While bookstore giant Borders declares bankruptcy, independent bookstores don’t automatically benefit from this news. In fact, stores have been running advertisements saying that they will honour any Borders gift certificates, yet no one has bothered to take this advantage. After many years of waiting out for the enemy to collapse, the independent bookstores still haven’t received any particular edge.

This is mainly due to ebooks. To put it bluntly, “The Internet is killing [the book industry]”. Every store is now struggling, and even with price-cuts and honouring other bookstore’s credit isn’t simply working out anymore

Unfortunately, technology nowadays is too convenient. One can just sit in a living room, do nothing, and still buy a book. Amazon.com and other online retailers can offer more selection at lower prices, and unless bookstores can offer something more than just books and coffee, they will too close soon.

The harsh reality is that businesses are converting into electronic formats, and books are a popular example where it has been so successful. Perhaps the only method of bookstores still working is to sell it’s own electronic version of books along with physical copies to survive.

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While it is understandable various companies wish to maximize its’ revenues, the News of the World pushes the limits too far as it authorizes its editors to hack into various phones for information.  However, the company’s most heinous action is tampering with a kidnapped girl’s—Milly Dowler—phone. Not only has the company illegally obtained the information to sensationalize their story, it has also obstructed with justice by deleting phone messages that are probable evidence for the crime. Finally, it has also caused considerable heartache to Milly’s family and friends who have believed that she is still alive at first. Once the scandal has exploded, advertisers withdraw and finally resulted in the closure of the tabloid.

Now saddled with an infamous reputation, the News of the World has lost its branding. Consumers nowadays are not only concerned with the results, but also how a company justly obtains these results. By condoning illegal actions, the company has brought its own ruin as it aggressively pursues greater profit and forgets how its image will be perceived by the public. While revenue is important, companies should encourage sales to be made in an honest way to bolster the reputation of the product.