Barnes and Noble 2012 Annual Report Download - page 13

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B&N College generally operates its stores pursuant to
multi-year management service agreements under which
a school designates B&N College to operate the offi cial
school bookstore on campus and B&N College provides the
school with regular payments that represent a percentage
of store sales and, in some cases, include a minimum fi xed
guarantee.
B&N College’s business strategy is to maintain long-term
relationships with colleges and universities by providing
high-quality service to college administrators, faculty and
students.
NOOK
This segment represents the Company’s digital business,
including the development and support of the Company’s
NOOK product off erings. The digital business includes
digital content such as eBooks, digital newsstand, apps, and
sales of NOOK® devices and accessories to third party dis-
tribution partners, as well as B&N Retail and B&N College.
NOOK produces a number of diff erent eReaders, including
NOOK Tablet™, NOOK Color™, NOOK Simple Touch™
and NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight™. These devices
are designed in Palo Alto, California. Barnes & Noble’s
NOOK eReading software provides customers the ability
to purchase digital content and access to their Lifetime
Library™ on a wide range of digital platforms, including
iPad™, iPhone®, iPod touch®, Android™ smartphones
and tablets, as well as most PC and Mac® laptops or full-
sized desktop computers. Barnes & Noble has implemented
innovative features on its digital platform to ensure that
customers have a seamless experience across their devices.
In addition to selling NOOK® devices through its own
bookstores, the Company also sells devices through other
third-party retail channels. The Company’s third-party
retail partners include Best Buy, Walmart, Staples, Target,
Radio Shack, Books-A-Million, Offi ceMax, Fred Meyer,
P.C. Richard & Son, Offi ce Depot, Fry’s Electronics and
Systemax Inc. retailers. These additional retailers expand
the reach of the Company’s NOOK® devices.
The NOOK digital products group has knowledgeable prod-
uct development and operational management teams for
designing and delivering on its digital products business.
NOOK’s development offi ce in Palo Alto employs experi-
enced engineers in its digital product area. NOOK digital
products management team is focused on next generation
strategic products that off er customers with a range of
digital reading products to enhance the reading experience.
The software, engineering and user interface teams provide
for new or upgraded products. NOOK digital products
remain competitive as a result of its investments in ongoing
research and development eff orts.
2012 Annual Report 11