17 December 2010

Leading book and gift retailer Whitcoulls is selling hundreds of e-readers per day as the Christmas rush sets in.

The company, which was the first to launch an e-reader into the New Zealand market with the Kobo in May, says the devices are their #1 gift pick.

“They are just flying off the shelves,” says Whitcoulls marketing manager Catherine Collins. “Some people are choosing the Kobo models, the latest model being WiFi enabled, while others are opting for one of the two Sony e-readers we have available. Kiwis have really embraced having their library available while they’re on the go,”

New to the range is the Kobo WiFi ($249) which enables the user to browse, purchase and download eBooks directly to their device from any WiFi hotspot. It comes pre-loaded with 100 books, has 1GB memory and its compact size makes it an easy fit for all your bags purses and packs while the quilted back is designed for comfort.

Linking in with the soaring sales of e-readers is a huge rise in the number of e-books being purchased off the Whitcoulls website, www.whitcoulls.co.nz

“Whitcoulls’ e-Book sales have averaged about 200 per week since launch and are selling thousands of e-books via our website. In the run up to Christmas the lift in both sales and interest has increased significantly,” says Collins.

As for the most popular gifts in their bricks and mortar stores, Annabel Langbein is top of the cook book list while Tom Clancy is up there in the thriller section.

Anything Glee or vampire-related is being swooped on for teenagers while Nick Danziger’s photo-essay volume Mana is a must for All Black fans.

For the littlies, the latest title from Wonkey Donkey author Craig Smith, Willbee The Bumblebee, is proving very popular.

ENDS

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