How Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt Tapped His Indie Bookstore Cred to Revive the Big Box Chain James Daunt's resurrection of Barnes & Noble is a story of counterintuitive successes, surprising partnerships, and pragmatism.
The British CEO's revival plan for the big box chain has been touted as a masterclass in adapting to changing times while staying true to the soul of bookstores.
Daunt's approach has centered on giving local stores more autonomy in curating their inventory and displays, abandoning the co op advertising model that had rendered many Barnes & Noble branches indistinguishable from one another.