New York, New York – October 1, 2007 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, today launched a newly designed version of its leading website, Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com). The site’s new design also anchors a host of site enhancements, including integrated browse and search functions, and significant new additions to content and community features. Utilizing the latest web technologies, the new site enables more, better and faster browsing.
“Barnes & Noble.com has been ranked in the University of Michigan annual surveys as the number one e-commerce site for customer satisfaction for three consecutive years, and our goal with the launch of the new site was to provide an even better experience for our customers,” said Marie Toulantis, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble.com. “The new site makes it even faster and easier for our customers to find exactly what they are looking for, yet have the experience of browsing that makes visiting bookstores so pleasurable. We are also introducing many new interactive content and community features that our customers expect from a world-class multi-channel retailer.”
The new features include:
- The Barnes & Noble Review. A world-class online literary magazine that delivers serious readers smart and useful reviews of current books, music, and newly released films on DVD, as well as reconsiderations of important past works. It will accommodate many voices, publishing exclusive material from a wide range of established critics, reviewers and authors. James Mustich, veteran bookseller and a founder of the respected book catalog, A Common Reader, is the editor-in-chief. The Review launches with an in-depth interview with Philip Roth, and a review of his new book, Exit Ghost, by John Freeman, president of the National Book Critics Circle.
- “One on One” Podcasts. Hosted by public radio veteran Katherine Lanpher, “One on One” interviews are in-depth conversations with today’s leading writers, musicians and filmmakers. Hermione Lee, Robert Dallek and Frances Kiernan launch the “One on One” podcasts. Updated weekly, future podcasts will feature Amy Bloom and Ann Patchett.
- “Live at Barnes & Noble.” Readings, discussions and interviews with authors and musicians, live from Barnes & Noble stores. The company plans live webcasts of its “Upstairs at the Square” series, hosted by Katherine Lanpher. The first “Upstairs” event will take place on October 16, with Nick Hornby and Josh Rouse, from the Union Square Barnes & Noble in New York City. Other in-store events will include Richard Russo on October 12, a tribute to David Halberstam on October 15, Alice Sebold on October 18, and Stephen Colbert on October 24. All events will be archived for later viewing.
- “See Inside.” The new “See Inside” feature allows users to replicate the experience of browsing a book by flipping through selected pages. In addition, users will be able to search for specific words or phrases. First chapters will also be available for viewing within “See Inside.” At launch, tens of thousands of titles will have this feature, and the company expects to ultimately have this viewing ability for every title.
- Social Networking. Barnes & Noble.com’s online book clubs are the equivalent of social networking for book lovers. The new site features more clubs, including author-led discussions and partnerships with cultural and literary organizations. In the “First Look Book Club,” participants are given a free advance reading copy of upcoming books and join exclusive discussions with the author. The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff is the first selection. The book is scheduled to be released in February 2008 by Voice, an imprint of Hyperion. Other clubs include the Crime Book Club, with the publisher and authors of Hard Case Crime; the History Book Club, with the New-York Historical Society; the Jewish Encounters Book Club, with Nextbook.org; and the Book Explorers Club, with Literary Ventures Fund.
- Meet the Writers. The company’s archive of hundreds of exclusive multi-media interviews with writers will be prominently displayed on relevant pages of the site, available for immediate viewing, and download.
- Multi-Channel Services. The new site enables users to check store availability of any title easily from the product and search results pages. The company’s store locator will be able to be accessed from every webpage, and will include the ability for users to view store events at their local Barnes & Noble stores and send personal invitations to friends to join them.
- Gifts. Expanded selection of gift products, including such forthcoming exclusives as tote bags designed by Maira Kalman, and a line of journals, stationery and gifts by Jonathan Adler.
Barnes & Noble worked with R/GA, the agency for the digital age, to design and bring Barnes & Noble’s vision of creating a rich and engaging experience for its customers to life.
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About Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller and a Fortune 500 company, operates 792 bookstores in 50 states. For the fourth year in a row, the company is the nation’s top bookseller brand, as determined by a brand’s overall strength based on its combination of familiarity, quality and purchase intent, according to the EquiTrend® Brand Study by Harris Interactive®. Barnes & Noble conducts its online business through Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com), one of the Web’s largest e-commerce sites.
General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company’s corporate website: http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com.
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