8 posts and columns on chain

Voices

Made in China: Fake Stores

in Commerce on August 3, 2011 at 5:30 am PT

In China’s “fake world,” consumers can shop for furniture at an imitation IKEA store, eat a six-inch sandwich at an outlet strikingly similar to Subway, and then grab dessert at “Dairy Fairy.”

News Byte

Blockbuster Hangs "For Rent" Signs on 187 Stores

in Commerce on December 20, 2010 at 3:57 pm PT

Blockbuster plans to close 182 stores over the next few months as it tries to emerge from bankruptcy, reports Bloomberg. The once-dominant movie rental chain faces competition from Netflix and, increasingly, from alternative video-on-demand providers. The store closures are in addition to the 1,000 locations shut down during the past two years. Next year, the company expects to emerge from bankruptcy with the help of new owners, including shareholder activist Carl Icahn.

Voices

B&N Aims E-Books at Kids

in News on October 25, 2010 at 5:00 am PT

Barnes & Noble Inc., intent on winning over a new generation of readers, including some who haven’t yet learned to tie their shoes, is launching a digital collection of more than 12,000 books under the name Nook Kids.

Chapter 11, In Which Blockbuster Does the Inevitable

in News on September 23, 2010 at 9:06 am PT

Repudiating claims last year that Blockbuster intended to file for bankruptcy, spokesperson Karen Raskopf said the troubled video-rental chain had “lots of plans to grow our business.” That may well have been the case, but they don’t seem to have done much good, because Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy today.

Apple Challenges Woolworths Over Logo Similarities

in News on October 5, 2009 at 5:01 am PT

Woolworths Supermarkets describes its new logo as “an abstract leaf symbol” intended to represent fresh food. But to Apple, the stylized “W” looks far too much like its own namesake fruit, which could be problematic should the supermarket chain someday decide to peddle its own brand of consumer electronics. And so Apple is petitioning IP Australia, the local agency that governs trademarks, to reject the Woolworths application for the mark.
apple_woolworthsthumb

Sun Rise, Sun Set

in News on April 7, 2009 at 3:16 pm PT

After the collapse of acquisition talks with IBM, Sun’s shares continue to take a beating. Plus, Twittering Rhode Island’s daily cash flow and bad news from Blockbuster. (April 7)

Why Are Music Sales Dropping? Because It’s Hard to Buy Music

in Media on December 2, 2008 at 4:34 am PT

Americans spent billions on CDs last year. But big-box retailers are increasingly uninterested in selling the discs in their stores. Newest data point: Borders Group, which has cut its music inventory by 30 percent in the last year.

3-D: Coming to a Theater Near You (at a Glacial Pace)

in News on October 3, 2008 at 9:38 am PT

A billion dollar investment in digital technologies, struck between a handful of Hollywood studios and a consortium of big theater chains, got little notice earlier this week. Under terms of the deal, the entertainment companies agreed to help defray the costs of rolling out more advanced digital technologies in 20,000 theaters, which will eventually lead to being able to see more movies in technologies like 3-D.