Kobo revealed a new partnership with the American Booksellers Association today, giving independent bookstores a new way to sell eBooks.The program will launch 400 participating bookstores, all of them using Kobo’s collection of nearly 3 million digital books. ABA members will share in the revenue on every sale.
Indie bookstores can only sell digital books through Google currently, but that program will end early next year. Kobo’s new program will start in October. Here’s more from Kobo:
By partnering with the nearly 2,000 ABA-member stores, Kobo continues its successful strategy of working with booksellers around the world, and America’s indie booksellers grow their ability to discover and deliver great reads, in any format, to their customers … The program includes valuable training, in-store merchandising, marketing, sales, and logistics solutions to help independents be successful. ABA members will also be able to offer ebooks directly to their customers online.