On the Read Smart podcast from the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction, Barnes & Noble ceo James Daunt and Grove Atlantic ceo and publisher Morgan Entrekin discussed how the last 18 months affected their businesses, selling books across the political divide, and how young adults enjoy physical books. As always, Daunt was positive about how B&N has fared during the pandemic, noting that sales went up greatly after the store closures in the first months of lockdowns. Entrekin said that Grove Atlantic’s decision to not move most of their books out of the spring and summer in 2020 “cut both […]
Bookstores
Bookselling: MIT Press Bookstore to Reopen In New Space
Closed since spring 2020, the MIT Press Bookstore will reopen on Tuesday, September 7, at a new location at 314 Main Street in Cambridge, MA. It shares a building with the MIT Museum, a cafe, and various other tenants, as part of the “reimagined MIT Kendall Gateway.” The store sells “an extensive section of academic and general interest titles by other publishers in related fields” alongside materials from the press. Manager of the MIT Press Bookstore Clarissa Murphy says in the announcement, “This move has been many years in planning, and we are thrilled to finally be opening our doors […]
Bookselling: Two New Barnes & Noble Locations
Barnes & Noble opens two new stores on Wednesday, both relatively compact in size. The splashier launch is in Raleigh, NC, for the previously-announced 10,400-square-foot store in the Village District. Author Delia Owens will officially cut the ribbon to open the store and meet fans. The release praises the “leadership of manager Jen Curtis, a 22-year veteran of Barnes & Noble stores in the Carolinas” and says “the store is the first to be opened by Barnes & Noble in the Raleigh area in 18 years.” As we have observed in the past, the company continues its odd belief that […]
Bookselling Math
Barnes & Noble ceo James Daunt told PW that the chain’s sales are “up about 5% to 6% so far this year, compared to 2019, with book sales up by double digits.” To put that in context, given BN’s long steady decline prior to Daunt’s tenure, sales look to have come back to a point slightly ahead of where they were in 2018, and still well below the levels in 2017 and 2016. That recovery has also lagged the overall market, as the pandemic lifted online book sales and hurt physical outlets. When BN was publicly traded their reporting periods […]
Greenlight Bookstore Union Wins Recognition
Owners of Greenlight Bookstores and Yours Truly stationery stores in New York have recognized their employees’ union, and the parties will now negotiate a contract. Approximately 40 workers who handle sales, stocking, and information services join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents employees from other New York indie bookstores. “I’m excited to be an RWDSU member, especially during this wave of unionization efforts happening across the country! I’m proud to work alongside people who are committed to supporting each other and our collective well-being. It’s time that Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly Brooklyn workers are empowered […]
A Late Price Increase for Gorman Book, And A Plan from Viking to Honor Early Pre-Orders
Earlier this week Viking increased the price of Amanda Gorman’s forthcoming poetry collection CALL US WHAT WE CARRY to $24.99, up from $19.99 when it was first announced. (The ebook and audio prices remained the same.) A month ago, the publisher moved back the publication date from September 21 to December 7, and retitled the book. First announced in January, the collection enjoyed significant preorders and promotional campaigns from retailers at the original price point. Copper Dog Books in Beverly, MA is among the stores that ran a preorder campaign, encouraged by PRH, and co-owner Meg Wasmer was happy to […]