Possible company sale shouldn’t worry Barnes & Noble gift cardholders
News that book retailer Barnes & Noble may be up for sale shouldn’t send consumers speeding to the nearest store, gift card in hand.
Barnes & Noble announced on Aug. 3 that it was considering a possible sale of the company. But a potential change in ownership won’t leave its gift cards valueless, Barnes & Noble and an independent expert say.
“The fact that the board is exploring strategic alternatives has nothing to do with the day-to-day business,” says Mary Ellen Keating, the company’s senior vice president of corporate communications. Barnes & Noble is continuing to accept its gift cards as usual, Keating says.
And it will likely continue to redeem store-issued plastic. Even if a sale were to happen, “that means the gift cards should still be viable under the new ownership,” says Tim Henderson, senior director with consumer research and advisory firm Iconoculture in Minneapolis. Henderson adds that he has no insider knowledge about the details of Barnes & Noble’s business plans. Read more…