Book shoppers in Manhattan, San Francisco Bay Area, and West Lost Angeles will soon enjoy same-day deliveries from Barnes & Noble through Google's online shopping and delivery company dubbed as Google Shopping Express.
Last year, Google launched Shopping Express in San Francisco through the mobile apps of Android and iOS as well as through the Web. Customers can purchase groceries and others on a day and enjoy their delivery within the same day. Google's book delivery is the company's way to pad up its services.
In the case of Barnes & Noble, the partnership could help the company increase its online sales with its own brick-and-mortar arm that seem to be in stagnant mode.
"It's our attempt to link the digital and physical," said Michael Huseby, chief executive of Barnes & Noble. He said that the arrangement with Google is like a test. At the same time, he describes it as a way to increase its online reach and improve the sales from its physical stores.
Google Shopping Express also works with other retailers such as REI, Target, Whole Foods, Costco, and many others, creating a new same-day delivery environment for their customers.
Amazon poses an increasing threat to the businesses of Google and Barnes & Noble. Its rise is said to have caused the decreasing sales in Barnes & Noble's physical shops. Moreover, it has consistently dominated the online industry of printed paperbacks.
Likewise, Amazon's popularity among online shoppers makes it a potentially strong rival to Google's thriving search engine advertising feature. With the addition of Barnes & Noble as a retail partner, it's no wonder why Amazon shouldn't take it lightly.
Several authors and book buyers have shown frustration with Amazon because of the latter's negotiating tactics with Hachette on e-book pricing. Google and Barnes & Noble see it as a great opportunity to enhance their services, thereby gaining more satisfied customers in the end.
"Many of our shoppers have told us that when they read a review of a book or get a recommendation from a friend, they want a really easy way to buy that book and start reading it tonight," said Tom Fallows, Google Shopping Express' director of product. "We think it's a natural fit to create a great experience connecting shoppers with their town's Barnes & Noble."
The Barnes & Noble stores that are partnering with Google would include the store on Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose, the Marina del Rey store that is near Los Angeles, and the Union Square store in Manhattan. Depending on the size of the store, Barnes & Noble has 22,000 to 163,000 titles.
