Just remembered this:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/...re-chains.html
Serves as context for Nook's importance within B&N.
Quote:
Spring 1991 Outlets
Barnes & Noble*: 1,343
Waldenbooks: 1,268
Crown Books: 257
Borders: 13
Zondervan Bookstores: 126
Bookland Stores: 101
Encore Books: 65
Lauriat's: 48
Kroch's & Brentano's: 19
Cokesbury: 40
Tower Books: 13
Total: 3,293
Fall 2011 Outlets
Barnes & Noble*: 1,341
Family Christian Stores: 283
Books-A-Million: 232
Hastings Entertainment: 146
Half Price Books: 113
Cokesbury: 57
Total:2,206
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1- The B&N numbers include the various chains they've bought and shutdown over the years. As of 2019 they were down to 627 outlets.
2- Family Christian and Hastings have shut down.
3- Cokesbury is gone.
4- As of 2020, the remaining bookstore chains are B&N, BAM, HALF-PRICE and...Amazon, with 24 bookstores. Of those only B&N is more or less national. (Some might count Amazon's 31 4-Star hybrid gift shoos/bookstores but that is open to debate as to what their primary goal is.)
5- Amazon is the only one growing and it's unstated but obvious reason for existence is boosting the sale of APub pbooks, much like the old DOUBLEDAY BOOKSTORES that went away in the 80's.
B&M bookselling is but a shadow of its peak. Mind you, B&N still moves $2B worth of books each year but generally at a loss. It's a tough business to be in whether independent or chain.
By contrast, Nook is basically self-supporting because of its underlying economics (no rent! Few humans!), but it also is so small barely registers in tbe B&N ledger. It could grow by 100% and still not help them stay in business.
Expectations need to be tempered.