Press Releases May 18, 2026 08:30 AM

Barnes & Noble College Launches Enhanced Gift Card Program to Elevate the Campus Store Experience

Barnes & Noble College Enhances Campus Store Experience with Upgraded Gift Card Program

By Maya Rios BNED

Barnes & Noble Education's subsidiary, Barnes & Noble College, has launched an enhanced gift card program for its campus stores nationwide featuring both physical and digital cards, flexible denominations, and bulk purchasing options. This program aims to strengthen the connection between educational institutions and their communities, improve convenience, and support campus engagement.

Barnes & Noble College Launches Enhanced Gift Card Program to Elevate the Campus Store Experience
BNED

Key Points

  • Launch of an enhanced gift card program offering physical and digital formats for improved omni-channel convenience.
  • Gift cards available in school-specific or universal designs with denominations up to $500 and real-time balance access.
  • Bulk purchasing options support campus initiatives and institutional partnerships, enhancing community engagement.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barnes & Noble College (BNC), a Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) company and leading solutions provider for higher education, today announced the launch of an enhanced BNC campus store gift card program with new features that strengthen convenience, engagement, and connection to the campus community.

“Our enhanced gift card program strengthens the connection between institutions and their communities while delivering added flexibility and convenience for…”
“This launch reflects our continued focus on the campus retail experience,”
“Our enhanced gift card program strengthens the connection between institutions and their communities while delivering added flexibility and convenience for…”
“This launch reflects our continued focus on the campus retail experience,”
“Our enhanced gift card program strengthens the connection between institutions and their communities while delivering added flexibility and convenience for…”

The program reflects BNC’s commitment to elevating the campus store experience and better serving students, families, alumni, fans, and institutional partners. Available at Barnes & Noble College campus stores nationwide, the program expands opportunities for campus communities to engage with their institutions through flexible gifting options.

Enhancements include the availability of gift cards in both physical and digital formats that can be purchased and redeemed at campus stores or their respective websites for a truly seamless omni-channel experience. Digital cards provide instant fulfillment via email or text, while physical cards can be shipped directly to recipients.

Gift cards will be available in either a school-specific or universal design and in flexible denominations up to $500, with real-time account balance access for added transparency and ease of use. There will also be a bulk purchasing option to support campus initiatives, recognition programs, community engagement, and partnership opportunities.

More than a gifting solution, the program expands how students, families, alumni, and fans connect with their campus stores — whether celebrating milestones, supporting academic success, or purchasing everyday essentials and school-branded merchandise.

“This launch reflects our continued focus on the campus retail experience,” said Jonathan Shar, Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble Education. “Our enhanced gift card program strengthens the connection between institutions and their communities while delivering added flexibility and convenience for students and families. Efforts like this reflect our continued focus on innovation, customer experience, and impactful institutional collaboration.”

About Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) is a leading solutions provider to higher education. BNED manages a network of college stores featuring essential academic materials and distinct institutional branded merchandise in addition to providing other services that enhance campus life and the scholastic experience. Through its family of brands, including Barnes & Noble College and MBS, BNED offers greater affordability and accessibility to course materials and learning tools that help achieve success in the classroom and beyond. For more information, please visit www.bned.com.

For more information about Barnes & Noble College’s campus solutions and services, please visit www.bncollege.com.

Media Contact:
Gene King
Barnes & Noble Education
Corporate Communications
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0952f3f-3cae-4550-84e4-eb8a068a6aba


Risks

  • Adoption risk if students and campus communities do not widely use or prefer the new gift card offerings, potentially limiting revenue growth in campus retail.
  • Competition from other campus retail or e-commerce solutions offering similar or more attractive gifting options.
  • Dependence on ongoing partnerships with educational institutions to promote and expand the program, which may be influenced by institutional budget constraints or changing campus policies.

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