In a move the company called a response to "the rapidly changing book industry," Powell's Books, Portland, Ore., has let go eight managers and CEO of operations Ann Smith is retiring. President Emily Powell, daughter of founder Michael Powell, is becoming president and CEO, managing marketing and store operations, while COO Miriam Sontz will manage inventory, IT, finance and facilities.
According to the Oregonian, related changes include the appointment of a new director for the main store, the merging of the e-commerce marketing and publicity departments and the hiring early next year of a marketing director who will handle marketing for the whole company.
Powell said, "It is our goal to have the right book in the right place at the right price. We can accomplish this goal by integrating similar functions throughout the company that operated independently in the past. We have also renewed our focus on customers as part of this process." In an e-mail to employees, she said that the departing managers "will be greatly missed."
This is the second major cutback this year for the store. In February, Powell's laid off 31 employees, about 7% of its staff at the time, citing "an industry-wide decline in new book sales, rising healthcare costs, and the economy" (Shelf Awareness, February 9, 2011).