Barnes & Noble Unveils Major National Holiday Ad Campaign: “A Book Is A Gift Like No Other”

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced “A Book Is a Gift Like No Other,” a major national holiday ad campaign that highlights how books are like no other gift because they provide inspiration, thrills, laughs, journeys and so much more. The campaign, created by Roberts + Langer DDB, is centered on how Barnes & Noble is the premier destination for all of the biggest and best books that will make memorable gifts for everyone in the family this holiday. It also introduces the new Samsung Galaxy Tab® 4 NOOK®, the first full-featured Android tablet that’s optimized for reading and entertainment. The 7-inch version that launched with an introductory price of $179.99 after a $20 instant rebate, and the 10-inch version that launched with an introductory price of $299.99, will continue to be available at great values throughout the holiday season (www.nook.com).
 
The “A Book Is a Gift Like No Other” campaign features a voiceover by award-winning actress Sigourney Weaver (Avatar, Alien, Ghostbusters, Gorillas in the Mist) who helps powerfully illustrate that books are like no other gift in the world, just as Barnes & Noble is like no other bookstore. Books are beautiful, expressive, lasting and impactful, and when given as a present, they can be as meaningful to the giver as to the recipient.
 
“Books have a special place in people’s lives and Barnes & Noble is all about books. This campaign is about going back to our roots to highlight books as meaningful and inspirational gifts that can stay with the recipient forever,” said Glenn Kaplan, Vice President & Creative Director at Barnes & Noble. “Books are an expression of personal interests and passions in a way that other gifts just can’t match, and we look forward to welcoming customers to our stores this holiday season to help them discover the perfect gifts.”
 
Torrey Plank, SVP Account Director of Roberts + Langer DDB, said "There’s a certain magic to shopping at Barnes & Noble because you know you’re bound to find something beautiful and exciting, something you know you won’t be able to put down.  That element of discovery makes it like no other store in the world – and makes it the perfect place to find gifts for everyone on your list this holiday season.”
 
The TV spot opens with a series of poignant vignettes that illustrate how books provide unmatched experiences. Featuring a distinctive voiceover by Sigourney Weaver, each shot shows readers of all ages experiencing the gift of a book. It highlights that when you give a loved one a book, you give them far more than a piece of literature – you give them a journey, you give them a thrill and you can even give them a thousand laughs. The ad then transitions to a Barnes & Noble store that’s beautifully decorated for the holidays, with a sea of endless reading opportunities ready for discovery and staffed by friendly and knowledgeable booksellers ready to help find that perfect gift. Continuing through the store, the spot showcases endless book and gift options and also introduces the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK, now a full-featured tablet with a camera, GPS, and instant access to a massive selection of more than 3 million titles. The commercial closes with a woman receiving a book and as she cherishes this meaningful gift, the voiceover reminds us that “A book is a gift they’ll remember long after the holidays are over.”
 
The campaign was directed by Melodie McDaniel of The Director’s Bureau, edited by Stephen Jess @ WAX, with effects by Brigade @ WAX.
 
This 30-second television spot can be viewed at www.youtube.com/NOOK and is scheduled to air starting today across major networks including ABC, NBC Universal and CBS during top-rated network shows like Modern Family, Scandal, and The Voice.
 
In addition to an unmatched selection of books that make perfect gifts this holiday, Barnes & Noble stores are places of discovery with a vast selection of gifts, toy & games, DVDs, NOOK digital products and more to be experienced throughout the store. Customers can get expert recommendations from experienced and knowledgeable booksellers, or curl up with a book and enjoy a holiday beverage from the Barnes & Noble Café. No other store offers such a broad array of products to discover and experience in a welcoming and open environment for everyone in the family. For more information and to find the perfect gift, visit your local Barnes & Noble store or go online at BN.com.

The campaign marks the first work for Roberts + Langer DDB’s relationship with Barnes & Noble.