Two things are certain. It's natural to feel the urge to think this might be a solid opportunity for long-term investors. Whether you're destined to be a hero or a goat, it's probably best for bottom-fishers to practice their art quietly and not with their rent money. For the moment, though, there appears to be something of a disconnect between the economy and the financial markets. With the stock market in dire straits and the pace of layoffs mounting, it's hardly surprising that consumer confidence is on the skids too.
News Imagine the typical college classroom of a few years hence.
Instead of loading up with pounds and pounds of printed textbooks and instructors' assigned materials at the college bookstore, students will simply purchase and download their semesters' books onto their e-readers. You have to give them a reason to be there, something that they get out of being a member. The mistakes by now are well known. Only if they see a clear benefit will they do it. If it all works as planned, expect your customer acquisition costs to plunge and retention rates to surge.