Bookseller Barnes & Noble, Inc. (BKS) Friday said it intends to expand its in-store NOOK displays to full-service eReading NOOK Boutiques to accommodate this rapidly growing segment. The boutiques will begin rolling out this summer and through the fall.
Barnes & Noble said, at the one-year anniversary of its entry into the eBook market, it gained awards and acclaim with its expansive eBookstore, family of NOOK eBook Readers and popular free NOOK software to shop and read on the most popular mobile and computing devices.
The company said NOOK eBook Readers continue to be its best-selling items, and consistently strong device sales accelerated recently with the introduction of NOOK Wi-Fi available for $149 and the new, lower price for NOOK 3G available for $199.
The 1,000 square-foot boutiques will feature demonstration tables and multiple operating NOOK devices for trial. An adjoining wall and large flat panel display will feature video demos of NOOK eBook Readers and display more than 100 accessories, including NOOK covers by popular designers such as kate spade new york, Jack Spade, Jonathan Adler and Lilly Pulitzer.
Each NOOK Boutique will be fully staffed by knowledgeable booksellers who will offer book lovers device demonstrations, help customers download Barnes & Noble's free NOOK software to their mobile or computing devices, and provide ongoing support.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com