Target will partner with Barnes & Noble College Booksellers "to promote its college essentials products from Target.com," the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported. A subsidiary of B&N Education, B&N College Booksellers operates campus bookstores at U.S. colleges and universities. A "handful" of B&N College bookstores are also testing online-order pick-up of products students buy on Target's website, the Journal noted.
In an investors call last week, Mark Tritton, Target executive v-p and chief merchandising officer, said, "For those campuses that aren't lucky enough to have one of the new small-format stores, we're partnering with Barnes & Noble College, which operates nearly 800 college stores around the country, to offer the Target assortment to more than 5 million students."
Lisa Malat, B&N College chief marketing officer, commented: "Our unique access to students and parents from the moment of acceptance to move in day allows us to bring Target's college essentials to our nearly 800 college campuses across the country. We are excited to partner with Target on their back-to-college strategy and together, ensure a smooth transition for our students as we kick off the back-to-college season."