A Eulogy For Borders

[Author’s Note: Yes, I know it’s been eons since I updated this blog. I’m going to have to try to do something about that, but this was too important to me not to write about]

When I graduated college in 1999, like so many before and after me, I had to look for a job. Having a degree in film/video and not knowing anyone in the industry in addition to being unable to take a no/low pay job for “experience,” this proved difficult. I temped for a short time that summer, but working in offices downtown while being dressed up and being folks’ gopher was simply not for me. One day that fall, I came across an ad in the Chicago Reader that a new Borders store was opening in the suburbs and was hiring. I patronized Borders occasionally as they had an excellent music section and the novelty of being able to get coffee and browse in a retail environment was still exciting. So I applied to work in their music department. One quick interview later, I was a Borders employee. I figured I’d work there for several months until I could get my foot in the door elsewhere.

I worked there for seven years.

The first few years there were the best. Most of my co-workers were fun and like-minded, and many years later, I am still friends with some of them. Even though we were a big-box chain, the corporate office gave the stores enough leeway that it still felt somewhat independent. We could cater both our displays and inventory to suit the interests and needs of our community. I worked in the music department at first, and somehow ended up being the classical music specialist – all those years in band helped I guess. We had quite the extensive music selection back then, and at the time DVDs were just becoming popular, slowing pushing out VHS tapes. Customers would ask for me by name to help them out with their music requests. That was not uncommon – many staff members had areas of expertise in the store, and employees and customers alike would depend on them for both recommendations and assistance in figuring out obscure titles. Most importantly, we had fun working there – I have countless stories of time spent there (most of them involve clueless and/or crazy customers) that still make me chuckle all these years later.

Over the years, I made my way through the ranks. I managed the music department & the café, became the inventory manager and by default the second in command behind the store’s general manager and even opened and worked at a different store for a year before returning to my original store with a promotion. During this time, Borders went through a series of transformations, all for worse. There were countless “restructurings” seemingly on a yearly basis: they shuffled the managerial and supervisory positions so many times even I forgot who reported to whom. With an influx of people outside the book business hired to top positions at both corporate HQ and the district level, the company climate changed. Gone was that independent feel of the stores – an emphasis was placed on making all stores look the same and inventory was no longer catered to a store’s community – Borders became less bookstore-coffeehouse, and more Wal-Mart. I could go on and on about the piss poor decisions that Borders made throughout the years that led them to this untimely end, but I’m sure you can read up on that at any reputable business website. I will say this – the steadfast refusal of corporate Borders to listen to their employees in the field is the main reason the company is where it’s at today.

I saw the writing on the wall five years ago. Many good employees were driven out of the company, and I was following them. Seven years of retail takes a toll on even the best employees (I still don’t like Christmas as much as I once did), and seeing as both my pay and the enjoyment of working there was low, it was time for me to go.

I am sad that Borders seems to be on the fast track of closing its doors for good. Without Borders, I would be a different person today – working there taught me many life skills I doubt I’d have today. I also wouldn’t have met so many great people over the years. I would probably have not fallen into so much debt, as my book and music shelves can attest to even to this day. Perhaps with Borders fading away, the once booming business of small neighborhood bookstores can make its return. I hope for that, but considering the success of the Amazons and Kindles, sadly I think the brick and mortar book business may be on its way out for good.

Both stores I worked at are on the closing list. I am waiting to hear from folks that still work for Borders (albeit temporarily), when their last days are. I was there when those stores opened. I will be there when they close.

I wonder how Tom & Louis Borders feel right now.