Campus outreachback
At Barnes & Noble, we believe the key to successful marketing is listening—and responding—to student and faculty needs. Our bookstore managers and regional managers will get to know your campus and solicit feedback and ideas. They then translate this understanding into better bookstore service and more precise promotional campaigns.
Barnes & Noble encourages store managers to bring the bookstore message onto the broader campus with strategic out-of-store campaigns. We provide them with a wide variety of customizable tools, from campus posters and promotional materials to targeted email templates. And our national marketing experts are always on hand to help support and develop any initiatives they might take on their own. Online marketing
Barnes & Noble has always been committed to putting technology to work at our stores. We use the Internet to not only enhance our service and sales, but to continually evolve our marketing techniques.
Using the web to drive sales
Our advanced online bookstore platform simplifies the purchasing experience and has a profound impact on textbook sales. One component of this platform that’s been particularly successful is Registration Integration, which enables students to reserve and order textbooks online at the very moment they enroll in a course. On some campuses, up to 50% of students now use Registration Integration to place their textbook orders.
Connecting with the customer
Our sophisticated data analytics capabilities enable us to gather information about online purchasing behavior; this data helps further target and refine our marketing initiatives. And we’ve built a powerful email program to let students know about special offers like holiday promotions, textbook buyback initiatives, and athletic events. Students who’ve purchased textbooks that the bookstore currently needs, for example, now receive an automatic email alert that encourages them to sell these books back to the store. 
In-store promotions
Our in-store marketing efforts focus on building energy and excitement and highlighting the services that are most relevant to your campus. Our campaigns focus on key segments of the campus community—from freshman to alumni—as well as on key events and opportunities like graduation and athletic events. Other campaigns simply focus on keeping the bookstore at the top of students' minds at all times.
Focused efforts are a win-win for all
Our Freshman Program drives sales and awareness among the newest members of the campus community. The strategy is simple: we give store managers promotional materials and marketing tips that are specifically geared towards freshman for use both in the store and at orientation events.
We've also expanded our focus to include alumni opportunities. Many of our college partners strive to maintain connections with their alumni, and we believe that campus bookstores can be an important tool in their efforts. Because most alumni no longer live nearby, we’ve developed an extensive online program through which to reach them. A special section on each bookstore website contains merchandise of particular interest to alumni. We also use focused email marketing campaigns to reach them right before athletic and alumni events.
Athletic merchandise is a great way to build school spirit and foster support and enthusiasm for your teams. It’s also a great way to raise funds for your athletic programs. Our promotional athletics programs help colleges get the most out of game days with discounts on apparel and a wide range of special promotions.
Year-round promotions keep the bookstore top-of-mind
Every year, we create a customized marketing calendar for each of our college partners that outlines the many ways in which we plan to drive traffic to the store. Our Event Zone gives stores a convenient, attractive way to highlight event-specific merchandise throughout the year and raise awareness for special initiatives, such as holiday promotions and homecoming and graduation events.
At Barnes & Noble, we believe the key to successful marketing is listening—and responding—to student and faculty needs. Our bookstore managers and regional managers will get to know your campus and solicit feedback and ideas. They then translate this understanding into better bookstore service and more precise promotional campaigns.
The collaborative approach
Our approach to marketing is collaborative: we work side-by-side with our college partners to discuss ideas and experiences and get feedback on promotional campaigns. After all, store marketing, like store management, is a partnership effort.
Thinking outside the storeOur approach to marketing is collaborative: we work side-by-side with our college partners to discuss ideas and experiences and get feedback on promotional campaigns. After all, store marketing, like store management, is a partnership effort.
Barnes & Noble encourages store managers to bring the bookstore message onto the broader campus with strategic out-of-store campaigns. We provide them with a wide variety of customizable tools, from campus posters and promotional materials to targeted email templates. And our national marketing experts are always on hand to help support and develop any initiatives they might take on their own.
Barnes & Noble has always been committed to putting technology to work at our stores. We use the Internet to not only enhance our service and sales, but to continually evolve our marketing techniques.
Using the web to drive salesOur advanced online bookstore platform simplifies the purchasing experience and has a profound impact on textbook sales. One component of this platform that’s been particularly successful is Registration Integration, which enables students to reserve and order textbooks online at the very moment they enroll in a course. On some campuses, up to 50% of students now use Registration Integration to place their textbook orders.
Connecting with the customer
Our sophisticated data analytics capabilities enable us to gather information about online purchasing behavior; this data helps further target and refine our marketing initiatives. And we’ve built a powerful email program to let students know about special offers like holiday promotions, textbook buyback initiatives, and athletic events. Students who’ve purchased textbooks that the bookstore currently needs, for example, now receive an automatic email alert that encourages them to sell these books back to the store.
In-store promotionsOur in-store marketing efforts focus on building energy and excitement and highlighting the services that are most relevant to your campus. Our campaigns focus on key segments of the campus community—from freshman to alumni—as well as on key events and opportunities like graduation and athletic events. Other campaigns simply focus on keeping the bookstore at the top of students' minds at all times.
Focused efforts are a win-win for all
Our Freshman Program drives sales and awareness among the newest members of the campus community. The strategy is simple: we give store managers promotional materials and marketing tips that are specifically geared towards freshman for use both in the store and at orientation events.
We've also expanded our focus to include alumni opportunities. Many of our college partners strive to maintain connections with their alumni, and we believe that campus bookstores can be an important tool in their efforts. Because most alumni no longer live nearby, we’ve developed an extensive online program through which to reach them. A special section on each bookstore website contains merchandise of particular interest to alumni. We also use focused email marketing campaigns to reach them right before athletic and alumni events. Athletic merchandise is a great way to build school spirit and foster support and enthusiasm for your teams. It’s also a great way to raise funds for your athletic programs. Our promotional athletics programs help colleges get the most out of game days with discounts on apparel and a wide range of special promotions.
Year-round promotions keep the bookstore top-of-mind
Every year, we create a customized marketing calendar for each of our college partners that outlines the many ways in which we plan to drive traffic to the store. Our Event Zone gives stores a convenient, attractive way to highlight event-specific merchandise throughout the year and raise awareness for special initiatives, such as holiday promotions and homecoming and graduation events.