Episode Summary: Bloomberg Businessweek – "Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt on Reviving an Iconic Brand"

Date: January 12, 2026
Guests: James Daunt (CEO, Barnes & Noble; Managing Director, Waterstones; Founder, Daunt Books)
Hosts: Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec

Overview

In this insightful episode, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec talk with James Daunt, the transformative CEO of Barnes & Noble and a key figure in UK bookselling. Daunt shares his philosophy and practical approach to revitalizing Barnes & Noble by returning to community-focused principles, giving autonomy to store staff, and doubling down on the irreplaceable in-person bookstore experience—even in the face of digital disruption. The conversation touches on the resurgence of physical book sales, the interplay between large chains and independents, the challenges and opportunities of AI in publishing, and the important societal roles of bookstores and libraries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Rebound in Bookstores & Metrics of Health

• Industry Resurgence:

  • Daunt notes a broad rebound in the book market, attributing part of this to the pandemic:
    "Covid was a difficult time for us...but people rediscovered reading. Bookstores are great places...particularly young people like to gather and like to read."
    [03:04]
  • Both large chains and independents now run better bookstores, leading to increased interest and foot traffic.

• Recent Performance:

  • While refusing specifics (since B&N is private), Daunt asserts that same-store sales are now positive and expansion is underway:
    "We are now over 700 stores...we were below 600 a short while ago. Then you're going to sell an awful lot more."
    [10:27]

Community Bookstores within a Chain

• Decentralized Philosophy:

  • Daunt’s central idea is to make each B&N location feel like a local, community bookstore:
    "What we as a chain bookstore now need to do—and have done—is abandon all consistency and operational disciplines...and hand power to our individual store teams."
    [05:29]
  • Local store managers are given autonomy over curation, displays, and even budgeting, allowing each store to cater to its community.

• Successes & Challenges:

  • This strategy works “dramatically well” in some locations but less so where staff lack experience:
    "Bookselling is a trade, it's a vocational trade...skills have to be learned and developed."
    [05:43]

• On Consistency vs. Local Flavor:

  • Some basics remain, e.g., stocking bestsellers and classics, but beyond that:
    "We give them no constraints, no budget constraints, no visual constraints."
    [06:21]

The Irreplaceable Physical Bookstore Experience

• Role & Atmosphere:

  • Daunt explains the "magic of curation": selecting titles that fit the local community and creating an engaging, physical space.
    "Independent bookstores have that magic of curation...a welcoming and vibrant [space]."
    [04:59]

• Events and Social Spaces:

  • Events aren't just about author signings:
    "We are social spaces...everything from story time with three-year-olds to author Q&As. In the city it's easier, but you can do it wherever you are."
    [09:48]

Evolving Product Mix

• Beyond Books:
  • Barnes & Noble now embraces “related product”:
    "[We've become] the last place in which quite a lot of these sort of dying categories actually have rejuvenated...vinyl, DVDs, CDs...toys and games, but always tightly tied into a love of learning."
    [08:40]

Reading Trends

• Classics and “Romantasy”:
  • Current trends are driven by online communities like BookTok.
    "BookTok coming out of COVID was exploded with a love of classics...At the moment it's romantasy, and it's relatively spicy romantasy, but at the same time they're reading the great books as well."
    [08:02]

James Daunt’s Role and Philosophy

• Unique Leadership Across Multiple Chains:
  • Daunt attributes his success to deep, direct experience:
    "I really do understand how to run a really good bookstore...my job is to make sure from a central perspective that we don't get in their way."
    [07:13]
  • Humorously notes:
    "Frankly, the less I do now, the better it goes."
    [07:52]

Societal Role of Bookstores and Libraries

• Libraries Under Threat:
  • Daunt laments library cuts, arguing it hurts society, not bookstores:
    "I don't think that's to our benefit. I think it's only to the detriment generally of reading and generally for engagement with books."
    [11:45]

AI in Publishing

• Barnes & Noble’s Stance on AI Books:

  • B&N goes to "very great efforts to exclude" AI-written books from its online and in-store selection:
    "AI is absolutely fantastic at hunting out AI [books], so that's helpful...as long as AI is clearly communicated...we should provide that."
    [12:17]
  • But as of now, the impact is minimal:
    "As far as we can possibly determine, it's nothing."
    [13:03]

• Duty of Care:

  • Strong stance on supporting real authors:
    "As booksellers we feel huge duty of care [to real authors]."
    [12:24]

Ownership and the Future

• Possible IPO:
  • On the Wall Street Journal report of a possible IPO:
    "Luckily that is above my pay grade. It would affect me, but I don't own the place, sad as that may be."
    [10:57]
  • On whether he'd stay on:
    "I enjoy what I do...all of us, including myself, hope to continue to do that better."
    [11:08]

Notable Quotes

• “Bookstores are great places in which all ages, all types, but particularly young people, like to gather and like to read.”
  — James Daunt [03:04]

• "We as a chain bookstore now need to do...abandon all of the consistency...and hand power to our individual store teams."
  — James Daunt [05:29]

• "Bookselling is a trade, it's a vocational trade...skills have to be learned and developed."
  — James Daunt [05:43]

• "Frankly, the less I do now, the better it goes."
  — James Daunt [07:52]

• "At the moment it's romantasy, and it's relatively spicy romantasy, but at the same time they're reading the great books as well.”
  — James Daunt [08:02]

• "We have to keep [related products] tightly tied into a love of learning and development which is encapsulated by books."
  — James Daunt [09:22]

• "We are social spaces...everything from story time...to author Q&As."
  — James Daunt [09:48]

• “As booksellers, we feel a huge duty of care [to real authors].”
  — James Daunt [12:24]

Important Timestamps

• [02:42] – Disucssion of recent Barnes & Noble financials (pre-privatization)
• [03:04] – Book market rebound, resurgence of physical stores
• [05:29] – Decentralization and community bookstore model
• [07:13] – Daunt’s multi-chain management style
• [08:02] – BookTok influence; classics and “romantasy” trends
• [08:40] – Expansion into vinyl, games, related products
• [09:48] – Role of events and bookstores as social space
• [10:27] – Same store sales performance and store count
• [10:57] – IPO discussion
• [11:45] – Libraries and their decline’s impact on society
• [12:17] – AI-written books and B&N’s curation efforts

Memorable Moments

• The hosts referencing "You’ve Got Mail" when discussing independent vs chain bookstores, lightening the tone and connecting to pop culture [03:55]
• Daunt’s frank, self-deprecating management style: “The less I do now, the better it goes” [07:52]
• Candid take on AI: fully embracing identification and transparency while maintaining care for real authors [12:17]

Tone

Daunt is warm, practical, and forward-looking, combining humor (“the less I do, the better it goes”) with genuine respect for books and readers. Both hosts and guest show an appreciation for the tactile and social joys of real bookstores, while also facing tough questions on competition, technology, and the future of reading.