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Masters of Scale · August 20, 2026 · 32m 54s

How Barnes & Noble made a comeback, with CEO James Daunt

James Daunt

James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble and Waterstones, shares the strategies behind turning around two iconic bookstore chains. He discusses the importance of local control, how his team is preparing for an onslaught of AI-written content, and the role of BookTok in attracting younger readers. The conversation reveals how a decentralized, community-focused approach can revive physical retail.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Local control is the key to great bookstores
Daunt attributes the turnaround of Barnes & Noble to giving local store managers autonomy over their curation, events, and displays.
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Preparing for the onslaught of AI-written content
Daunt outlines how bookstores are beginning to grapple with an expected flood of AI-generated books.
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The BookTok strategy for driving new readers
Daunt shares how Barnes & Noble is leveraging BookTok to attract a younger demographic.
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Rescuing two iconic chains by returning to bookselling basics
Daunt's turnarounds at Waterstones and Barnes & Noble both centered on rediscovering the core mission of a bookstore.
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