➤ Why did centralization hurt Barnes & Noble in the long run?
Centralization narrowed buying decisions and standardized merchandising, which removed local curation and staff autonomy. Stores lost distinctive inventory and community ties, reducing customer loyalty. Centralized control slowed response to regional trends and undercut expert bookseller recommendations. This made it harder to compete with nimble independents and online retailers that offered tailored assortments and faster local adaptation.
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