Dive Brief:

• Barnes & Noble reported its first quarter earnings on Tuesday, with a smaller-than-expected loss despite a 7% decline in sales. 
• The bookstore chain reported a net loss of $28.4 million in the most recent quarter, better than the $87 million loss reported in the same quarter last year. 
• Sales in the company's Nook segment dropped 54% from last year, while retail revenue from its 658 stores and online dropped 5% on store closings and weak Internet sales. 

Dive Insight:

Barnes & Noble's board of directors seems to know that its Nook division needs work, approving a plan to separate the segment from its retail operations in June. The spinoff won't be complete until the end of March 2015, but the retailer is experimenting with other ways to increase business until then, testing same-day delivery with Google in August and Espresso Book machines in three different locations.