Waterstone's

Today brought the unsurprising news that Waterstone's is up for sale by HMV. Apparently they plan to use the money from the sale to reduce their debt and create a "turnaround plan" for the music stores. If I'm honest I don't think it will matter what or who you sell, sadly HMV is on it's way out as a result of online buying and in store competition. Being forced by the banks to sell in order to pay off debts, HMV seems to be on an ever increasing downward spiral.
Valued at £50m to £70m Waterstone's faces an interesting future. When Borders UK first came up for sale in 2007 it was sole for a mere £20m and struggled in a "declining market", eventually going under. So who knows what's going to happen to Waterstone's. Rumours of Dominic Myers creating a management buyout are rife at the moment, and no doubt Tim Waterstone will try and form some sort of buyout. Personally I love Waterstone's, having worked there on and off for years it's sad to watch it's slow decline. From the closing down of twenty stores to it's sale, hopefully someone will but it out and change it around, however I think they are facing a difficult and rapidly changing market. Whoever buys it needs to realise the potential and instead of wasting time bringing in new agendas, new stock such as DVDs (only to return them six months later because they weren't selling) and overpriced children's toys, they need to focus on what they are about and that is books. They will be taking over a range of staff, the majority of which know their stuff inside and out, and need to realise this potential. Waterstone's needs an ownership that will support staff, accentuate their knowledge and give them credit for it, instead of treating them like imbeciles.
Personally, I don't think that the current management will particularly do that, from my experience of them they seem to struggle to organise the next weeks offers and POS. However, when it's your own company as opposed to someone else's the urge to make in run smoothly, reduce waste and increase profit is probably a lot higher.
I will be reading The Bookseller avidly, waiting for the next installment.