Black Friday

Whew, Black Friday & Black Saturday are over and done with. It wasn't as crazy as past years. We stayed busy until around 2:00 in the afternoon on Friday. The Nebraska Cornhuskers were playing the Colorado Buffaloes in an important game for both teams. Kickoff at 2:30. Did that event empty the mall? Not sure. It did get rather quiet though. Saturday was just not busy. Hmmm.

Sometime during the weekend I realized this is my last Black Friday as a Borders Bookseller. That's makes me a little sad. And a little joyful.

Time to reinvent myself. Go, Brain, Go!

Smile

A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past.
Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog.
The children started discussing the dog's duties.
"They use him to keep crowds back," said one child.
"No," said another. "He's just for good luck."
A third child brought the argument to a close.
"They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

Book Blog

I've started a book blog!

Go here: Baldcavalier's Book Blog for my reviews of books and views about the industry.

Store Closing

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of Borders Group's ongoing strategy to right-size its Waldenbooks Specialty Retail segment and emerge with a smaller, more profitable mall chain in fiscal 2010, the retailer will close approximately 200 mall stores in January, leaving approximately 130 mall-based locations open. Full press release here.

That includes my store. Been there 11 years now. So Happy Freakin' New Year!
I'm trying to keep a good attitude and professional manner. Not so easy to do some days. I almost verbally flamed a stupid customer the other day.

She told me one of our signs said Ford County by John Grisham was supposed to be released by now and where was it? She was raising her voice. I was standing within 6 feet of her. Standing next to a vertical floor display of the books. Facing her. She was facing me. I said, "Right here ma'am." I handed her a copy of the book. She said loudly, "I don't want it now!" I calmly took the book back, replaced it in the display, and told her to call for me if she needed any more help as I turned and walked away. Gritting my teeth.

I'm sure not going to miss shoppers like her. BTW she didn't buy anything.

Stay tuned!