Petaluma Copperfield’s will downsize, eliminating its Used Books division and trimming the dimensions of the New Books part.
Copperfield’s within the coronary heart of downtown Petaluma shall be downsized and can remove its used books division by the tip of September, the shop has mentioned.
The adjustments additionally embody reducing about 60% of the shop’s New Books part, in line with a press release.
In a launch despatched to The Press Democrat Monday, the union representing Copperfield’s workers mentioned it was knowledgeable Thursday of the deliberate adjustments.
An announcement to the union from “Copperfield’s Books Petaluma Administration” referred to the change as an “agonizing choice.”
“Regardless of years of effort to make the Copperfield’s Books Petaluma Used division, sustainable, the shop has continued to expertise diminished gross sales and annual losses, and people losses are accelerated, particularly within the Used division,” the assertion mentioned.
Chief Working Officer R.M. Horrell mentioned the choice was made by the corporate’s board of administrators. He mentioned they’re working with the union to make sure a easy transition for workers and prospects.
The notification mentioned the bookstore will lose roughly 6,000 sq. ft of house, as its footprint is trimmed to roughly 4,100 sq. ft, which mirrors the dimensions of most of its different places, besides the Montgomery Village e book retailer which has a café.
The favored chain based mostly out of Sebastopol has places all through Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties.
Horrell cited excessive working prices and the value of hire for the modifications to the Petaluma location.
“We’ve gone by means of a myriad challenges and adjustments. And I believe being versatile to pivot with a view to preserve shops working is simply an essential half to remain in operation through the years,” Horrell mentioned.
Robert Glover, the store steward, mentioned the union represents 18 of the shop’s workers.,
The union, which formed in 2023, says it’s involved the adjustments might sign job losses. Copperfield’s Petaluma is the one retailer within the chain with union illustration.
The discover despatched to the union mentioned the adjustments will “require a discount in our workforce” however it’s unclear what number of workers could possibly be affected.
The union mentioned the choice to downsize was “fully sudden by retailer employees.”
The e book retailer mentioned the choice to downsize was made to maintain the Petaluma store open and reduce the affect on the workforce and the neighborhood.
“A failure to behave now would doubtless lead to extra extreme penalties sooner or later, which we hope to keep away from,” the e-mail learn.
Glover mentioned if the Petaluma retailer downsizes, it might harm the neighborhood.
“The Petaluma location is thought for its giant creator occasions for each adults and kids, generally with a whole lot of visitors, as a result of we merely have the house to unfold out,” he mentioned. “Moreover, the closure of the used e book division and ceasing to promote secondhand gadgets will immediately have an effect on low-income households, college students and academics that frequent the used division to avoid wasting a pair bucks on their studying supplies.”
Horrell mentioned he shared the considerations.
“The hope is to take care of as a lot of the shop as potential, the hope is as a lot connection to the neighborhood as potential, the hope is to take care of as a lot because the employees as potential, the hope is to take care of as a lot of the spirit of the shop as is feasible,” Horrell mentioned. “And in that manner, we’re going to have the ability to preserve our presence locally for so long as potential. And failing to pivot places all of that in danger.”
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You may attain Employees Author Melanie Nguyen at 707-521-5457 or melanie.nguyen@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @mellybelly119
