Barnes & Noble, Google Partner For Same-Day Shipping

By Brianna Ahearn, contributing writer

Barnes and Noble, a popular book and media retailer, announced it has entered into a partnership with Google. Google recently added the company to the offerings on Google Shopping Express, a same-day shipping service allowing consumers to shop for goods locally and have them delivered to their door. The offering is a unique partnership of brick-and-mortar stores from a consumer's local area.

Barnes and Noble seems to be jumping to compete with shopping giant Amazon.com, which recently rolled out same-day shipping for several cities. While the new service is limited to three areas, Barnes and Noble is alongside popular stores and members Target, Walgreens, and Staples in Google Shopping Express. The program will feature a three city delivery radius to start, with deliveries available in Manhattan, San Francisco, and West Los Angeles. Future details of the program's expansion are unknown at this time, though retail analysts anticipate Google Shopping Express will expand its delivery radius.

The partnership means consumers can browse for a book in a local Barnes and Noble location via Google Shopping Express. Once the consumer purchases the book, the item is pulled of the shelf of the local bookstore and delivered the same day. Not only does the program make local purchasing convenient and easy, but it also uses local stores, employees and merchandise. Google Shopping Express waives the delivery fees for six months when a consumer subscribes to the program. The partnership is a prime example of how Google and other companies are working to improve the customer experience by connecting them to goods in a speedy manner.

“We’re interested in doing anything we can do to create more access points to be able to serve customers in the way they want to be served,” says Jaime Carey, Barnes and Noble’s chief merchandising officer.

Barnes and Noble's new relationship with Google Shopping Express appears to be a good chance for the retailer to stay relevant and competitive in the industry, particularly during a time when bookstores are suffering. The company has decided to assess consumer needs with this unique hybrid of local shopping and online commerce. The two companies were formerly at odds, but now have teamed up to fight against Amazon.com.