Taking a camera for a walk.

[Packard]

At this moment I am drinking coffee in Barnes & Noble.  And also at this moment a woman is walking up and down the aisles with a tablet held at her chest height.

It is clear to me that she is making a walking video of the interior of the store.  (She’s now videoing her trip up the escalator).

What possible reason would someone have to do this?  I come here often enough to recognized all the staff.  And unless this person is from Corporate Barnes & Noble, then she would be a customer (or a visitor).

What possible reason would someone have to take such a video? (And no, I am not going to walk up to her and ask.  No matter how I phrase it, it will come out sounding accusatory.)

 

[onocoffee]

She could be a YouTuber (or on a different social media platform) doing either a recorded video of her visit to Barnes & Noble (there aren't many left in the world) or doing a livestream.

There are times I too am that person walking around with a camera or phone babbling to it while on a livestream or visiting some shop. In fact, I was doing it today!

 

[Michael Kellough]

I very rarely take a picture with my iPad Pro.
Even when I'm already holding it I'll use my iPhone instead.
But when I do, oh man, what a viewfinder!

 

[squall_line]

She could also be a Google Maps contributor, getting video of the store layout to be included on their platform (or another mapping platform).

If she was from Corporate, the tablet would likely have a ruggedized, almost military-looking case around it.  People are hard on stuff, especially employees.

 

[Packard]

Well, it was a first for me.

The Barnes & Noble where I live is one of the largest I have seen.  It is sort of an institution here.

The knitting club meets here.  Tutors teach students here.  A priest (or pastor) comes on Wednesdays to pen his sermon.  (I peeked.  I know I should not have, but I did.  I only read one sentence though that started with “We all have…”.)

The mahjong club meets here (with anglicized tiles).

Future nurses meet here just before their exams to quiz each other.

The Catholic school students come to group study.

There are a bunch more that would have no other viable location if B & N closed up.

There are 22 tables and 12 bar height seats facing the windows.  So a fair amount of space dedicated to the cafe which is where they all meet.  (I come for the coffee.)

 

[Packard]

I very rarely take a picture with my iPad Pro.
Even when I'm already holding it I'll use my iPhone instead.
But when I do, oh man, what a viewfinder!

I only take pictures with my IPad Pro just because it has a spectacular viewfinder, and I know 100% if I got the shot or did not.  (And I have 2 Hasselblad cameras and 4 Nikon cameras at home which I never use anymore.)

 

[peter halle]

Barnes & Nobles has been in the news a bit recently because it is attracting more and more foot traffic (unlike traditional brick and mortar retailers) due to BookTok.  It could be an influencer or someone actually doing filming for a future voice over.

Peter

 

[Holzhacker]

Probably some social media moron.
I am not nice to them. Told a few of them I'd slap the crap out of them. I'm nice but not that nice to have them put me on their socials even in the back ground.

 

[Packard]

The woman held the tablet at the same height the entire time and camera angle only changed as she changed directions.

It resembled an ambulatory version of Google street view.

 

[Chainring]

Apparently B&N is opening 60 stores in the US in 2025. I've read that they'll be nothing like the ole mega stores and more under local control, catering to the local community.

 

[Packard]

I hope B&N is successful.  But Amazon really took the wind out of their sails.

You would think they could compete with Amazon with their online sales, but then Walmart is still playing catch-up with Amazon.

Amazon sells 300 million print books vs B&N sells 190 million books.

 

[Cypren]

I watched a pretty interesting video on B&N’s new strategy the other day, I think done by the Wall Street Journal? Their new CEO comes from the independent book business and his whole strategy is to stop trying to play Amazon’s game and be a “superstore”; instead, he’s buying up local bookstores, keeping their staff in place and essentially turning them loose to create unique local experiences backed up by the money and efficient logistics of a national retailer. His bet is that the one thing Amazon can’t replicate is the atmosphere and uniqueness of a local bookstore with a curated collection based on knowledge of its community, and that’s where they’ll find their niche. So far, it seems to be working.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I'm just glad to see any book sales growing. Here in OZ it was very disheartening to see almost all the specialty book stores rapidly closing down over the years, and even a lot of the chains closing/shrinking. Some seem to have made a comeback, and it seems to me the ones that are doing at least okay are the big discount ones, and those having an integrated cafe doing even better.

It's definitely become a lifestyle thing for the latter, which given how cafe and coffee mad we are here, and especially so in Melb, is no surprise.

 

[onocoffee]

I watched a pretty interesting video on B&N’s new strategy the other day, I think done by the Wall Street Journal? Their new CEO comes from the independent book business and his whole strategy is to stop trying to play Amazon’s game and be a “superstore”; instead, hes buying up local bookstores, keeping their staff in place and essentially turning them loose to create unique local experiences backed up by the money and efficient logistics of a national retailer. His bet is that the one thing Amazon can’t replicate is the atmosphere and uniqueness of a local bookstore with a curated collection based on knowledge of its community, and that’s where they’ll find their niche. So far, it seems to be working.

I like this approach. Just wish there were still B&N's, or just bookstores, in my area.

 

[Packard]

Many years ago I read an article on B & N’s strategy in regards to their cafe.  They said that the longer they can keep people in the store, the more they spend.

And…

They cannot buy books if they are not in the store. 

Which is why they allow the knitting club to sit for 2 or 3 hours and occupy two of the larger tables (and disallow food at the knitting table).

But the net effect is that the B & N cafe is an integral part of the local community. 

A lot of people would be upset if they closed even though they can get the books they want online and get Starbucks coffee across the street.