Australia’s Minister for Small Business Nick Sherry said in a speech in Canberra today that he believes it is “inevitable” that online shopping would wipe out general bookstores within five years, leaving only specialist shops in capital cities. Sherry’s comments, which took place at a private sector initiative designed to encourage small business owners to boost their online presence, come in the midst of REDGroup Retail’s ongoing bankruptcy and the selloff or shutdown of various Borders and Angus & Robertson stores in the country. Steve Belton, manager of the Paperchain Bookstore at Manuka, told the Sydney Morning Herald he was […]
