Barnes & Noble Education Acquires Promoversity

Barnes & Noble Education, Basking Ridge, N.J., announced yesterday that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of Promoversity, a Crystal Lake, Illinois-based custom merchandise supplier and e-commerce business that works with the collegiate bookstore business and its customers. This acquisition allows Barnes & Noble College, a division of Barnes & Noble Education, to increase its on-campus apparel sales.

"Through our close partnership with more than 740 campuses nationwide, we learned that alumni and fans were seeking a more streamlined, athletic-only approach to making athletic and collegiate purchases," Joel Friedman, vice president and chief merchandising officer for Barnes & Noble College, said in a press release. "By acquiring Promoversity, we're building upon our localized campus solutions and creating more enjoyable, convenient shopping experiences while also streamlining production on the back end. We know that school spirit runs deep, and this is the newest way Barnes & Noble College is able to offer a huge variety of high-quality, premium merchandise to students, alumni and families online."

Through the acquisition, Promoversity will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble College, and will continue to operate independently. Promoversity's existing management team also will stay intact, and will manage the company's operations and customer support.

Barnes & Noble Education said in the statement that customers will be able to purchase items on bookstore websites and pick up their items in-store or have them delivered. Barnes & Noble College also will promote Promoversity's e-commerce platform to allow campus groups to create custom merchandise for special events at their schools.

For more information on Barnes & Noble Education, visit www.bned.com. For more information on Promoversity, visit www.costore.com/promoversity/welcome.asp.