Foot traffic up at Barnes & Noble

In the US, location analytics company Placer.ai has reported that, between November 2023 and May 2024, foot traffic to Barnes & Noble (B&N) stores has increased every month except January, compared to the prior year, according to Publishers Weekly (PW).

‘With the exception of April, when traffic was up only 0.4%, monthly increases were in the mid single digits, including March, when visits rose 8.7%,’ said PW, adding that the March/April splits ‘are likely explained by the March Easter in 2024’.

In January, B&N CEO James Daunt told PW that sales were up in 2023 compared to the previous year, and that his goal for 2024 was to open 50 new stores. The company opened its 23rd new location in June, and also recently moved to purchase the four-store Denver bookselling chain Tattered Cover.

Placer.ai said ‘one key factor that has powered Barnes & Noble’s growth trajectory is its emphasis on curating a local, independent bookstore feel in its stores’, which ‘allows individual store managers autonomy in decision-making, and emphasises stocking local authors and hosting community events’.

B&N told PW that it was not working with Placer.ai, but confirmed the business was having a good year, with new store sales performances outperforming expectations.

Category: International news