What Barnes & Noble, Inc does

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest physical bookstore chain in the United States, operating a network of more than 700 retail locations and an e-commerce platform at bn.com. The company sells print books, audiobooks, eBooks through the NOOK platform, toys and games, vinyl records, Blu-ray and DVD media, and gift products, serving a primarily consumer base of general book buyers, families with children and teen readers, and digital content consumers using NOOK apps or eReaders. Founded in 1986 and taken private by Elliott Management in 2019, the company is headquartered at 33 East 17th Street, New York, and operates subsidiaries including NOOK (eReading devices and digital content) and Paper Source (stationery).

The core product surface spans physical retail (over 700 stores with staff-curated 'pyramid' displays under CEO James Daunt), the NOOK digital reading ecosystem (GlowLight 4 eReader, NOOK Tablet, and iOS/Android apps), a B&N Audiobooks catalog of more than 300,000 titles, exclusive B&N editions and signed copies, and a Premium Membership program with stamps-based rewards, free shipping, and 10% extra discounts. Distribution is omnichannel: physical storefronts, online store, in-store and curbside pickup, and co-branded financial services (B&N Mastercard with Barclays). Supporting services include B&N Press (publishing platform), B&N Bookfairs (bulk-order institutional channel), affiliate marketing, and gift cards.

The revenue model combines one-time purchase revenue (physical books, toys, music, movies) with recurring or repeat-stream revenue (NOOK digital content, audiobooks subscription, Premium Membership) and partnership-driven economics (B&N Mastercard co-brand, affiliate commission, annual promotional partnerships such as Criterion Collection). The company is currently executing a turnaround under private-equity ownership, growing store count from below 600 in 2023 toward over 700 in 2026, with 60+ additional store openings planned for 2026.

Name

Barnes & Noble, Inc

Legal name

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc.

Website

https://bn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. bookstore chain, operates over 700 retail locations and bn.com, selling physical books, NOOK digital content, audiobooks, toys, and media to mass-market consumer readers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bookstore Retail

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Other Miscellaneous Retailers (4599)

SIC

Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores (5399), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

General Bookstores (New Books) (CRALAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Books & Audiobooks Retail (E-books/Audiobooks) (CRALAAAI), Children’s Books & Educational Readers Retail (CRALAAAD)

Keywords

• Bookstore retail
• EBook platform
• Audiobook streaming
• EReader devices
• Physical media retail

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Physical Book Sales: Retail sales of physical books including hardcovers, paperbacks, and special editions across all store locations and online. Books range from bestsellers to niche titles, with exclusive B&N editions and signed copies.
2. NOOK Digital Content: Sales of eBooks and digital content through NOOK devices and apps. Includes eBooks Under $2.99 collection, Top 100 eBooks, and millions of titles for download.
3. Audiobooks: Sales and streaming of audiobooks with subscription option and individual purchase model. Features over 300,000 titles including bestsellers and new releases.
4. Premium Membership: Annual membership program offering 10% extra discounts, free shipping, and exclusive offers. Earn stamps on purchases redeemable for rewards.
5. Toys, Games, Music & Movies: Sales of toys, puzzles, LEGO sets, board games, vinyl records, turntables, Blu-ray discs, TV box sets, and Criterion Collection films.
6. B&N Mastercard: Co-branded credit card partnership with Barclaycard offering financing options and rewards for book purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Barnes & Noble is the last remaining large national bookstore chain in the United States, operating over 700 physical retail stores plus the bn.com e-commerce site. The company sells physical books, NOOK eReaders and tablets, eBooks, audiobooks (over 300,000 titles), toys, games, music, and movies. Revenue is supplemented by the B&N Premium Membership program, B&N Bookfairs bulk order service, B&N Press publishing platform, and a co-branded B&N Mastercard.

Product overview

Barnes & Noble operates as a multi-channel bookseller and entertainment retailer offering both physical and digital products. The company provides print books through its network of over 700 U.S. stores and online, complemented by its NOOK eBook platform (including NOOK GlowLight 4 eReader and NOOK Tablet devices) and B&N Audiobooks service with over 300,000 titles. Physical media offerings include music, movies, and the Criterion Collection. The business model is supported by a B&N Membership & Rewards loyalty program offering exclusive discounts and free shipping. Additional services include B&N Bookfairs for bulk orders, B&N Press publishing platform, B&N Mobile Apps, and store pickup/curbside fulfillment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NOOK: Barnes & Noble's eBook reader devices and digital content platform, offering eBooks, audiobooks, and the NOOK app for Apple and Android devices.
• B&N Press
• B&N Mastercard

Products and services

• Physical Books Print books (hardcover, paperback, exclusive editions, signed copies) sold in-store and online to general consumers, including bestsellers, niche titles, and curated staff picks.
• NOOK eBook Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 11% year-over-year membership increase in early 2024 for American Booksellers Association

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Criterion CollectioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual promotional partnership where Barnes & Noble hosts major 50% off sales on Criterion Collection 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVDs. The sale runs for a full month both online and in stores, featuring classic and new releases. Amazon typically matches the prices during these promotional events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Amazon: Dominant online bookseller and operator of the Kindle eReader ecosystem; competes directly with B&N in print books, eBooks, and audiobooks via Audible, with materially broader catalog and pricing power across the same consumer base.
• Target: Mass-market general merchandise retailer that carries books, toys, games, music, and movies across 1,900+ US stores; competes with B&N for the same discretionary consumer dollars across multiple product categories B&N sells.
• Walmart: Largest US retailer offering books, media, toys, and games across 4,600+ stores plus dominant e-commerce; broad incumbent competing with B&N on price, assortment, and convenience across books and adjacent merchandise categories.
• Apple: Operates Apple Books eBook and audiobook platform on iOS devices; competes directly with NOOK digital ecosystem on device-attached reading consumption, with substantially larger user base and ecosystem lock-in.

Direct peers

• Books-A-Million: The second-largest physical bookstore chain in the US with ~200 stores across the Southeast and Midwest; directly comparable physical retail bookstore model with similar merchandise mix (books, toys, gifts, café) though smaller scale and narrower geographic reach than B&N.
• ThriftBooks: Large online used bookseller competing for the same consumer book-buying dollars through lower-priced alternative inventory; comparable online book retail model targeting price-sensitive readers with a marketplace approach.
• Half Price Books: US chain of new and used bookstores with ~130 locations; comparable physical retail book model with mix of new, used, and bargain inventory plus related merchandise, competing in similar trade areas.
• Powell's City of Books: Iconic independent bookstore in Portland, OR operating one of the largest independent bookstores globally with new and used inventory; comparable physical bookstore model with deep community engagement and online ordering, representing the independent bookstore benchmark that B&N's "pyramid" strategy draws from.

Emerging players

• Bookshop.org: Online bookstore platform that routes purchases to independent bookstores; competes with B&N's online channel by aggregating independent inventory and offering affiliate-supported consumer experience for readers seeking independent bookstore support.
• Libro.fm: Audiobook subscription service that directs a portion of revenue to independent bookstores; competes directly with B&N Audiobooks by offering similar subscription model with independent bookstore affiliation, targeting socially conscious audiobook consumers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bnbuzz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/barnesandnoble
• Facebookfacebook.com/barnesandnoble
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barnes-and-noble
• Instagraminstagram.com/barnesandnoble
• Pinterestpinterest.com/barnesandnoble
• TikToktiktok.com/@bnbuzz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barnes & Noble, Inc