Amazon just announced they have book the Book Depository. Sad news all round here. But it has a bigger impact than that. Only this morning we were discussing with a colleague who just returned from Australia the state of play with online over there (which should naturally be a big place for digital supplied products). Only major presence there at the moment... Book Depository.. So could this mean Australia get a *proper* Amazon anytime soon? If so, it could have a bigger impact than just the publishing world. Read the statement here.
*** UPDATE *** UPDATE ***
*** UPDATE *** UPDATE ***
Amazon issued a statement shortly after the announcement of the buy out stating that The Book Depository would continue to operate "independently" mirroring the approach they took with Lovefilm.
With Lovefilm I actually saw the takeover there as a good thing and assumed if the brand wasn't going to change then they might have invested in some UA testing and upgraded the site as a whole esp. to improve the online player and just the general navigation on the site. Surely they're going to keep Lovefilm doing what it does and roll out the best bits through an integrated netflix type solution on the main Amazon site?
My gut feeling is with the Book Depository Amazon just bought out their main competitor, because they could. But perhaps they're acknowledging that the BD's brand works because its more bookish and not amazon and so why tear out its main strength? BUT, I am convinced there are some strategic reasons behind the buy out as well. Not least because of the international ties the BP have.
Traditionally Amazon always launches new country sites with Books as the first category. And BP operate well if not better in some territories selling books were amazon do not yet have a site.
I could be completely wrong. We'll see.
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