ENTRIES TAGGED "retail"

We need incognito book purchasing

There are valid reasons for wishing to purchase a book without being tracked

In the physical realm, purchasing a book without revealing one’s identity involves little effort beyond proceeding to a store one does not usually patronise and paying in cash. Unless one is seeking illegal volumes, which are unlikely to be obtained at neighbourhood booksellers’ anyway, these obvious techniques are nearly guaranteed to throw friends, banks, and marketers off the scent.

Alas, there is no such thing as an incognito shopping trip in the digital world. Not only are our transactions permanently etched into our credit card records, they are carefully logged and scrutinised by the stores themselves. Any purchase on Amazon, to name but one, forever hounds us in the form of recommendations, obvious or otherwise. Emails and pages are subtly optimised to highlight content related to our past acquisitions, whether in style, length, or subject matter. While we may be given opportunities to decline outright suggestions, there stops our control of the process — and we must provide a reason for declining, which further enriches our personal file.

Read more…

The reinvention of the bookseller

The reinvention of the bookseller

Coffee shops were game changers for bookstores in the '90s. What's next?

Once booksellers accept the reality they can no longer just sell books, they can begin evolving into something dynamic and unique.

Join us in celebrating International Day Against DRM

Join us in celebrating International Day Against DRM

Trust your customers to do the right thing and you'll earn their business.

A DRM-free world is one where retailers will find it much harder to create a monopolistic position that locks you into their device or format.

The problem with deep discount ebook deals

The problem with deep discount ebook deals

Deep discounts need to be associated with some sort of return.

Joe Wikert says publishers should move away from one-product deep discount campaigns and start thinking about how to build a much more extensive relationship with customers.

How online bookstores should get social

How online bookstores should get social

A social layer on book sites would help readers, retailers and publishers.

What if you could take the social aspects of brick-and-mortar bookstores and blend them with the convenience of online sales? Joe Wikert explains how an online social layer would benefit everyone involved in the publishing chain.

Piracy isn't just about price

Piracy isn't just about price

A piracy research report makes a strong point about pricing, but results may be too narrow.

The "Media Piracy in Emerging Economies" report offers good insight about the realities of pricing, but the "Don't Make Me Steal" manifesto offers a broader perspective on why people pirate digital content.

Publishers get creative to keep books on shelves

Publishers get creative to keep books on shelves

Non-traditional retail channels help publishers expand reach with better terms.

Retail bookselling isn't dead, it just moved. Publishers are now selling books through stores that sell clothing, housewares, kitchenwares, toys, and even paper and gift supplies.

For booksellers, the future is brighter than it seems

Kassia Krozser says digital publishing won't kill bookstores if it's properly acknowledged.

Though stories abound about the impending doom booksellers face in the digital era, Kassia Krozser says brick-and-mortar retailers still have a future.

Kindle vs Sony Reader: Battle of Distribution Channels

Sony is distributing its e-reader through Target, Borders and other retail outlets, while the Kindle remains Amazon-only. Does Amazon have enough pull to trump Sony's traditional model?