Borders looks to offload online arm
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Borders is looking to offload the online arm of its business to focus on its core store offering.
It is thought the book and entertainment retailer is in talks with its digital agency Tangent to take over the business and run it in-house.
The digital agency, which is a division of Tangent Communications, already works extensively on the online side of the Borders business, including its email marketing. It also works with Borders in Australia, out of its international office.
This follows the buyout of Borders UK by its management team in July backed by Valco Capital Partners, the private equity arm of restructuring firm, Hilco.
Borders UK chief executive Philip Downer said in a statement at the time of the deal that it would allow the business to “develop our innovative approach to bookselling”.
This is the second time in two years that the bookseller has changed hands.
The struggling chain has closed some of its flagship stores, including its Oxford Street store in London. In addition, the retailer plans to remove its Books Etc chain from the high street.
Borders Group launched its own website last year, after farming out the business to online retailer Amazon in 2001.
Borders and Tangent declined to comment on the deal.
Readers' comments (1)
Dawfydd | Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:19 pm
Can't say I'm terribly surprised by this. As a both a member of staff, and as a customer, I was severly unimpressed with the way Borders implemented its online store. Compared to the likes of Amazon, Play, HMV and others the site was severely flawed.
From the reliance on browser-based menus (a fault with the systems used instore as well), having to cancel and reorder if you wished to alter anything about an existing order, to a helpdesk who had very little actual information to offer those with problems, the whole system was a farce.
OK, rant over :)
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