Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt Would Support Stores Selling AI Written Books. Here's Why - Today

The title grabs your attention, doesn't it?

Panzer found this post on the Today site.

 

The post is based on an interview with James Daunt, CEO of Barnes and Noble bookstore chain. Be sure to read the post all the way to the end to see exactly what he said.

 

 Panzer says, "The title might be upsetting for some people, so read the whole post."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for your snack. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble 

B&N Workers Ratify First Union Contracts at NYC Stores - Publishers Weekly

Two years. That's a long time

Today, Panzer's catnap was interrupted by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Jumping in the Panzermobile, our cute little kitty boy followed all the celebratory noises to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble's New York City bookstores' union was what was causing all the celebrating..

 

According to Ed Nawolka's post, three NYC Barnes and Noble bookstore employees have ratified contracts. The post includes links to other information about the union and the Barnes and Noble's contract negotiations.

Panzer says, "The post says it took two years to get to the contract vote."

.

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble Workers

Will the Diamond Bankruptcy Change the Comics Business Forever? - Publishers Weekly

A bankruptcy is never a good thing.

Today, Panzer found a post at the Publishers Weekly Daily site about the Diamond bankruptcy. 

 

If you're a comic books or graphic novels lover, you probably already know Diamond Comics Distributor filed for bankruptcy in January. Heidi MacDonald's post has quotes from several comic publishers and bookstore owners about how they're planning to deal with the bankruptcy fallout. Diamond distributed not only comics and graphic novels, but toys, games and collectibles too. The post includes links to other information about the bankruptcy.

 

Panzer says, "Mom said a few years ago a magazine distributor went bankrupt and some magazines went bankrupt because the distributor didn't pay them their money."

 

Note: This is a very long, long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Diamond Comics Distributor Bankruptcy

Five Years In at Barnes and Noble, James Daunt Says He's Not Done Yet - Publishers Weekly

He's got big plans for 2025.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There our intrepid traveling kitty found a post about Barnes and Noble (B&N) bookstores.

 

According to Jim Milliot's post, 2024 was a good year for Barnes and Noble bookstores. The post covers book sales, bookstores, authors, new bookstores, physical books, and CEO James Daunt's plans for 2025. Several links are included to other information about B&N.

 

Panzer says, "It's an interesting interview."

 

Note: This is a long medium length post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Profits, Sales Up at WH Smith in Fiscal 2024 - Publishers Weekly

I'm not sure what it all means about US readers.

Panzer found this post at the Publishers Weekly site. It's a post about UK bookshops WH Smith.

 

According to the post by Neill Denny, WH Smith's sales are doing so well and profits are increasing so the company plans to open more bookstores in North America. The stores will primarily open in US airports.

 

Panzer says,"Hmm ... Interesting development. UK's WH Smith bookstore chain is coming to join UK company owned Barnes and Noble bookstore chain in the US books sales market."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for your reading snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to WH Smith

B&N on Track to Open 60 Bookstores This Year - Publishers Weekly

It's been a long day.

It's been awhile since Panzer visited the Publishers Weekly site, so he decided to stop in there today. With no digging in the posts at all he found one about Barnes and Noble bookstores.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble plans to open 10 more stores in November. This will bring the total new stores to 60 for the year. The new store openings are due to Barnes and Noble's increased sales.

Panzer says, "The post says the new stores will have cafes."

Note: This is a long-short post. Bring a small cup of tea to drink while you read.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble Bookstores

Barnes & Noble Buys Denver'sTattered Cover Bookstores for $1.83 Million - Publishers Weekly

I got a headache just reading it.

Today at the Publishers Weekly site Panzer found news that Barnes and Noble has purchased the Tattered Cover bookstore chain. He told you a few days ago this was rumored to be happening.

 

According to the post by Ed Nawotka and Jim Milliot, through a rabbit warren of companies Barnes and Noble will be paying $1.83 Million for the four bookstore chain. Most of the current employees will be kept on.

 

Panzer says, "You'll need to read the post to see all the companies involved in the sale. Tie a piece of string to the title so you can find your back through all the different companies."

 

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a cup of tea, a muffin and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

 To read our previous post about the sale tootle over to Top Bidder for Tattered Cover 

Barnes and Noble Bookstore Opens Store in Kalispell - Flathead Beacon

That's a big turn-around.

Today at the Flathead Beacon site Panzer found a post about Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

 

 According to the post by the Flathead Beacon staff, Barnes and Noble opened a new bookstore today (January 31) in Kalispell, Montana. The post quotes from a press release about CEO James Daunt's pleasure in opening a new bookstore in the area. It also says Barnes and Noble intends to open 50 more stores this year.

Panzer says, "It wasn't that long ago Barnes and Noble didn't look like it would survive. Now, they're talking about opening 50 new stores."

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble Bookstore

Barnes & Noble Pushes Ahead in 2023 - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about Barnes and Noble bookstores.

 

It was a snowy Christmas here too.

Jim Milliot's post contains quotes from an interview with Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt. The interview covers bookstore renovations and inventory changes and their impact on the company's increased book sales. Even with the winter storms which necessitated the closing of some stores during the Christmas buying season, book sales were still up for the year. The company does plan to open more stores in the coming year.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It wasn't that long ago people were expecting Barnes and Noble to go out of business."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a large cup of cocoa and a large muffin for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

How Barnes&Noble transformed its brand from corporate bully to lovable neighborhood bookstore - Fast Company*

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Fast Company site. There with a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Barnes and Noble.

 

I think the changes are good.

Rob Walker's post follows the changes made to the Barnes and Noble brand since the company's purchase by Eilliott Advisors. Under previous leadership the company's brand was "big box store" bookstore. The stores were large and carried more retail merchandise than books. Now, under Elliott the stores have smaller footprints and concentrate more on books. The post contains links to posts at other sites with more information about Barnes and Noble.

 

Panzer says,"Small is good."

 

Note:This is a long post. Bring a large mug of cocoa, two brownies and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits)for your reading. If you plan to follow the links in the post, you should probably bring your lunch too; but, you decide what else to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

 

 

*A tip of the kitty fedora to Nate Hoffelder for the original link in his blog post. 

Barnes and Noble will replace two former Boston-area Amazon Books stores - WCVB

 Panzer here. Mom's still sick, but she's getting better.  She'll be back at the keyboard next week.

 

Here's a post I found that she was working on. It's from the WCVB site.

How does she find all this stuff?

According to the post, Barnes and Noble will open bookstores in the Boston-area locations vacated earlier this year by Amazon Books. The post has a very short video at the top, followed by a short description about the new mall bookstores. One will open in the Legacy Place mall in Dedham, MA, and the second will open in the MarketStreet mall in Lynnfield, MA. Also included in the post are links to the Barnes and Noble Facebook announcements about the new stores. (After the Barnes and Noble post are posts about other news in the local area, but not related to Barnes and Noble.)

 

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring a muffin too.

 

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

 

 

 

*A tip of the kitty fedora to Nate Hoffelder for the information. 

Amazon's Closure of India's Westland Books: Consternation and Confusion - Publishing Perspectives

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging in the posts there our inquisitive kitty boy found one about India's Westland Books.

Why? What happened?

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Amazon announced February 1 the company will close India's Westland Books publishing. Amazon gave bookstores dates in February and March to order books, but after March 31 Westland will not be fulfilling any orders. Amazon bought the 60-year-old Westland Books in 2017.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders what caused Amazon to close it now."

Note: This is a very, very, very long post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and a brownie for today's reading.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon and Westland Books

Yes, there could be a book shortage this holiday season. But it is not as bad as you think - USA Today

Today Panzer made a stop at the USA Today site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about the Christmas book shortage of 2021. Panzer has been telling you about the supply chain problems businesses have been experiencing.

Maybe it won't be that bad.

According to the post by Mary Cadden, bookstore owners/CEOs and booksellers aren't worried about paper or labor shortages causing a book shortage this holiday season. Since publishers plan and publish their holiday books months in advance, bookstores only expect minimal inconvenience for their book buyers. A video about supply chain problems is included at the beginning of the post. Also included are several links to other posts and information about publishers and supply chain problems in general.

Panzer says, "This post has a different slant on the holiday book buying season."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a big cup of tea and a big muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring extra tea and muffins.

To read the post tootle over to book shortage?

To read Panzer's previous post about the supply chain problems tootle over to supply chain problems

Barnes & Noble Climbs Back - Publishers Weekly

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble bookstores.

 

Everybody loves books.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble is making a comeback after the Covid-19 pandemic. Total store sales are up 5 percent this year over 2019. CEO James Daunt has given store managers more control over book ordering, returns, and book placement within the stores. Barnes and Noble continues closing under-performing stores. CEO Daunt foresees Nook sales increasing this year too.

Panzer says, "I'm glad B&N will continue the Nook."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a glass of iced tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

BA calls for bookshops to be classified essential retailers - The Bookseller

When Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile today, he found a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Flattening it out, he discovered it was a post from The Bookseller site about re-opening bookstores during the UK's pandemic lockdowns. Panzer told you about French bookstores efforts to re-open during France's lockdown.

 

Books are essential.

According to the post by Mark Chandler, the UK's Booksellers Association (BA) has sent a letter to government officials requesting bookshops be allowed to re-open during the Covid-19 lockdown. While the BA and it's members agree the lockdown is necessary, the group feels bookshops and the books they sell are important to maintaining people's health. It's also important to maintain that part of the country's economy as well. Although bookshops are closed for the lockdown, other retailers (garden centres and food shops) are open and allowed to sell books. A copy of the letter is at the end of the post.

 

Panzer says, "Other countries consider bookstores essential retailers."

 

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, two sugar cookies (biscuits), and one brownie for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to UK booksellers

To read Panzer's previous post about French bookstores, tootle over to  France

Coronavirus Worklife: 'France Creative' and Italian Publishers Speak Out for Bookstores - Publishing Perspectives

 Today as Panzer entered the Catosphere the Panzermobile hit a headwind of crying and a screaming. Following all the chaos took our brave kitty pilot to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about European lockdowns and bookstores was causing all the angst.

 

I think books are essential.

The post by Porter Anderson describes efforts by French publishers and other organizations to convince the country's government to allow bookstores to remain open during the current Covid-19 lockdown. The publishers' group issued a statement requesting that during France's lockdown bookstores be allowed to open for cultural purposes. The statement also notes that other countries have designated bookstores as essential businesses. The Publishing Perspective post also includes information about Italy's lockdown's impact on books and bookstores in that country. There are links included to other posts with information about lockdowns.

 

Panzer says, "Included in the French publishers' statement is a reference to Amazon too. This little kitty isn't saying any more about that. You'll have to read the post to find out what it says."

 

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and two brownies for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring a thermos of tea and five muffins too.

 

To read the post tootle over to France Creative and Italian publishers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How bookstores are weathering the pandemic - Vox

 Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Vox site. With just a little digging in the posts he found one about indie bookstores and the pandemic.

 

According to Bryce Covert, indie bookstores are making use of whatever tools they can find to continue business during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Indie bookstores closed either voluntarily when Covid-19 first became a problem or when there was a mandated lockdown. Many bookstores then switched to online book sales or by-phone book orders. Books can then either be shipped by mail or picked up curbside. One bookstore owner even drove book orders to people's homes. The post includes interviews with several bookstore owners. There are also some links to other posts about impacts on indie bookstore sales included in the post.

It all makes sense.

Panzer says, "Even author events were moved to online."

 

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. You will need a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, three cupcakes, and three chocolate chip cookies and you might also want a blanket for a nap in the middle of today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to bookstores

Wales and Ireland close non-essential shops in new lockdowns - The Bookseller

 Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard crying and sobbing outside. Following all the noise took our kitty pilot to The Bookseller site. With just a little digging in the posts, he discovered one about new Covid-19 lockdowns in Ireland and Wales.

 

According to the post by Mark Chandler, Wales and Ireland are closing all non-essential shops, including bookstores in a new lockdown. Wales' lockdown will last for two weeks and Ireland's lockdown will last for six weeks. Bookstores can still sell online and by telephone.

 

Books are essential.

Panzer says, "That virus thingy just isn't going away."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Wales and Ireland lockdown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B&N Systems Hacked - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken and buffeted by crying and screaming outside. Following all the chaos took our brave kitty pilot to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Barnes and Noble being hacked.

Somebody just causing trouble.

According to Jim Milliot's post, Barnes and Noble sent an email to customers alerting them that the company's corporate systems had been hacked. Although some store functions were shut down for a time, everything is now working again. Barnes and Noble's email contained good news and bad news for customers. The good news? The hackers didn't get your financial information (credit card). The bad news? The hackers got your email address, billing and shipping address and your phone number. The post includes a list of questions and answers about what was and wasn't accessed.

Panzer says, "That explains those emails I've been getting from those girl kitties in Russia that want to meet me. I can't go there to see them. I'm not even allowed outside while this virus thingy is going on. "

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Barnes & Noble Regroups and Looks Ahead - Publishers Weekly

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he heard clapping and cheering coming from outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took our adventuresome kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts, he discovered one about Barnes and Noble's bookstores re-opening.

Sanitize? Doesn't the book get wet?

According to Jim Milliot's post, Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt says the company has re-opened all their bookstores except one. The stores have re-opened following anti-Covid-19 protections such as customer social distancing measures are in place and books which have been handled by customers are sanitized and returned to the shelves. Also covered in the post are Barnes and Noble's bookstore upgrades while the stores were in lockdown. Panzer posted about this a few days ago.

Panzer says, "This little kitty had a lot of sales during the lockdown through Barnes and Noble's online store."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of ice tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

To read Panzer previous post tootle over to Barnes and Noble redecoarating