Breathing life back into bookstores is a passion of James Daunt, the latest in a string of CEO’s tasked with helping Barnes & Noble make a comeback.
Daunt’s strategy centers around decentralized purchasing and granting store managers freedom to choose a look and feel that caters to local residents and draws customers in. He is fighting for the future of brick and mortar booksellers and is determined to win.
Video Spotlight:
- Bookshops begin new chapter with increased safety measures (Jun 29, 2020, Quest Means Business)
- Barnes & Noble’s Huseby: Preparing for Learn-From-Home Reality (Aug 25, 2020, Bloomberg Markets and Finance)
This post is based on the Fox Business article and video, Barnes & Noble’s new boss tries to save the chain – and traditional bookselling, by Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, December 5, 2020; the Forbes article, Will Barnes & Noble’s Next Chapter Be Its Last?, by Russell Raath, February 9, 2021; and the YouTube videos in the Spotlight. Image source: PIXTAL/AGE Fotostock
Discussion Questions:
1. How do Daunt’s new purchasing policies differ from those of the past?
Guidance: The strategies that grew Barnes & Noble into a huge success Continue reading