Powell’s Books announced that it had completed what it called a “final round of layoffs,” which have cut its staff by about 20 percent over the last year. The company did not indicate how many jobs were eliminated in this round. ILWU Local 5 representative Myka Dubay told Willamette Week that within the past year Powell’s has laid off 40 union employees and approximately 20 people in management. “These decisions have been extremely difficult, and we recognize their impact on our employees,” Powell’s owner and president Emily Powell said in a release. “With this final round complete, our focus shifts […]
Bookstores
BAM CEO Discusses Store Growth, Consumer Demographics
In the latest issue of the Open Book podcast, Open Road ceo David Steinberger talks with Books-A-Million ceo Terry Finley about how their customers have changed over the years, the chain’s growth, and what’s selling in their stores—and what’s not. Finley said that the biggest change in books retail over the past few decades is the customer. BAM’s core demographic, he said, “was a 45-year-old woman, married with two children, college education, decent family income.” Now, it’s “much younger”—18-40 and majority female. The books that drive the retail market have changed too. While major tentpole authors like Dan Brown and […]
Barnes & Noble Plans to Open 60 Stores in 2026
Barnes & Noble plans to open another 60 new stores across the US in 2026. New locations will include stores in Ohio, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Washington state, California, Virginia, Georgia and Washington DC. They write in a release, “Barnes & Noble is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful.” CEO James Daunt told the BBC they opened 67 new stores in 2025 (though, as usual, some locations were closed as well). In 2024, they opened 57 new stores, and acquired three Tattered Cover […]
New CEO Joins Powell’s
Powell’s Books in Portland has hired David Maquera as ceo, taking over from Patrick Bassett who stepped down in September after 5 years with the bookseller, the Portland Business Journal reports. Powell’s declined to comment to the outlet on the leadership transition. Oddly, according to union representative for ILWU Local 5 Myka Dubay, Maquera joined the bookseller back in September. Dubay reports “that Maquera has not attended any of the regular meetings between union representatives and the company and declined an introduction between union representatives and himself.” The company has laid off more than two dozen employees in recent months, citing […]
Barnes & Noble Partners With A24 On Branded Stores
Barnes & Noble is partnering with A24 to bring “the A24 Shop Experience” to nine B&N locations this week, “with more locations” to be added next year. Participating stores are located in LA, New York, Seattle, Orlando, inside Minnesota’s Mall of America, and more. The space will feature books from the studio’s publishing arm, launched in 2019, plus “products inspired by its IP from Blu-rays and Vinyl to collectibles and exclusive merchandise.” “Storytelling has always been at the heart of Barnes & Noble, and we’re thrilled to partner with A24, the home for storytelling on screen,” said Barnes & Noble […]
Powell’s Books Lays Off Staff
Powell’s Books in Portland has laid off staff, reports Oregon Live, “bringing the total to more than two dozen employees in the past four months.” The latest round included 13 employees across a number of roles. The bookstore did not specify which departments were downsized. “As with many businesses right now, we’re seeing expenses rise faster than sales,” Powell’s wrote in a statement earlier this week. “This has been an ongoing challenge since the pandemic, and while we’ve taken many steps to grow revenue and control costs, this most recent action was an unfortunate but necessary step to help ensure […]