Following Monday’s closure of Waterstones stores across the UK, competitor WH Smith will close approximately 60 percent of their high street bookstores as well. Initially the company resisted closing any locations, with employees complaining about the risks to the media (“It’s putting the general public and ourselves at risk. We don’t want to be there, but we feel like we have to”). But after a televised address by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday night, the chain announced it would close many stores, while keeping open locations that provide Post Office services and other key support functions: “At this critical […]
Bookstores
Strand Bookstore Lays Off “The Majority” of Staff
The Strand Bookstore laid off “the majority of our staff” due to store closures caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Owner Nancy Bass Wyden wrote in a statement, “In order to preserve The Strand as a business, with no revenue coming in and no clear idea as to when we can reopen our doors, we have had to temporarily lay off the majority of our staff.” As of late 2018 the store employed over 230 people, and PW says the layoffs affected 188 people. The store closed a week before the New York state government mandate that went to effect Sunday […]
Waterstones to Close All UK Branches On Monday
Waterstones announced Sunday that it will close all 280 UK stores at the end of the business day on Monday, after a few workers had complained to the Guardian that few safety precautions were being observed. CEO James Daunt announced the news in an internal email at 4:00 PM Sunday (UK time) — only four afters after vowing that the stores would remain open until the government forced a closure. He made the decision “with great regret” and acknowledged “having heard from many booksellers that they feel obliged to continue to work as long as the shops are open.” Daunt […]
Bookstore Layoffs: Barnes & Noble Warns Workers, Layoffs at Tattered Cover and Posman’s
Barnes & Noble ceo James Daunt wrote to employees with what he intended as an “extremely honest, straight-forward and unvarnished representation of the situation.” Cutbacks are already underway at the head office, both in personnel and expenses, as part of “substantial reductions in cost.” He notes, “Everything is about trying to support and sustain stores.” So far “customers are proving loyal to us and clearly appreciate that we remain open. Our sales have declined, but well within what we need to remain profitable.” Kid’s book sales “have improved” and “obviously online is doing exceptionally well” but other areas have suffered, […]
Status Reports: Amazon Delays Replenishment of Non-Essentials, Indigo Closes Stores, French Publishers Postpone Releases, and More
Amazon told third-party sellers in the US and EU who use their distribution centers for Fulfillment by Amazon that the company is “temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so that we can more quickly receive, restock, and ship these products to customers.” They have disabled new shipments and replenishment to their warehouses of other products through April 5 . The notice said, “We are taking a similar approach with retail vendors,” and that is reinforced in a general press release. (In the case of retail vendors for non-prioritized goods, they are […]
Author Donations Back A Second BINC Fundraiser
After garnering donations of over $44,000 during their first matching gift challenge, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation has secured pledges for another $41,000 in matching funds for a new round of gifts. Garth Stein, Tui Sutherland, and Amor Towles have combined their gifts for that match pool. Sutherland says, “I am so grateful for bookstores and the booksellers who have supported me — as an author, a reader, and above all as a mom of two bookworms — so we want to do anything we can to show them our love and support right now, when so many really need […]