Alibris CEO Marty Manley is a finalist for the Ernst and Young Northern California Young Entrepreneur of the Year award (press release). The Northern California program is part of E&Y’s larger national Entrepreneur of the Year award program. Manley was selected from a whopping pool of 58 nominees. Looking at other finalists, it seems that Alibris is one of the best recognized names of all of the finalists’ companies. Given the rather large recent failures of Alibris (IPO, declining revenues, fee restructuring) I wonder on what level Manley could win. He certainly keeps afloat a massive website with an impressive reach in the book business, yet has the past year been a success for Alibris? Without a doubt, he used to have one of the best, if not the best, listings services available, but now that is seriously debatable.
Some six years ago we set-up my grandmother with a WebTv to introduce her to email and facilitate communication with her six children and twenty-five grandchildren. We were all quickly disappointed, even Grams with her very low expectation for technological standards. I recently came across an article which suggests a TV-internet combination may be making a comeback. A recent article on AuctionBytes explains how Time Warner customers in Texas are testing software that allows them to keep track of their eBay auctions on their TV. I don’t necessarily expect this to catch on but I still think it is cool. Wayyyyy cool.
Publishers Weekly recently posted some data from Reed Business Information regarding chain bookstores. All article data can be found in the 9 May issue or directly from Reed. For curiousity purposes only, BUY INDEPENDENT.
Barnes and Noble
Stores: 666
Employees: 42,000
Number unionized: 30
Borders/Waldenbooks
Stores: 1,176
Sales: $250/sq ft/year
« Previous Page —
Next Page »
