PRESS RELEASE BY BARNES & NOBLE COLLEGE
Research platform now offers access and insights from network of more than 5 million U.S. college students
Basking Ridge, N.J., August 18, 2015 – Today, Barnes & Noble College, a leading operator of campus bookstores with more than 720 stores at college and universities nationwide, officially announced the acceleration of its market research platform. Expanded research access will help the company’s partners – colleges and universities, consumer brands and publishers – better understand the thinking, behaviors and expectations of current and future college students and faculty. These research capabilities serve as an additional resource to deliver campus communities the optimum social and academic experience.
Barnes & Noble College’s research currently encompasses a wide range of topic areas, including student learning behaviors; student and faculty engagement in the learning process; course material use and preferences; communications processes and behaviors; and purchasing preferences and behaviors. Data and analytics are powered by proprietary faculty and student online research panels, the largest college bookstore social media network of its kind, and on-campus access to more than 5 million students and faculty nationwide.
“Research fuels everything we do and gives our partners a strategic advantage in understanding their most important audiences,” said Lisa Malat, vice president, operations and chief marketing officer, Barnes & Noble College. “For colleges and universities, the insights we gather help meet their highest-priority goals, particularly student retention and recruitment. For consumer brands, our understanding helps foster lifelong relationships with college students driven by their unique needs and wants. For publishers and educational technology providers, our data and analytics help guide development of next-generation course materials that drive student outcomes.”
To support universities’ focus on student and alumni outcomes, Barnes & Noble College tapped into its research capabilities for “The College Student Mindset for Career Preparation & Success.” The in-depth study examined students’ level of career preparation, their perception of what skills and experiences are desired by companies, and what they are looking for in work experiences, training and benefits. The insights gathered inspired Barnes & Noble College to create an interactive program that works with campus partners to deliver in-person and online workshops to equip students with the tools, resources and skills they need to position themselves for early career success.
In addition to initiatives with college and university partners, Barnes & Noble College works with consumer brands and other business partners to sharpen their understanding of college students and provide an unrivaled opportunity to interact with students, in person and online.
“We are part of the social and structural fabric of our campuses, and it gives us a deep understanding of the nuances of each school’s culture. When that understanding is combined with the insights our market research platform provides, consumer brand marketers have what they need to build powerful, emotional connections with the millions of students we serve,” said Marie Policastro, director, brand partnerships and market research, Barnes & Noble College. “We partner and work closely with brands to ensure they engage with students in timely, relevant and inspiring ways, fostering long-lasting relationships that extend beyond graduation and deliver ongoing results.”
Capabilities of the Barnes & Noble College research platform include quantitative research, qualitative research, ethnographic research, omnibus studies, shopper insight research and on-site testing. The company most recently completed research examining student preferences and behaviors in the automotive, café and convenience and personal beauty categories. Upcoming initiatives include a groundbreaking, intensive study on Generation Z and their academic preferences and expectations for college, followed by an in-depth look at non-traditional students, veterans and first-generation college students. With these insights and more, Barnes & Noble College will further its goal of helping partners form genuine, lasting relationships with students, in college and beyond.
About Barnes & Noble College
As the trusted partner and manager of more than 720 campus bookstores nationwide, Barnes & Noble College works with its college and university partners to deliver an unmatched retail and digital learning experience for students, faculty, administrators and alumni. Deeply committed to building relationships with and understanding the needs of more than 5 million students and faculty, Barnes & Noble College conducts ongoing local and national research that allows it to tailor the campus bookstore experience to each school’s unique brand, culture and academic mission. From its locally empowered store management philosophy and customer-first culture, to its innovative drive and singular focus on campus retail, Barnes & Noble College is much more than a vendor, but a trusted campus partner. For more information, visit www.bncollege.com and www.bncollegemarketing.com.
About Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) enhances the academic and social purpose of educational institutions. Through its Barnes & Noble College subsidiary, Barnes & Noble Education serves more than 5 million college students and their faculty through its more than 720 stores on campuses nationwide, delivering essential educational content and tools within a dynamic retail environment. The company is at the forefront of digital education with its digital education platform, Yuzu®, weaving together digital learning materials to enhance the teaching and learning experience. Barnes & Noble Education acts as a strategic partner to drive student success; provide value and support to students and faculty; and create loyalty and retention, all while supporting the financial goals of college and university partners. General information on Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company’s corporate website: www.bned.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and information relating to Barnes & Noble Education that are based on the beliefs of the management of Barnes & Noble Education as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the management of Barnes & Noble Education. When used in this communication, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “forecasts,” “projections,” and similar expressions, as they relate to Barnes & Noble Education or the management of Barnes & Noble Education, identify forward-looking statements.
Such statements reflect the current views of Barnes & Noble Education with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, general competitive conditions, including actions Barnes & Noble Education’s competitors may take to grow their businesses; trends and challenges to Barnes & Noble Education’s business in the locations in which it has stores; decisions by colleges and universities to outsource their bookstore operations or change the operation of their bookstores; non-renewal of contracts; the general economic environment, college enrollment and consumer spending patterns, including decreases in university spending; decreased consumer demand for Barnes & Noble Education’s products, low growth or declining sales; disruptions to Barnes & Noble Education’s computer systems, data lines, telephone systems or supply chain, including the loss of suppliers; changes to payment terms, return policies, the discount or margin on products or other terms with our suppliers; risks associated with data privacy, information security and intellectual property; work stoppages or increases in labor costs; Barnes & Noble Education’s ability to attract and retain employees; possible increases in shipping rates or interruptions in shipping service, effects of competition; obsolete or excessive inventory; product shortages; Barnes & Noble Education’s ability to successfully implement its strategic initiatives; the performance of Barnes & Noble Education’s online, digital and other initiatives, including possible delays in the deployment of, and further enhancements to, Yuzu® and any future higher education digital products; technological changes; risk that digital sales growth is less than expectations and the risk that it does not exceed the rate of investment spend; higher-than-anticipated store closings; changes in law or regulation; the amount of Barnes & Noble Education’s indebtedness and ability to comply with covenants applicable to any future debt financing; Barnes & Noble Education’s ability to satisfy future capital and liquidity requirements; Barnes & Noble Education’s ability to access the credit and capital markets at the times and in the amounts needed and on acceptable terms; adverse results from litigation, governmental investigations or tax-related proceedings or audits; changes in accounting standards; the potential adverse impact on BNED’s business resulting from the separation from Barnes & Noble, Inc. and the other risks discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Barnes & Noble Education’s prospectus filed with the SEC on July 15, 2015 and in Barnes & Noble Education’s other filings made hereafter from time to time with the SEC.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Barnes & Noble Education or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. Barnes & Noble Education undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this communication.
