The plan had been in the works to revamp Barnes & Nobel's brick and mortar locations ever since CEO James Daunt had taken over. Before the virus the spruce up project was going to close locations on a rotating basis for a few weeks at a time for a refurbish.
Then covid 19 hit the US.
“I knew I wanted to rip these stores apart and put them back together in a different way,” Mr. Daunt said. “And then suddenly: ‘Oh my goodness, they’re all shut. Let’s get to work.’
The company used this time to refresh 350 of its 614 stores across the US. Small teams came in to the shuttered stores to move furniture, paint wall and bring in new books. Now some of the walls are painted blue, signage looks a little different and more books are facing out on the shelves so that customers can see them when they pass by. Over all the store feels more open, its like seeing a friend for the first time in a long while and wondering: What's different? Did you get a new hair cut?
Comments