Friday 27 November 2009

Another year over, another closing-down sale

This time last year, the vultures who normally couldn't afford to shop there but liked their stuff fell upon the stricken furniture cum ornamental knick-knacks store the Pier as it folded and everything in it was sold off cheap.

I know, I was one of them. I have a collection of tasteful throws to show for it.

This year, starting tomorrow, people who normally couldn't afford to shop there will have the chance to fall upon the stricken book and magazine cum stationery store Borders which has gone into receivership this week and begins a sale at all its shops on Saturday.

Yes, you will be able to snap up cheap Christmas gifts. But how long can this 'good news' go on? I never understand why people think capitalism is efficient, progressive, etc., when we see things like this happen.

That carefully built up brand and company ethos wiped out, its workforce forced onto the dole, the disruption, the everything must go sales. We're told business is like evolution, the fit will survive. Competition forces businesses to be efficient, innnovative, yada yada yada. It all looks like a bloody big waste of time, resources and human effort to me. No wonder a few tears are shed over it as well.

I can't muster the enthusiasm to go and pick over the remains this time. Perhaps it's just been one of those years.

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