B&N Sees Better Times Ahead - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catospehere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. With a little digging our busy kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble.

I told them, but they wouldn't listen.

According to Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble is optimistic about a sales turnaround. Company Chairman Len Riggio is pinning his hopes on the new order a book online and pick it up in your local Barnes and Noble bookstore feature and the coming holiday sales. Mr. Riggio said in a conference call that the stores with restaurants have turned out to be a mistake. Going forward, the Barnes and Noble book club will be joined by other in-store events.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty has said all along a restaurant with alcohol didn't belong in a bookstore."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

September 11 - Patriot Day

Never Forget    

 

September 11, 2001

Dutchman wins Welsh bookshop in raffle draw - The Bookseller

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to The Bookseller site. There with a little digging around he found a post about a raffle for a bookstore.

According to the post by Charlotte Erye, Dutchman Ceisjan Van Heerden won the Bookends bookshop in a raffle. The raffle ticket drawing was held on September 1 for the Cardigan, Wales bookshop and its inventory. On November 5 Ceisjan Van Heerden will take possession of the store.

Just imagine. He won all those books, too.

Panzer says, "He won a bookstore? Cats don't usually gamble ... but this little kitty wishes he'd known about this raffle ... because this bet would have been worth it."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to bookshop raffle

A New Panzerism

Why worry? It's already over.

Panzer on the purpose of naps:

I never worry about the future.

Never.

By the time I wake up from my nap the future has already come and gone. *



^From Cat Wisdom for humans

Waterstones buys Foyles - The Bookseller

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to The Bookseller site. With a little digging around our traveling kitty found a post about the UK's Waterstones.

According to Benedicte Page and Philip Jones, Waterstones has acquired Foyles bookshops. Waterstones cited the incursion of Amazon's online presence selling books and ebooks into the UK as the reason for the purchase of the 115 year old Foyles bookstores. Both stores believe in the importance of continuing the personal interaction between bookstores and book buyers. Foyles will maintain its name and employees.

A person to help you find a book is good, too.

Panzer says, "This little kitty agrees with Waterstones and Foyles. There's nothing like strolling into a bookstore and feeling a real book between your paws."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Waterstones

Q1 Sales Down at B&N As Losses Rise - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard crying and weeping outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took our compassionate kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all he found a post about Barnes and Noble's first quarter sales.

There must be a way to turn sales around.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, in a conference call Chairman Len Riggio said Barnes and Noble's first quarter sales figures were down 6.9 percent compared to last year. The sales figures included books, Nooks and general retail sales. While the online book order and sales system got off to bad start, the problems appear to be fixed. Sales revenues were actually down lower, however, part of the decline was offset by expense reductions. The company still plans to open and/or move four stores in the coming quarter. Chairman Len Riggio also addressed the Demos Parneros lawsuit against the company. Contrary to the assertions in the lawsuit, Chairman Riggio said former CEO Parneros was fired for sexual harassment and bullying. There is a lot of information covered in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The new online book (paperback or hardback) ordering system should help increase sales. You can order a copy of a paperback online and then pick it up at your nearest Barnes and Noble store. This little kitty looked and saw you can even order Cat Wisdom for humans there."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Amazon expands San Diego Tech Hub and announces plans to create 300 high tech jobs - Press Release

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Amazon press room. With no digging at all our resourceful kitty found a post about Amazon's newest expansion plans.

According to the Amazon press release, the company will be expanding their San Diego Tech Hub. The expansion will create 300 new employment opportunities for San Diego, California, high tech workers. Amazon has already acquired a new 85,000 sq. ft. office space. There will be a grand opening ceremony on September 6. The post contains links to learn more about Amazon and the plans for the tech hub. The last portion of the post contains the usual history of Amazon.

What exactly is a Tech Hub?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... High tech jobs? This little kitty knows how to use a computer. Maybe I should apply for a job. Oh ... Wait ... I don't live in San Diego."

Note: This is a long-medium post. Bring half a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links too, bring half a thermos of tea and five muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Tech Hub

Good News for Printers: ITC Ruling Terminates Tariffs on Imported Canadian Newsprint Paper - Book Business

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Book Business site. There with a little digging around our kitty boy found a post about the U.S. tariff on Canadian newsprint paper producers.

According to Mark Michelson, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled Canadian newsprint paper producers aren't injuring U.S. newsprint paper producers. The ITC also ruled Canadian producers aren't dumping newsprint paper on the U.S. market. This means the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) import tariffs on Canadian newsprint won't be collected anymore. The reversal of the tariffs is good news for U.S. printers. Printers (newspapers primarily) won't have to deal with the added costs of the import tariffs and the possibility of laying off employees.

It always seemed kind of silly to me.

Panzer says, "This case didn't make any sense to this little kitty. There aren't that many newsprint producers in the U.S. because there aren't that many markets for newsprint here. That doesn't have anything to do with Canada."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a large cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Canadian newsprint paper

A New Panzerism

Panzer on recorded history:

I really need a kitty-sized collar camera.

Then ...

I could capture wonderful leaps, acts of amazing balance,

and ...

It's cat magic!

sudden feats of startling magic,

when ...

hairballs appear without warning. *


* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon warehouse envoys rally to tweet upbeat comments about working conditions - The Seattle Times

Panzer took an unexpected trip into the Catosphere today. He was shaken from his afternoon nap by strange sounds coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile and following all the noise took our sleepy kitty to The Seattle Times newspaper site. After a little digging around in the posts our kitty reporter found one about Amazon.

According to Matt Day, Amazon now has more than a dozen "Amazon FC Ambassadors" tweeting on Twitter about how great the work environment in the warehouses is. The "FC" in their title stands for "Fulfillment Center" which is Amazon's name for its warehouses. The post says the Ambassadors don't have anything but praise for Amazon warehouse working conditions and their benefits. Some links are included to other posts including about working conditions, individual FC Ambassadors and the FC Ambassador program.

Who likes everything about their job?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Who are these warehouse workers that they have time to be tweeting online?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup and a half of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon warehouse workers