that Barnes and Noble was late to the party for both their online website and their eBook reader, my guess is that their hand was forced each time by you guessed it, Amazon.com. The amazing success of both Amazon.com and the Kindle eBook reader made it impossible for Barnes and Noble to stay out of the ring. So who will win round 2 of the book wars?
The Associated Press predicts that, “The shift to digital from physical books will ultimately hurt traditional brick-and-mortar book sellers.” If the shift continues to it’s ultimate conclusion, Barnes and Noble will end up looking a lot like Amazon.com did ten years ago, but Amazon.com has an obvious advantage because they lack any retail stores.
Barnes and Noble needs to double-down and make the Nook eBook reader be as successful as Apple’s iPhone and BN.com as successful as iTunes. Only time and eBook sales will tell.
[Editor's Note: On July 31, 2010, PC World's, Harry McCracken, wrote Barnes & Noble Doubles Down on the Nook, about how Barnes and Noble is nurturing its e-reader with designated Nook lounges with accessories and demos.]
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