Barnes & Noble Announces Fantastic Lineup for the First-Ever Retail Mini Maker Faire® at Stores Nationwide, November 6-8
Customers of All Ages Can Engage with Cutting-Edge Technology from
XYZprinting, littleBits, Raspberry Pi, Sphero, Ozobot, and More
Customers Can Also “Meet the Makers” at Barnes & Noble Stores
Nationwide, Including Dale Dougherty, the Founder and Executive Chairman
of Maker Media/Maker Faire
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS), the nation’s largest retail
bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and
educational products, today revealed its impressive lineup of events,
products and special guests to be featured at its stores nationwide
during the first-ever retail Mini Maker Faire, from Friday, November 6,
through Sunday, November 8. Throughout the weekend, customers will have
the opportunity to participate in interactive product demonstrations to
learn about programming, coding and 3D printing, and to take part in
collaborative hands-on experiences designed to stretch their
imaginations and creative thinking as they work cooperatively to make
something original. They will also be able to “Meet the Makers,” as
leaders in the Maker Movement and local Makers will visit Barnes & Noble
stores nationwide, including Dale Dougherty, the Founder and
Executive Chairman of Maker Media/Maker Faire, Simon Shen, CEO of
XYZprinting, Ayah Bdeir, Founder and CEO of littleBits, Nader Hamda,
Founder and CEO of Ozobot, Parker Thomas, Inventor of Maker Studio, Bill
Ritchie, Founder of ThinkFun, plus so many others at stores
nationwide.
All product demonstrations and collaborative hands-on-learning
experiences will be repeated throughout the weekend so customers can
fully experience the three unique areas in stores— Make Workspace, Make
& Collaborate and Meet the Makers— which combined deliver an authentic
and robust Mini Maker Faire. Customers should contact their local store
to find out event times and visit BN.com/MakerFaire
for more information on the Mini Maker Faire.
“Barnes & Noble is always focused on providing the best possible
experience for our customers, and we think the Mini Maker Faire lineup
takes this promise to the next level. The never-before-done schedule of
events, interactive activities and speakers we’re announcing today sets
a new standard for experiential retailing,” said Kathleen Campisano,
Vice President, Toys & Games at Barnes & Noble. “We’ve put together a
fully integrated schedule that allows customers to experience every
aspect of the Mini Maker Faire, whether they want to pack everything
into one amazing day, or come back each day over the weekend to make,
collaborate and learn about something new.”
“Make” Workspace
At all Barnes & Noble stores nationwide during the Mini Maker Faire,
there will be a “Make” Workspace, or a tech-educational expo space,
where booksellers and Makers will demo some of the leading products in
technology today that teach users of all ages the valuable skills of
coding and 3D printing. There are five featured products:
-
The da Vinci Jr. 1.0 3D Printer from XYZprinting, which
is affordable, perfect for anyone from a first-time 3D designer to an
aspiring inventor, and the number one 3D printer for the home, office
or classroom (K-12); -
Ozobot, which makes robotics easy by using the
simplicity of color to teach programming and break the barriers of
technological intimidation; -
Sphero SPRK Edition, which teaches coding and programming and
will be powered by NOOK® during the demonstration; -
The Slipstream Drone from Protocol, a 4-channel
radio-controlled mini quad copter; and -
Meccano Meccanoid from Spin Master, a four-foot-tall,
programmable, walking, talking robot for children.
In addition, throughout the weekend select Barnes & Noble stores will
offer a special Make backpack and Make project card decks with the
purchase of a print subscription of Make: Magazine, while
supplies last.
“One of the things we’re most excited about with this new partnership
with Barnes & Noble is the unique ability to provide Makers nationwide
with an authentic Mini Maker Faire experience concurrently simply by
visiting their local store” said Sherry Huss, Vice President of Event
Operations and co-founder of Maker Faire. “The incredible lineup across
almost 650 Barnes & Noble stores will provide seasoned Makers with a
fulfilling experience and introduce new audiences to the growing Maker
Movement.”
“Make” & Collaborate, then SHARE!
At the Mini Maker Faire, Barnes & Noble customers of all ages will also
have the opportunity to get hands-on experiences around the art of
designing, handcrafting and constructing, in the spirit of
collaboration, cooperative learning and teamwork.
Among the featured products for children are:
-
Electronic Snap Circuits from ELENCO, which combine to create
working circuit boards just like the ones found inside televisions,
radios and other electronic devices; -
littleBits, which takes circuitry one step further with its
magnetic capabilities and puts the power of electronics in kids’
hands. These electronic building blocks allow anyone to create simple
or complex inventions; -
Maker Studio™ from ThinkFun, featuring essential engineering
parts including gears, spools, connectors, wheels, rods and hubcaps to
inspire imagination and a genuine love for making; and -
LEGO® Bionicle Bricks, which will
allow children to build their own adventures.
Adults will also have the opportunity to make and collaborate using
products like:
-
Extraordinaires® Design Studio PRO, available exclusively at
Barnes & Noble, which will challenges participants to think outside
the box through its unique 3-step process involving research, design
and improvement; -
Ideas then begin to take shape with LEGO®
Architecture Studio, bricks which can be used to make
incredible architectural designs and can also be used to rapid
prototype almost anything the mind can imagine.
Additionally, on Saturday, November 7, at 2PM, select Barnes & Noble
stores will host special Raspberry Jam events designed to teach
attendees how to use Raspberry Pi, a tiny and affordable computer
that helps users learn programming through fun, practical projects.
Twelve of these events throughout the country will feature product
evangelists from Raspberry Pi who will speak about the product,
including Matt Richardson, co-author of Getting Started with
Raspberry Pi, at Barnes & Noble’s Emeryville, CA, store. Customers
should contact their local store to find out if a Raspberry Jam event
will take place there, and if any special guests will be hosting.
Meet the “Makers”
Throughout the Mini Maker Faire, Makers, educators and authors dedicated
to changing the way people learn, ideate, design, create, build and
embrace the future will visit stores nationwide to speak about the Maker
Movement, present their creations and more.
High-profile special guests include Dale Dougherty, Founder and
Executive Chairman of Maker Media/Maker Faire, at the Barnes & Noble in
Union Square (New York City) on Friday, November 6, at 7PM; Ayah Bdeir,
Founder and CEO of littleBits, at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square
(New York City) on Saturday, November 7, at 1PM; Nader Hamda,
Founder and CEO of Ozobot, at Barnes & Noble at the Grove (Los Angeles)
on Sunday, November 8, at 12 Noon; and Parker Thomas, Inventor of
Maker Studio, at the Barnes & Noble in the Prudential Center (Boston).
Plus, a special all-star panel event will be held at the Barnes & Noble
in Union Square (New York City) on Sunday, November 8, at 1PM, featuring
the CEOs and Founders of several companies that lead the Maker Movement
through their creativity and innovation. They include Simon Chen,
CEO of XYZprinting, Bill Ritchie, Founder of ThinkFun, Rory
O’Connor, Founder of The Creativity Hub / Design Extraordinaires, Anita
Murphy, Founder of The Creativity Hub / Design Extraordinaires, and
more. Customers should contact their local store to find out what
special guests are participating during the Mini Maker Faire, or visit www.bn.com/storelocator.
In the spirit of sharing, participants are also invited to upload any
pictures they take at Barnes & Noble’s Mini Maker Faire events to social
media using the hashtags #BNMakerFaire or #MakerFaire.
For more information, customers should visit BN.com/MakerFaire
to make sure they do not miss out on the first-ever retail Mini Maker
Faire hosted by Barnes & Noble, where they will experience hands-on
learning and making opportunities in the areas of ideation, creative
thinking, art, design, construction and innovation, as well as
programming, coding and 3D printing – with activities for children ages
five and up to adults.
About Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s
largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital
media and educational products. The Company operates 647 Barnes & Noble
bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites,
BN.com (www.bn.com).
The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK®
tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and
entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store
features more than 4 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com)
and UK (www.nook.co.uk),
plus periodicals, comics, apps, movies and TV shows, and offers the
ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through
Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS®
and Windows®.
General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting
the Company’s corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.
Barnes & Noble®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers®
and Barnes & Noble.com® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble,
Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK® and the NOOK logos are
trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.
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About Maker Media
Maker Media is a global platform for connecting makers with each other,
with products and services, and with our partners. Through media, events
and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing community of makers who
bring a DIY mindset to technology. Whether as hobbyists or
professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing
projects that demonstrate how they can interact with the world around
them. The launch of Make: magazine in 2005, followed by Maker
Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is
transforming innovation, culture and education. Headquartered in San
Francisco,
Maker Media is the publisher of Make:
magazine and the producer of
Maker Faire. It also develops “getting started” kits and books that
are sold in its
Maker Shed store as well as in retail channels. The Make: brand
caters to a universe of more than 25 million makers collectively across
its Make: magazine, makezine.com, Maker Faires, and Maker Shed
properties.
Contacts
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Mary Ellen Keating, 212-633-3323
Senior
Vice President
Corporate Communications
mkeating@bn.com
or
Alan
McNamara, 212-633-3379
Director
Corporate Communications
amcnamara@bn.com
or
Maker
Media, Inc.
Brita Muller, 818-554-5932
Digital Marcom & PR
Manager
brita@makermedia.com
