(USA TODAY) A bleak holiday season has led Barnes & Noble to lay off employees, the book seller has announced.

“Given our sales decline this holiday, we’re adjusting staffing so that it meets the needs of our existing business and our customers,” Barnes & Noble said in a statement. “As the business improves we’ll adjust accordingly.”

Barnes & Noble would not give specifics on the number of employees affected, the types of positions that were cut or the markets that were impacted.

CNBC, citing sources familiar with the matter, said that lead cashiers were among the workers to lose their jobs, with many employees learning they’d been laid off when they showed up for work several days ago.