Dive Brief:

• New York City-based Barnes & Noble Inc.’s board of directors has approved the separation of its retail book selling business from its digital Nook business, the company has announced.

• The retailer is aiming to complete the separation by the end of Q1 2015.

• Barnes & Noble also reported narrower Q4 losses, which still missed expectations. But the retailer’s stock jumped 7% Wednesday morning at the separation news.

Dive Insight:

Barnes & Noble has considered separating its Nook business before, but abandoned the idea last year. The retailer’s new association with Samsung to revive its Nook tablet is the likely reason for the idea’s resurrection. Meanwhile, the company’s physical book selling business is comparatively healthy, and has enjoyed something of a boost during recent Amazon’s unseemly spat with Hachette Book Group.