All you want to know about armrest covers for Car,sofa,couch and auto for the better for you
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Check Out Britax Arm Rest Covers for Chaperone Stroller, Black for $2.01 Britax USA
Monday, November 28, 2011
Coleman Camping Chairs
Overview
For over 100 years Coleman has been providing America with great camping equipment. Their line of camping chairs is one of the most popular. When searching for a new camping chair, you may want to include Coleman in the list of brands up for consideration.
Types of Available Chairs
o Oversize Quad Chair with Cooler
Benefits of this chair include a built-in cooler, adjustable arm rests, high back and accessory pouch. The carry weight is 10 pounds, which makes it a bit heafty for backpacking trips or long hikes on the beach. It has an extended weight limit of up to 300lbs, which does make it ideal for larger campers. Available in blue or gold. This folding camping chair comes with a carrying bag with strap.
o Portable Deck Chair
This small, portable deck chair folds for transport or storage, has washable armrest covers, has an ergonomic padded seatback, weighs 5.6 pounds and can hold 225lbs. This chair does not fold up as small as a collapsible camping chair and does not have as many features as the Quad chair or Broadband chair. This chair is better suited for a deck as the name implies.
o Broadband Camping Chairs
The standard Broadband camping chair includes durable diamond ripstop fabric, reinforced steel frame, included carrying bag, mesh cup holder, and a 1 year warranty. Its carry weight is 9 lbs.
There are many optional features of the Broadband chair. It is available with security pockets and a footrest, a sunshade and cooler, and in a lightweight version.
o Coleman Stools
There are two stools Coleman makes - the Rambler and the Exponent. Both are folding stools but the Exponent will likely suit car campers more as it has a pack weight of only 20 ounces and folds up in a more compact package. Neither stool has the comfort of a traditional camping chair, but when space is at a premium, these stools may fit the bill.
Warranty
All Coleman products come with a limited warranty. The length of the warranty varies by product, but in general for camping chairs, it is one year. Keep your original sales receipt - Coleman requires proof of purchase for all warranty claims. Keep in mind the warranty is valid only for the original purchaser and is not transferrable.
About Coleman
Over 100 years ago, W.C. Coleman started manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. 1n 1923, Coleman invented the fold-up camp stove and soon after other car camping equipment followed. In decades following, Coleman dominated the industry and brought many new products to market, including their comfortable camping chairs - and the rest is car-camping history.
Summary
No matter what you plan on using your camp chair for, Coleman probably has a recommended solution. Readily available and equipped with many features, a Coleman camp chair will last for many seasons. With the added security of their limited warranty, Coleman is a good brand to consider.
Jack enjoys helping people find the best camping chair for them and enjoys writing reviews about Coleman camping chairs.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Review of Panasonic EP-30004 KU Shiatsu Massage Chair
Reviews can play an important in the research phase of any product. To be helpful, reviews need to present a variety of facts to aid in the selection process for a consumer. We have developed a five category system to help compare different massage chairs. This system weighs the 5 categories equally allowing each one to earn 20 points. The score of each category is then summed to give a total score for that massage chair. This is by no means a perfect system, but it provides a more systematic approach to the evaluation process. The 5 categories we use for the review include: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. We hope you find this approach helpful for your research. This review is of the Real Ultra EP30004. This shiatsu massage chair is in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.
Warranty & Customer Service:
The first category is warranty and customer service. The warranty is the protection given to the consumer for the product. The shorter the warranty, the more risk the customer has to take in the transaction. With the EP30004, Panasonic gives a 1 year labor, 3 year. This is the warranty directly from the manufacturer. This is a rather short warranty period for the dollar value of the transaction. In most cases, the consumer can purchase an extended warranty for this massage recliner, but then that drives the total cost of the product. If you require customer service, then you must contact your original retailer. This certainly means that customer service and turn around times are variable and depend on the retailer. Overall Rating for Panasonic warranty and customer service is 15.
Comfort & Ergonomics:
Massage chair recliners usually have a dual function. One is obviously to massage, but the other is as a recliner. Therefore, comfort is usually an important consideration, since the chair may not always be used in the massage mode. A recliner should be comfortable to sit on. The Real Pro Ultra comes with padded armrests. There is a comfortable, soft upholstered head pillow to support the head. We found the recliner is comfortable to sit in. The leg ottoman is adjustable out an extra 5 inches, which helps to target your legs better. The Real Pro Ultra is well designed from an ergonomic point of view. Overall Rating for Panasonic comfort and ergonomics and customer service is 18.
East of Use:
The massage chair industry increases the functionality of its chairs every year. With the increase in functionality comes increasing complexity of controls to run them. Our ease of use category is for making the controls of the chair as intuitive as possible for the user. Panasonic is one of the premier electronics companies in the world, so we expect them to completely understand this issue. Panasonic has pioneered the use of a "Voice Guidance" system in their chairs to help consumers with ease of use. This interactive system enables novice users to quickly understand and use the chair to maximum benefit. The remote is very cleanly designed and intuitive. It is not cluttered like many controllers we evaluate. The remote comes with memory functions that can remember the favorite massages of up to 4 different users. Manual controls are located in the side panel of the remote. Overall Rating for the EP 30004 for ease of use is 19.
Key Features:
The important features of the EP-30004 are the Junetsu massage and the shoulder/arm stretch. Panasonic has developed the Junetsu style massage in the Real Pro Ultra. The Junetsu is an ultra fine kneading massage. This uses small circular motions that penetrate deeply through the muscles for a soothing massage therapy. Panasonic has developed a novel shoulder stretch in the EP 30004. The arm rest has padded covers that lift up, where the hands and arms can be placed inside. The airbags then activate to which hold the arms. The chair back then reclines slightly to extend the arms and shoulders. This slow, gradual stretch helps to elongate the muscles of the arms and shoulders. This stretch helps to remove tension from the muscles and increase the range of motion. Overall Rating for the Real Pro Ultra for features is 19.
Massage Therapy:
The massage functions built into the EP 30004 include both automatic and manual programs. There are four 15-minute Pre-Programs, One 5-minute Quick Program and One 15-minute Self Program. There are 4 full body automatic courses and 5 different massage speed settings. The automatic massage functions include the following: Shiatsu, Gentle, Deep and Refresh. Panasonic has developed its exclusive Junetsu or ultra fine kneading massage system in the Real Pro Ultra. This chair provides high quality and realistically replicated massage therapies. There are two stretching functions. There is a lower body stretch and the shoulder stretch. The lower body is covered with 22 airbags including the hands, arms, buttocks, calves and feet. This chair also provides both Swedish and shiatsu style massages for excellent massage coverage. Overall Rating for the EP 30004 massage recliner for massage therapy is 19.
How does the Real Pro Ultra EP-30004 rate on an overall basis? Summing up the score, our overall rating of the EP 30004 is a 90/100. Panasonic continues its innovation with cutting edge massage therapies such as the Junetsu massage technique and the shoulder stretch. The technologies incorporated into this massage recliner are solid. We are still a bit disappointed with the aesthetics of this chair, which is very plain. Panasonic has incorporated an extendable ottoman which helps reach a taller user more effectively. The massage therapy tends to be a bit lighter than other chairs which over longer term use may be a concern for some. But, overall, this is a well designed and effective massage chair recliner. If you are looking for a shiatsu recliner in this price range, then this is one you should check out.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Panasonic EP 30004 Massage Chair, check us out for more information of luxury brands at Massage Chair Warehouse. Make an informed decision by perusing a variety of information including product reviews, articles and much more.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Mazda Protege LX @ X Motorsport, Inc.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Pontiac Vibe 2.4L @ R & R AUTO SALES
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Product Review - Sanyo HEC-SA5000 Massage Chair Recliner
We present review of the Sanyo model HEC SA5000 massage chair. Our intention is to provide a chair buyer with an objective review and evaluation of a given massage chair. We use a 5 category system. Equal weight is given to each category. Each category can earn from 0 to 20 points. The points are then summed up to provide you with an overall score. The 5 categories cover the following: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. This system gives us a disciplined process of evaluating a massage chair. We hope you find this helping in your search for the best massage recliner for your needs. The HEC-SA5000 massage chair recliner price is in the $3,000 to $4,000 range.
Warranty & Customer Service:
Let us start at the company level and rate the warranty and customer service for Sanyo. Warranty coverage is a good benchmark of the manufacturer's confidence is its product. Sanyo gives a 1 year labor, 1 year parts and 1 year in-home service. It does cover the roller mechanism for 3 years. For a company as large as Sanyo, the warranty is a little weaker than we would expect. Sanyo did start offering in-home service, which is an important service upgrade to match others in the industry. At least with in-home service they provide 1 year. Overall, customer service is competent. They have a national hot line with 24/7 service. Turnaround time on service is ok. Our Rating in this category is 15.
Comfort & Ergonomics:
When one thinks of a massage chair, you think of comfort and relaxation. The ergonomics of the chair design needs to be comfortable and fit the users. The SA 5000 has a nice appearance with the triangular armrests. The armrests are well padded and comfortable. The side view of the chair is a little plain below the armrest detail which is a little industrial from our point of view. The chair is comfortable to sit in. The upholstered back pad is plush and soft to the touch. The headrest pillow can be adjusted to accommodate different users. The leg rest is one area of concern in that it cannot be adjusted or extended. Taller users may want to see how well they fit in the chair. This chair was originally designed for the Japanese market, so it is scaled for the target population. Our rating in this category is 15.
Ease of Use:
We are always concerned with how easy a massage chair is to use. There are an ever increasing number of features and options, but the manufacturers need to make it easy to use. Everyone wants the best technology has to offer, but not at the expense of a steep learning curve. We like the remote for the SA 5000. This is a clean and simple design. There are 4 automatic programs with one-touch buttons. If you like the massage you are getting and the area, then hit the Program Memory button and the chair will remember. This is like having additional automatic programs at your disposal. The side panel controls the lower body air system with individual controls for the lower body, calf, foot and thigh. Our rating in this category is 18.
Features:
The prominent features in the SA 5000 are the Stiffness Detection Sensor and the GK Rollers. The stiffness detection sensor is based on lie detection technology. This sensor detects stress points throughout your whole back. The stiffness detection gauges fatigue by monitoring changes in your perspiration and pulse rate. This information is then fed into the computer and the software will adjust the massage programs to target areas of stiffness or tight muscles. The GK Rollers are specially designed rollers that have the capability to perform a grip or grasping massage. The GK roller technology "reaches out" and grabs you. This is especially effective for the neck and shoulder area. These rollers squeeze your shoulders and neck area to emulate the grasping and kneading of a professional masseuse. Our rating in this category is 18.
Massage Therapy:
The SA 5000 comes with 4 automatic programs, 4 programs stored in Memory, 4 manual massage techniques and 4 massage courses for targeted relief of stress areas. You can select from 5 roller width setting and 5 massage speed settings. The 4 full body automatic courses include: Stiffness, Relax, Recovery and Fine. Sanyo incorporates its exclusive multi-point shiatsu massage for the legs and feet. The air system covers the lower body including the feet, calves and thighs. There are a total of 24 airbags. The air only comfort course includes a multi-point shiatsu massage is delivered to the lower body for a comforting lower body massage. There is also an ankle grip massage. The ankle grip massage is performed by holding a range of built in airbags around the foot. Our rating in this category is 18.
Overall, we rate the Sanyo SA-5000 an 84/100. The SA 5000 comes with many of the same technologies as Sanyo's high end version the DR7700. The stroke length of the back rollers is 28 inches compared to 31 inches for the DR 7700, but most of the same technology is in the SA 5000. The factory warranty is just ok and you may want to explore an extended warranty to equal other manufacturer's coverage. The GK rollers are a nice feature for neck and shoulder coverage. The leg rest would be more ergonomic for the American market if there was an extension built in. If you are looking for a massage chair recliner in this category, the SA 5000 is one you should check out.
Finding for the best Shiatsu Therapy Chair can be a complicated process. There are so many choices, brands, features. Check out more about the Sanyo Massage Chair and why it is a great value for a massage chair.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Great Price Carol Wright Gifts for Fleece Recliner Cover, Color Brown
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Watch This Video Now CUSTOM Econoline E
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Restaurant's Tables and Seating
Profitable layout of a dining region includes balancing multiple elements: security of guests and employees, efficiency of service, aesthetics, and financial implications. At very first glance, it would appear that cost per rectangular foot, and also the potential revenue generated by every seat, would be the dominant consideration. Generally, lower examine averages need a greater density of seating, and higher examine averages can translate to fewer seats, greater guest comfort, and slower turnover.
However, the driving factor isn't necessarily filling an empty room with as many tables as possible; rather, the objective is to achieve a balance among client comfort and ease and bottom-line profit, in a fashion that greatest suits the restaurant's concept and image. Most people have distinct seating preferences at movies, plays, ballparks, and restaurants. Whenever feasible, give your customers a option of exactly where they wish to sit: booth or table, near the window or away from it, smoking or nonsmoking section (in case your city or state still permits smoking in restaurants), and so on.
Guests' displeasure with seating arrangements can color the rest of their meal-if they even stay lengthy sufficient to order. As for that furnishings themselves, there are countless designs from which to select. Being a chorus, industry experts tell us to choose seating and furniture "from the customer's eye." What does this mean? Well, let's take a family-oriented Italian restaurant as an instance, as observed from the eyes of mother and father with two kids who is going to be dining there. You want them to appreciate the fact that you simply went to some trouble to carry the "Italian" look and really feel via and inside your décor.
You also want them to become comfy dining out with their kids. They might require high chairs and booster seats-how numerous should you have for a busy night? Is there sufficient space between tables to cater to a higher chair and permit the server to do a good job? Does the upholstery thoroughly clean up well right after being slathered with marinara sauce? Is there a location with a little a lot more privacy for diners-say, the parents who have a babysitter-who, for once, don't wish to be seated with a bunch of families? As you are able to see, style and décor element into a great deal of related decisions. Well-liked types of seating consist of chairs, stools, booths, and banquettes. Booths offer a particular feeling of privacy or intimacy, but tables and chairs tend to be more adaptable since they can be moved close to as needed.
A banquette is an upholstered couch fixed to the wall, with a stand positioned in front of it. Banquettes are a hybrid of booth and table-more adaptable than a booth, but they nevertheless must hug the wall. Banquettes occur to become very fashionable at the moment. Not just can they be upholstered in any number of stylish fabrics, but they maximize seating by filling up corners and allowing more guests to become seated than would fit at individual chairs. Bar stools, either at bars or taller cocktail-style tables, are the most casual seating option.
Generally, it is best to style a dining region with a mixture of seat and stand designs for maximum flexibility. Think about the capability to accommodate both big and little groups at a moment's notice. Seating also should be arranged with clearly defined aisles and tables not too far from the kitchen, as these factors impact security as nicely as speed of service. Because they are a major investment that will probably be in use for a lengthy time, great care ought to be taken to choose seats that are comfortable, durable, adaptable, and suitable towards the kind of dining you will offer.
The typical restaurant chair includes a life of five many years, but the greatest ones might last 10 or a lot more. Chairs are part of the general design from the area, so the fashion you select ought to be in line with the picture and ambience from the area. You might hear the term "scale" utilized in seat selection. The scale of an object is your visual perception of its size. Whenever you compare the captain chair to the Windsor chair, they are actually about the exact same size, but the Windsor chair appears lighter and more delicate. This illustrates the distinction in scale among the two. As soon as you've selected a fashion, hone in about the technical aspects of chair construction.
Much less costly chairs may be glued or even stapled together-not the optimum for durability. Upkeep and maintenance are important, such as regardless of whether the manufacturer will keep spare parts obtainable more than the years. Frames could be created of metal, wood, or plastic. They could be stained, dyed, painted, or lacquered; stained and dyed frames are the simplest to preserve, and dying allows for an endless choice of colors. Seats might or might not be upholstered.
The chairs can have arms, but only in case your furniture are roomy enough to cater to them. Ask about protective laminate finishes for wooden chairs, which would otherwise chip and dent easily. Examine for style flaws that would be troublesome inside a public setting: Does clothing catch or snag on edges? Are any from the edges sharp enough for someone to scrape or cut themselves accidentally (guests or the waitstaff)?
Would be the legs wobbly? How will the chair maintain up when someone very overweight sits in it? For those who have many female visitors, can a handbag or jacket be slung over the chair back without sliding to the ground? It is wise to order samples of several chairs and test them to get a week or two. Listed here are some specifics that might help in chair assortment:
A 15-degree angle for that chair back again is recommended. The depth from the seat, from edge to chair back again, should be 16 inches. The height from the chair, from your floor towards the best from the chair back, should be no more than 34 in.. Something greater impedes the servers. The regular distance from your seat to the ground should be 18 in.. The distance between the seat and also the tabletop ought to be 12 inches. Permit 24 to 26 inches of space for every chair at a table; 28 inches if they are armchairs. For bar or countertop seating, permit 24 to 26 inches for each stool.
Think about how the chairs or stools perform when empty as well. Do they match under the tables or the bar armrest? Can they be pushed in easily when not in use, to create the aisles roomier? Are they stackable? Are they simple to clean and easy to move when the floor needs cleaning? Booth seating is an additional frequent option. You utilized to see booths only in bar lounges and casual restaurants, but they also look really smart in upscale eateries, exactly where they afford a sense of privacy and romance.
Booths can save room, taking up as little as eight square feet per person. However, booths are more labor-intensive than furniture, because it is harder to clean beneath and close to them, and they cannot be moved to accommodate numerous sizes of dining parties. Deciding on your overall dining atmosphere will assist greatly in stand selection. Room usually dictates how many furniture you will require, and, in most cases, you are able to get more rectangular furniture than round ones within the exact same rectangular footage. Investigation shows square tables also seem to produce faster turnover, whilst round ones prompt visitors to linger a bit longer.
Attention to aesthetics may require that you simply blend both square and round furniture inside your dining region, arranging them at different angles to avoid that military mess hall appear mentioned earlier. The more upscale a restaurant is, the more elbow room you allocate for each customer. A fine-dining establishment should allow 15 to 18 rectangular feet for each guest; a moderately priced restaurant, 12 feet per guest; for banquets, a minimum of 10 square feet for each person. When buying furniture, check for sturdy construction. You would like lengthy use and solid service from them. Self-leveling legs or bases allow you to adjust for wobbles and also permit the table to glide easily along the floor if it wants to become moved.
A recent invention, brand-named Table Shox®, is really a self-adjusting hydraulic glide that functions like a tiny shock absorber to adjust to uneven floor surfaces and prevent wobbling. Consider whether you'll cover the furniture with linens, butcher paper, or nothing at all. You should make an early choice concerning the type of finish you want on your tables, especially if you won't be using tablecloths. There's a world of options, from marble, wood, and ceramic to the long lasting plastic laminates such as Formica and Corian, that are stain-resistant and simple to preserve.
These days they come in numerous patterns, such as faux marble, which would work even in an upscale restaurant setting. No matter what you determine, a stand should use a waterproof best, and its bottom ought to be positioned to give your customers a comfortable quantity of legroom beneath. If lighting will be low and your tables will be draped, a easy pedestal-style base is appropriate. However, if the dining space is airy and open and also the furniture won't have cloths, the fashion of the table bottom can be part of your style.
Furniture ought to be chosen in tandem with chairs, since they is going to be used together. For instance, furniture which are 26 inches tall perform best with chairs that measure 16 in. from seat to ground; 30-inch tall furniture work best with chairs that measure 18 in. from seat to ground. Table bases don't just arrive in chrome, brass, or black enamel anymore. Today's trends range from fire engine red and deep evergreen to plated finishes of copper, pewter, or bronze. Those little feet in the bottom of the base that hold the stand steady also come in various styles. You'll most likely choose between the so-called four-pronged spider bottom and the cylindrical mushroom bottom. The table, from floor to tabletop, ought to be 30 inches in height. Here are some basic stand sizes and uses:
For 1 or two guests: a 24-by-30-inch square table, also generally known as a two-top or deuce. For three or four visitors: a 36-by-36-inch square table; a 30-by-48-inch rectangular table, commonly called a four-top; or a 42-inch-diameter round table. (You will find 36-inch-diameter round tables, but they're a tight match for four persons.)
For 5 or six guests: a two-top and four-top could be joined to create seating for as much as six; or use a 48-inch-diameter or 54-inch-diameter round table.
For seven or eight visitors: two four-top furniture could be joined; or use a 72-inch diameter round table.
For cocktail lounges: a 20-by-20-inch rectangular stand; or perhaps a 20-inch-diameter round table.
Franco Zinzi has been involved with online marketing for nearly 3 years and likes to write on various subjects. Come visit his latest website which discusses of restaurant fridges and restaurant supplies for the owner of his own business.
Monday, November 14, 2011
2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING
Saturday, November 12, 2011
2010 Ford F350 #J0233CN in Madison, WI 53713
Friday, November 11, 2011
2001 Volkswagen New Passat GLX - Houston, TX
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Chevrolet Equinox LS @ KAHLO CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM
Monday, November 7, 2011
Creating a Couch Slipcover : Cutting the Couch Slipcover Armrest Fabric
Saturday, November 5, 2011
2006 Nissan Altima #M5-6190 in Escondido San Diego, CA
Friday, November 4, 2011
3 Strategies to Help Bookstores Survive Amazon
For some time now, I have been hearing about how bookstores are struggling to stay in business, not only the small, local bookstores, but also the big chains, such as Borders. My perception is that Amazon.com's success is partly responsible for these struggles. I like Amazon.com, and I also like "bricks and mortar" bookstores. Amazon.com's future seems pretty secure at the moment, so I propose three strategies bookstores can use to remain in business and survive Amazon.com.
THE NEW MARKET ENVIRONMENT
Once upon a time, if you wanted to buy a book, you bought it from a bookstore. Book buying possibilities have changed. Now you can pay to download a book to an e-book reader or buy it from an online source (e.g., the author's or publisher's website, Amazon.com). Book buying behaviors have changed, but bookstores seem to be trying to maintain the way they do business. Other than adding a coffee shop, bookstores now look much like I remember them before Amazon.com made online book shopping practical.
In my opinion, one of the advantages Amazon offers book buyers that bookstores don't is the breadth of selection. Amazon has a wider selection of books than bookstores. The second advantage is cost. The price to purchase a book online is often lower than the cost bookstores offer. Amazon doesn't have to pay for store furniture, decorations, floor walkers, fancy buildings, etc. With lower operating costs per book and greater volume, Amazon can keep prices down. As my Aunt Irene used to say, "Ain't pretty, but it works." To attract book buyers, bookstores are going in the opposite direction. This doesn't seem to be working.
Sure, I can buy books directly from bookstore's websites. I can go to the Borders site, for example, look up some books, and buy them. However, if I'm going to buy books online, I'll probably buy them from Amazon.com. Bookstores offer a very different experience than online shopping, and I want bookstores to succeed. Thus, the advice I have is for getting more people to buy books in bookstores.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOOKSTORES
1. Employ e-book and web-based technologies.
Bookstores need to use the new technologies, not resist them. I'm specifically referring to e-book readers. When I was at a Borders bookstore earlier this week, I checked out the Sony e-book readers they had for sale. I was pretty impressed. The sample models were preloaded with long excerpts from about 15 books. They were firmly attached to the counter, so I couldn't pick them up, much less walk around with them. While playing with them, I glanced around the store. Against nearly every wall and in every corner, I saw people sitting in comfy chairs reading books. They could browse the shelves, pick up a book, carry it to a chair, and read. I couldn't do any of that with the e-book readers being displayed. That got me thinking about sales possibilities and buyer behavior.
People in bookstores like to browse books, pull out a selected title, and read a few pages. If they like what they read, they will buy the book. Unfortunately, they are limited to the books on the shelves, which might not be what people want. For example, I wanted to look at books on building tree houses. None were available on the shelves. (I was referred to the local hardware store!) I wanted to flip through the 2009 Writer Watchdog. I couldn't do it. I wanted to read a few pages of Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates. Not available. Maybe I could look at Interpreter of Maladies, the first book by Jhumpa Lahiri. Same problem.
I understand that bookstores cannot stock every possible book in their databases. That's a given. But shouldn't I be able to look at them anyway, whether or not they are on the shelves? This is where e-book technologies can play an important role.
Here's the scenario I envision. I check out an e-book reader (for free, of course) from the service counter. The e-book reader is connected wirelessly to the bookstore's network. I walk over to the computer at the end of a bookshelf or the touch screen panel situated in a book rack. I search titles, check out authors, look at covers, and find a book that seems interesting. I punch in the number of the e-book reader I'm carrying, and the first 40 or 50 pages of the book are downloaded to the reader. I take the e-book reader to a soft chair, hook one leg over the armrest, and read. Maybe I find 10 books that look interesting. I download the excerpt from each.
(Why didn't I just browse through the e-book reader? E-book readers are black and white-currently. I want to see color covers, so I use the color computer monitor or panel.)
Two of these titles are sufficiently interesting that I want to buy them. I pull up the menu on the reader and add them to my shopping cart. When I'm done browsing, I hit the purchase button. According to the displayed information, one of the books is in the store and will be waiting for me at the main counter. The other book isn't available in the store, but it is in the warehouse. I can get it for a 10% discount. Would I like to buy it and have it mailed directly to me? Sure, I would!
(Why the 10% discount? First, if it's not in the store, then the corporate office has determined that it is not a book that is likely to have high volume. It's going to take up inventory space in the warehouse, and keeping inventory costs money. The discount encourages me to get it off their hands. Second, the discount helps justify the delay caused by shipping. Third, the discount also helps the store compete with Amazon.com prices. If I'm going to wait anyway, then the cost should be competitive. Otherwise, I will just buy it from Amazon.)
I can enter my credit card information and buy the two books through the e-book reader. If I don't want to enter my payment information through the reader, or if I want to pay cash, I take the e-book reader to the sales counter. The clerk scans the number of the reader and pulls up my purchase details. The first book is, indeed, waiting there for me. The clerk confirms that I want the other book, too. I do. I make my payment, get the first book, drop off the reader, and I'm done. I'm another happy bookstore customer.
2. Improve book searching at bookstores.
I'm referring to new semantic mapping technologies. When I enter a book title or author name, I should not only get specific search results, but also I should get a list of books that are related. (This is similar to how Pandora.com creates online music stations for users based on the user's musical selections.) If I am interested in a particular book or author, then the search engine should also recommend other selections. This will need to be far more in-depth than simple category searching currently available.
For example, if I enter the term "Sherlock Holmes," I should see titles of other books in the Sherlock Holmes series, other titles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, other mysteries with a lead male detective, books written in the same style, and books written around the same period. Instead of just books about Sherlock Holmes, I can browse a broad selection of books that are related by a comprehensive set of identifiers. I can hit the "more like this" or "not like this" buttons to further refine my search.
Eventually I get to Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. I have never thought of reading this book, but it fits my interests; I just didn't know it. "Ok," I think, "I'll check it out." I download it to my e-book reader, read 10 or 15 pages, and find that it does, indeed, interest me. I buy a book that otherwise I would never have thought to buy. I'm another happy bookstore customer.
3. Use print-on-demand (POD) technologies.
Print on demand can increase available selections while decreasing inventory costs. As my former managerial accounting professor said, "Inventory is bad." In the perfect world, a bookstore has no inventory. Exactly the right numbers of books are available, all the time, to meet customer demand. Of course, this is impossible. However, reducing warehouse inventory is possible by using POD.
Instead of warehousing 1,000 copies of a book in a central repository (or 25 copies for an independent bookstore), a bookstore only keeps enough books to meet expected demand for the next short period. This may be only 10 or 20 books if expected demand is low or unknown. The bookstore company (e.g., Borders) uses POD technologies to produce additional books as needed. Using POD technologies, short runs of books can be produced very quickly. Even 1 book can be economically produced using POD.
For large runs of books, over 1,000, for example, offset (i.e., traditional) printing is usually more cost effective. A new book by Stephen King should be printed with offset printing. The books will be on bookstore shelves, not in inventory, and will sell fairly rapidly. Inventory costs are not the same problem as they will be for less well-known authors or less popular topics. By using POD, bookstores can maintain a very small inventory (or none) of most books and have the books printed when they are demanded. Through POD, a book can be produced overnight.
Think about the first scenario above. I find a book I want, but it is not in the store. I can buy it and have it shipped to me. What I don't know is that the book isn't in inventory, either. All I know, all I need to know, is that the book will be shipped to me tomorrow. When I buy the book, the order is submitted, the book is printed that evening, and the next day it is shipped.
Bookstore companies can go about this process two ways. First, the bookstore company can license the right to print the books at its own facilities. The book will be the exact same book that the publisher would have printed: same ISBN, same cover, same everything. The bookstore is not the publisher-only the printer. This may be costly at first, but it will allow the bookstore to sell books efficiently without having to put in a buy order to the publisher or deal with "middle-man" costs and inefficiencies. The major costs will be incurred by the purchase and set-up of the printing technologies, as well as personnel to operate and manage the process.
The second way to do this is less expensive but also less efficient. Major bookstores can give preferential treatment to those publishers that employ POD, thus encouraging publishers to create this possibility. The corporate book buyer can then send an order to the publisher requesting 5 copies of a book. Normally, the publisher would laugh at such a request because it uses offset printing. However, a publisher that uses POD can do it, and the books will be ready tomorrow.
If the bookstore wants to keep books in inventory to reduce order and delivery costs, it can use a kanban system in conjunction with POD to keep books available while keeping inventory costs at a minimum. A kanban system uses a "pull" process to initiate the creation or purchase of a product. When only a specific number of books remain in inventory, an order is placed, and more books are printed. Here's how this works.
Let's say the bookstore anticipates selling 7 copies of a book per week, or approximately 1 per day. Some days, 2 copies are sold, but never more than 9 books in any week and never more than 4 books in 3 days. Let's also say that books can be printed and delivered in 3 days, which is nearly impossible with traditional printing but simple with POD. Then, using the kanban system, when only 4 books are in inventory (the maximum that will be sold between the time of the order and the time of the delivery), the company places an order for another 9 books. This way, just when the inventory has no more books from the previous order, the next order arrives.
A bookstore can order 1,000 copies of a book. Some will be sold right away, but others will sit in inventory for a long time. Using print on demand publishing and a kanban system, many small orders are placed. Inventory is kept at a minimum, costs are reduced, and the books are always available when demanded. As the book shopper, I get the book I want, either right now or in a few days. I'm another happy bookstore customer.
LOOKING AHEAD
That's it. Those are my recommendations for keeping bookstores alive and valuable to book buyers. My hope is that when I'm 80 years old, I won't be heard saying, "When I was younger, we could go to an actual place where books were sold. It was called a bookstore. Gosh, I miss those days."
David Bowman, Owner and Chief Editor of Precise Edit, wrote this article.
David Bowman is the Owner and Chief Editor of Precise Edit, a comprehensive editing, proofreading, and document analysis service for authors, students, and businesses. Precise Edit also offers a variety of other services, such as translation, transcription, and website development.