An April 25 posting from CFO.com alludes to Alibris IPO experience, marking the second time in less than a week such an article has surfaced. The article discusses the cost of IPO printing costs and is a tad esoteric for the non-market follower. I figured, though, that given the recent article posted here this one was also worth a post.
EBay, even independent of its subsidiary Half.com, has long been a leader in the online book business. Although, many traditional booksellers scoff at this market (mostly out of a vacuous hubris or an antiquated ideal), it remains a preferred venue for some sellers. The magnanimous volume of consumers browsing the site’s contents makes it an appealing outlet for any merchant. However, with a continued slow down in book sales, along with new fee structures, and auction alternatives many sellers find themselves turning away from eBay and as a recent article notes, booksellers are not the only ones reevaluating their options.
The issues surrounding the failed Alibris IPO last year have become infused with rumors and speculation among booksellers (Wiki: IPO). Therefore, I was delighted (and surprised) when Reuters featured Alibris CEO Manley in a recent article about auction vs. traditional IPOs. No mention of future plans of course. I am hoping someone steps up and infuses some practical business knowledge into this company before we lose one of the greats. Perhaps we can reference Mr. Manley to last months post about a self-taught MBA (title: The Useless MBA).
