When superstore bookseller Borders came to Carlton Australia, local independent bookstores feared business would go down 15-30 percent, as it has elasewhere where Borders entered the market. But after a few months business is down only one percent. Why? One theory is that there’s a new kind of customer developing – the “neo-consumer.” These are people who are looking for public spaces to connect with. “Many people are seeking a home away from home, a place to hang out, and they are finding it in cosy bookshops, cafes and bars.”