Just in time for the holiday season, my friend, Carrie of Dog-Eared and Well-Read reminded me of Barnes & Noble’s latest foray in the kid space.
Big Box book retailer, Barnes and Noble announced that they are rolling out a 3,000 sq. ft. playroom boutique concept in five test stores. Barnes & Noble is describing the play area as “Ultimate Playroom” Mega-Boutiques where interactive displays, creativity and learning through activities, scientific discoveries, and favorite children’s characters can underscore children’s experience at the bookstore.
Barnes & Noble has aligned partnerships with several toy manufacturers and brands who are well known in the educational sector, such as LeapFrog, Crayola, Curious George, Thomas the Tank Engine, among others.
According to B&N, after the initial testing period, there are plans to roll out this concept into other areas. The play spaces in the five test stores will be divided into five groups:
- Building
This area encourages construction that promotes critical thinking and problem solving and features partnerships with LEGO and Rokenbok. - Learning
This area encourages interactive reading through digital books and educational hand-held gaming and features a NOOK kids interactive station and products from LeapFrog, including the NEW Leapster Explorer. - Imagining
This area encourages creative thinking and cause and effect interactivity and features products from Playmobil, Calico Critters and Puppet Theater. - Creating
An interactive creativity area that features products from Crayola and American Girl crafts. - Playing
This area encourages play that support books. Featured products include Thomas the Tank Engine, Olivia, and Curious George.
Barnes & Nobles’ five test stores for the play area concept include: Enfield, Connecticut; Manchester, Connecticut, North Brunswick, New Jersey; Holmdel, New Jersey; and Bronx, New York.
As a lover of books and of toys, I’m still not quite sure how I feel about this concept. Sure, the two are great in separate spaces, but will this shift focus away from books altogether? Toy stores already carry books, but there’s never really an emphasis. With a test store several miles away, I’d love to check this out myself. What about you guys? What are your thoughts about the mega play area?
