Some of that decline was attributed to a lack of new big hits to compete with a string of blockbusters last year, and to a cooling off of the sale of adult coloring books. A poor retail environment that cut into store traffic was another factor hurting sales, but B&N founder Len Riggio, who has returned as CEO following the dismissal of Ron Boire in August, acknowledged that B&N “[shot] ourselves in the foot somewhat by making unprecedented inventory reductions,” as well as “cutting expenses in the worst areas, mainly retail floor personnel.”