Mass marketing -- missed opportunity

[Sun_Cat]

The other day at a local supermarket I noticed a new display stand, prominently placed near the entrance. It holds several dozen varieties of colorful, branded gift cards from prominent retailers, both online and offline. Amazon is there (three flavors: generic, mp3 downloads, and Kindle books), as is iTunes. So are many others. Barnes & Noble is entirely absent. (Maybe they were sold out, but I doubt it. I saw no empty places.)

I don't know whether this reflects lack of aggression on B&N's part or simply lack of prominence, to the point that whoever distributes these things didn't bother to ask them to participate. Or could it be that "Julie" and her unruly kids don't shop at supermarkets?

I just find it disappointing. One more small way that B&N is falling behind in the marketplace.

[MDD73]

All of those Gift Card displays that I've seen in my area carry B&N cards. 

[Nallia Distinguished Bibliophile]

They carry B&N gift cards at all the supermarkets near me (Albertson's, King Soopers (Kroger), and Safeway).

[Fred011]

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MDD73 wrote:

All of those Gift Card displays that I've seen in my area carry B&N cards. 

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I have also seen them in several places lately.  Could it be a regional thing?

[Sun_Cat]

I'm glad to hear they're available elsewhere. Maybe they really were sold out here.

[frantastk]

All the giftcard displays around here have B&N giftcards, Wegmans, Giant, Acme (grocery stores),KMart, A.C. Moore and even the Michaels craft store that is just a few stores down from the local B&N. Those are the main places I've noticed them.