How Barnes & Noble Copy-Pasted a Turnaround

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  • Опубліковано 16 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 102

  • @thespenserdavis
    @thespenserdavis 15 днів тому +61

    As someone who grew up on B&N, and is a HUGE fan of physical media, I'm so glad to see them reimagine how they operate in order to best serve their local readers.

  • @CarnifaxMachine
    @CarnifaxMachine 17 днів тому +48

    I'm rooting for them. We need more books in our culture; fewer screens, scrolling, and algo-content.

    • @WhatsWrongWithTheStreet
      @WhatsWrongWithTheStreet 13 днів тому +1

      I never really made the jump to Kindle. I have read some books on it, but I love the wonderful smell and feel of paper. I like the weight of it in my hands. You don't get that in a plastic frame and touchscreen.

    • @k1ng_chicken
      @k1ng_chicken 3 дні тому

      Heck yeah!

  • @nildamager1649
    @nildamager1649 9 місяців тому +82

    Love my Local Barnes and Noble. I believe that each store should have their own unique store

  • @ziff_1
    @ziff_1 Місяць тому +88

    Not surprising. America is sick to death of corporate bullsh!t.

    • @t0dd000
      @t0dd000 15 днів тому +15

      It's still corporate. But _corporate_ can still be innovative and responsive if led well.

    • @user-in1yw9ty5t
      @user-in1yw9ty5t 5 днів тому

      Like onions with their own f shelves and packaging. Idk what i just said

  • @BibBubDude
    @BibBubDude 21 день тому +20

    The Barnes and noble where I live in Lafayette Louisiana is ALWAYS popping. Especially on the weekends.

  • @ElJorro
    @ElJorro 18 днів тому +25

    I thought that Barnes and Noble was stuffy back in the day but now I love it! Support Physical Media!

  • @theghd2020
    @theghd2020 13 днів тому +5

    Went to B&N yesterday and have never seen it so busy. I know I was there because a lot of hardcovers were 50% off, so do whatever keeps making your parking lot full.

  • @johnchoi8748
    @johnchoi8748 9 місяців тому +146

    I think each Barnes and Noble should have there own design and unique style. This would attract even more tourists! I should be managing for them. Hahaha

    • @bellthebooknerd
      @bellthebooknerd 8 місяців тому +10

      Trust me, all the employees also agree

    • @drea409
      @drea409 18 днів тому +1

      Yes! Besides, if it's in print, you can always order something if you're looking for a specific title they don't have in stock. I've been ordering books with them (in person) since before it was common to order online. Love spending a day there

    • @Sujowi
      @Sujowi 16 днів тому

      I am sure they prefer customers who buy books and stuff…not tourists!

    • @darth_kal-el
      @darth_kal-el 13 днів тому +1

      That’s literally what they are doing. Do some research

    • @darth_kal-el
      @darth_kal-el 13 днів тому

      @@bellthebooknerdfunny have you talked to an employee in the last 5 years? Because that’s what they are doing?

  • @sophmore90
    @sophmore90 14 днів тому +10

    I worked for Borders for 15 years before they went under. This is what we did with our stores except on a smaller scale. Borders problem was Amazon and not embracing the internet soon enough. The rest is history and so was the company.

    • @stevesmith291
      @stevesmith291 13 днів тому

      @@sophmore90 B&N also had to complete with Amazon and were also late with their Internet store.

  • @simonpusateri3527
    @simonpusateri3527 17 днів тому +10

    I mostly go to The Book Loft here in Columbus, but I recently stopped at a Barnes and Noble when I was out of town and was pleasantly surprised and impressed

  • @matthew-m7t
    @matthew-m7t 14 днів тому +36

    PLEASE!!!! Let's not forget our independent booksellers.

    • @charlesajones77
      @charlesajones77 13 днів тому +6

      The problem with small independent booksellers is that they almost never have what I'm looking for. I went into one looking for Discworld books, a VERY well known and popular fantasy series with 41 books. They didn't have a single one. At least not that I could find. The owner was on the phone the whole time I was there so I couldn't even ask.

    • @5Gburn
      @5Gburn 5 днів тому

      ​@@charlesajones77Well this is disheartening.

    • @k1ng_chicken
      @k1ng_chicken 3 дні тому

      The problem is, there are none. Unless you live in a very large city.

  • @citydweller99
    @citydweller99 7 днів тому +2

    Each Barnes and Noble should have a regional flare in their store design.

  • @clarkkent7973
    @clarkkent7973 13 днів тому +3

    The secret in my area to Barnes and Noble's success is jigsaw puzzles.

  • @e815usa
    @e815usa 7 місяців тому +34

    They also own a ton of college campus bookstores!

    • @BacklogBattle
      @BacklogBattle 2 місяці тому +8

      Barnes and Noble Education, which runs Barnes and Noble College, is a separate company from Barnes and Noble the bookstore. This separation happened in 2015, which turned BNED into a public company. Totally different owners.

    • @priscillajimenez27
      @priscillajimenez27 7 днів тому

      I noticed that

  • @bighuge1060
    @bighuge1060 11 днів тому +2

    The main thing that turned me off of places like B&N and Borders were the people sitting in the scattered chairs treating the store like a library. When buying a new book, getting one that showed signs of use was a major turn off. That being written, I'm glad B&N has turned things around. The Books a Billion (I think that was its name) was a very large book store by us that closed in 2024 and it was very sad to see that happen. What was equally sad was the light customer traffic it had when it was located next to a heavily-trafficked Walmart.

  • @mattlaw1350
    @mattlaw1350 10 днів тому +2

    They are not just selling books. They are selling the experience, the service. Book readers like the environment and browsing.

  • @henryktocoaching
    @henryktocoaching 17 днів тому +6

    One of my favorite hangout places

  • @ryancuprak6967
    @ryancuprak6967 6 днів тому +1

    I had wondered what had changed! No wonder why I walked out with books! Then a couple of weeks ago I discovered that there was a NEW Barnes and Noble nearby.

  • @casper_z1259
    @casper_z1259 11 днів тому +3

    RIP Borders. Always in our hearts❤.

  • @JasonParmenter
    @JasonParmenter 13 днів тому +4

    Don't like B&N either, I favor used book stores, libraries or local resellers. There's a guy where I live who only opens his store at 5 and close it at 8, because it's his side hustle 😂 Amazing stuff in there, and he let's me haggle too. Sold a lot of books to him.

  • @VinnyTheory
    @VinnyTheory 13 днів тому +2

    Barnes and Noble needs to see this comment section

  • @MisterChris1978
    @MisterChris1978 15 днів тому +2

    ifyou have a local book store and the vibe is right, patron it. But if you don't and the B&N nearby, make a trip. By physical, buy in person, enjoy the coffee.

  • @kelliecook736
    @kelliecook736 День тому

    One of my local bookstores got shot down. I don’t think it’s just Amazon, it’s the lack of reading, audiobooks, and ebooks. Personally, I don’t read like should and when I do, I’ve added books on my Amazon wishlist but now this makes me want to go to local bookstores, that doesn’t include Barnes and Noble though.

  • @harveyepstein8256
    @harveyepstein8256 13 днів тому +2

    books are the ultimate decoration

  • @TJPoppy
    @TJPoppy 9 днів тому +1

    What a relief! ❤ 📚 📚

  • @benjaminbraaten6338
    @benjaminbraaten6338 20 днів тому +1

    They used to have a store in Downtown Downtown Mpls. We need one back, this new model would work well. Especially in North Loop

  • @jdmregal
    @jdmregal 21 день тому +4

    Great in theory, but in some shops, you get a top-down model. In some stores, I've actually found less variety than before.

    • @WhatsWrongWithTheStreet
      @WhatsWrongWithTheStreet 13 днів тому +2

      I noted the lack of diversity on the political books table leading up to the election. All the books were by democrats and no diverse opinion was to be found. Maybe there is something to be said for objectivity.

    • @priscillajimenez27
      @priscillajimenez27 7 днів тому +2

      ​@@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet sounds like target store too

  • @greatgirl22302
    @greatgirl22302 15 днів тому +1

    I truly appreciate the amount of puns in this.

  • @MAFion
    @MAFion 20 днів тому +3

    "My, how the turntables have ..... turned." - Austin Powers

  • @amyz673
    @amyz673 13 днів тому +1

    Hate the new layout and miss the discounted oddball section that used to be at the front. Ultimately this place is uber overpriced. Rarely go there anymore.

  • @Buckseed
    @Buckseed Місяць тому +7

    The Barnes and Nobles in Beaverton, OR looks like walking into a gift shop as u come through the entrance. A big change for sure.

  • @Dragoon91786
    @Dragoon91786 11 днів тому +1

    For those curious, they basically copy and pasted bookstores like Powell's here in Portland, Oregon. 🤣

  • @catt3911
    @catt3911 12 днів тому +1

    I love audiobooks, now if you can disrupt that market, oh yeah…. But this is cool too.

  • @pikkdogs
    @pikkdogs 12 днів тому +2

    Barnes and noble did do some stuff on their own, but the reason that they are still in business is Tik-tok.

  • @isaacmartinez6904
    @isaacmartinez6904 9 місяців тому +5

    Barnes and Nobels is my favorite place to go. Mostly to buy Criterion movies and going to their cafe (varies on what location).
    Sometimes I buy books there.

  • @dungeonmaster16
    @dungeonmaster16 14 днів тому

    To further improve this and idk if do it now but let staff curate book selections and have specific spot. This helps grab eyes on book title and if customers is interested and staff member that curate it is around they can help out be more details on book or similar titles.
    B&N issue prior to this was it very extremely corporate. TBH it still is overall but at least they trying to make the place more inviting for ppl to take time to get out and visit then order online.

    • @catt3911
      @catt3911 12 днів тому +1

      They are currently doing this.

  • @franciseylim11
    @franciseylim11 14 днів тому +1

    Where are the algebra and trig books? I can’t find it…!!

    • @michaeldeierhoi4096
      @michaeldeierhoi4096 14 днів тому +1

      Talk to the store workers who can find anything or order it for you!!

    • @catt3911
      @catt3911 12 днів тому +1

      They left those to Amazon. They are very niche unless you’re on a college campus.

    • @catt3911
      @catt3911 12 днів тому

      They left those to Amazon. Those are very niche unless you’re on a college campus.

    • @franciseylim11
      @franciseylim11 12 днів тому +2

      @@catt3911 so u mean, college books only can found in Amazon unless B&N near to campus?

    • @catt3911
      @catt3911 12 днів тому +1

      @ no, the algebra and med books etc. they are only carrying man stream books for the most part now. They did a whole thing on it. It’s all very localized now.

  • @rbowdenscipio3408
    @rbowdenscipio3408 20 днів тому +20

    No mention of the change in CEO being the reason for the chabge in strategy. Poor video.

    • @starstriker1881
      @starstriker1881 16 днів тому +1

      Change

    • @rbowdenscipio3408
      @rbowdenscipio3408 16 днів тому +4

      @@starstriker1881 Given that I wrote it correctly at the first use, I assume readers will be able to self-correct the error of the second. Particularly since they are so well lined up in the text.
      I could edit my comment, but I'd prefer to not be one of *those* people.

  • @ccutehoney
    @ccutehoney 14 днів тому +2

    You got the information about the Reston , VA location wrong. that Barnes and moved has been there for over 20 years 😂😂

    • @stevesmith291
      @stevesmith291 14 днів тому

      I’m seeing news articles saying that the Reston B&N opened in 2023 after being closed for over 10 years.

    • @ccutehoney
      @ccutehoney 14 днів тому

      @ i was there 5 years ago 😂😂

    • @stevesmith291
      @stevesmith291 13 днів тому

      @@ccutehoney The B&N website has a press release that announces the opening of the new Reston store June 15 2023.

  • @henny_ricky
    @henny_ricky 14 днів тому +1

    The phrasing and formatting in this video really suggests that Barnes & Noble's shift in business strategy just coincidentally occurred shortly after an increase in printed book sales and the rise of social media book trends. Truthfully, the brand's recent success is very much a direct capitalization on those social media trends. We're giving Barnes & Noble a little too much credit here without actually showing any data on whether the decentralization strategy impacted public perception at all or had any direct correlation with the increase in printed book sales independent of the social media effect. Or, if the strategy actually was decentralization as opposed to an IRL reflection of the greater social media book community. I'm not against Barnes & Noble and I'm glad that the concept of the independent bookstore is thriving. But in my opinion, this self-congratulatory performance assessment is not a very insightful or helpful or comprehensive business case study.

  • @Playdeadbesmart
    @Playdeadbesmart 18 днів тому +5

    All I know is I hate amazon

  • @Sonu_sonu23
    @Sonu_sonu23 5 днів тому

    I love barns and Nobel
    I love the one in reston. It’s hugeeeee

  • @ndotl
    @ndotl 18 днів тому +2

    I think I have bought my last book at Amazon.

  • @ommanipadmehung3014
    @ommanipadmehung3014 7 місяців тому +20

    What are the chances of these book haulers reading the 80 books or so they just bought in this social media performance? Basically nothing given the attention spans of most of us these days. so basically they made their way out of the mess through tik Tok turning book hauls into something you can show off for everyone to see even though most of those books will enevr ven have theirnfirst page opened. More mindless debt plunging consumerism. What a joke humanity has become.

    • @evolunacy2
      @evolunacy2 Місяць тому +6

      I was just watching a video talking about booktok influencers, and how some of them SKIM descriptive parts of books to get to the dialogue!🤦🏻‍♀️😭

    • @scepticalbeliever
      @scepticalbeliever 20 днів тому +3

      ​@@evolunacy2lol maybe they should stick to comic books then

  • @gnuemacs1166
    @gnuemacs1166 20 днів тому +4

    They’ve closed and downsized a lot of stores

    • @californianorma876
      @californianorma876 14 днів тому +1

      That is my recollection 😡 I only shop at locally owned bookstores.

  • @k1ng_chicken
    @k1ng_chicken 3 дні тому

    This is really cool! Barnes & Noble is rad!

  • @JimmiAlli
    @JimmiAlli День тому

    I like the cafe. ❤

  • @Pokucollector
    @Pokucollector 5 днів тому

    I've read almost 100 books the past three years. I've bought zero from Barnes. However, I'll go every once in a while to browse. I use the library and collect the books I like. Just never buy from Barnes because there are always better deals elsewhere.

  • @GeoMeridium
    @GeoMeridium 18 днів тому +6

    I personally am very disappointed by the redesign, and I don't see myself going back to
    The labyrinth of niche books, coffee shop, places to read, where my mother worked online, were the things that made Borders and Barnes and Noble my favorite places as a homeschooled kid.
    Small bookstores lack variety, and quiet places to read.
    I guess the library is the only place left for this.

    • @rje1630
      @rje1630 17 днів тому +3

      Yeah I really hate the redesign as well. It feels somewhat...corporate and flat, which is ironic given the whole premise of their success is an alleged rejection of this

    • @donkeysaurusrex7881
      @donkeysaurusrex7881 16 днів тому

      They’ve seemed more corporate to me in recent years. Very much a slanted selection of books from a political point of view that is highly out of step with local voting. I’ve often wondered as I see some of these books rot on the shelf just who they thought would buy this stuff.

    • @t0dd000
      @t0dd000 15 днів тому

      It's store to store. My favorite bookstore served complimentary coffee and folks lingered and read and worked on the couches and small tables.
      One of the BnN's near me has a nice cafe and places to read and work all over the place. The most local bookstore to me is half bookstore and half lunch counter. Always vibrant with people reading and working.
      Libraries are great. My local library has a study room (mandatory quiet) which I use quite a bit.

    • @5Gburn
      @5Gburn 5 днів тому

      From a business perspective, the library should be the ONLY place for this. Last time I went to a B&N I was meeting a friend for coffee. No browsing was done, no book sale. It's by design because at a coffee shop, when you're done with your coffee, you leave. When you're done relaxing on the couch, you leave. Bad decision on B&N's part to begin with.

    • @t0dd000
      @t0dd000 5 днів тому

      @5Gburn By your description, B&N just made additionally income where normally they wouldn't have.

  • @priscillajimenez27
    @priscillajimenez27 7 днів тому

    I always liked Barnes and Noble.

  • @skywriter9359
    @skywriter9359 12 днів тому

    Too bad they didn’t include bathrooms in nyc

  • @rosewelsh4634
    @rosewelsh4634 13 днів тому +1

    I am glad to see that my local B&N did not die. The new model is working BUT they need give their employees a livable wage and hours. They are still based in the old model here. If they did have a better employee package I'd be working there in a heartbeat. I need somewhere to use my useless college degree.
    Also, they took all the chairs out of my store. While i can sit at the coffee shop tables, the chairs are horrible. I know that comfy chairs allow people to treat the store like a reading library, but not having them keeps people like me from gathering a stack of books to look through, compare, and chose. I can't sit on the floor, I'm too old. I think a compromise would work. Tall standing tables that allow people to stand and semi-relax with a stack of books to peruse. Have them dotted throughout the store.
    So.... I can do without the comfy chairs, though, if they treated their employees better. That's my top priority. Wish I had a say.

    • @Bigwave2003
      @Bigwave2003 12 днів тому

      I stopped going to B&N because there were too many people stretched out on comfy chairs and couches with their shoes off and a stack of a dozen books next to them. It's a bookstore, not a sloppy dorm room. Have some consideration of others. There's not always multiple copies of every book available.

    • @5Gburn
      @5Gburn 5 днів тому

      Yes, it is all about you and your job needs. 🙄 I don't disagree on the wage wishes, per se, but higher wages equals fewer markdowns equals more sales to the competition.
      B&N is probably not the best employment strategy, anyway. Certainly not long-term.

  • @rachelrenee79
    @rachelrenee79 10 днів тому

    I think Covid had a lot to do with the surgence in reading.

  • @whitb62
    @whitb62 12 днів тому

    Pretty easy to make an enormous profit when you’re paying your employees $11 an hour in 2025…

  • @WhatsWrongWithTheStreet
    @WhatsWrongWithTheStreet 13 днів тому

    Letting local managers subjectively pick the books is the reason, in the run up to the election, a table at my local B&N was stacked with books by democrats and that's all. No table for diverse views and opinion.

  • @ranjeetalata7770
    @ranjeetalata7770 15 днів тому +1

    What about barnes and no❌❌❌