LONDON, October 16 /PRNewswire/ --
- Increased Footfall in Stores and Increased Online Purchases
- Wider Spread of Products Available to Consumers
- First New iPhone Application to Hit the UK
A new mobile phone service was launched today offering the first location
specific book and bookstore locator service in the UK. The service,
BookRabbit (tm), gives consumers with an Internet enabled mobile phone,
details of where their nearest bookshop is, upon entry of just a postcode or
location. The service is free to retailers and booksellers and will help
drive online and offline custom to stores, leading to increased sales and
brand awareness.
BookRabbit (tm) is designed to be accessible and play on the idea of a
rabbit hole of data where customers can burrow for more. If you want a
bookshop then the rabbit will get it for you, if you want a book then it'll
get that too.
The service is currently optimised for Apple's iPhone and iTouch units,
which are the first of a new generation of mobile phones with larger screen
sizes and Internet access. BookRabbit (tm) also utilises Google's Mapping
service to give satellite and detailed geographical data.
Kieron Smith, Managing Director of Retail8, the consumer division of
Argent Vive PLC, which owns the BookRabbit (tm) service said:
"We see this as a start of something new and exciting, first we've made
it possible for consumers to find their nearest bookshop wherever they may
be. This will help bookstores gain increased footfall and enable booksellers
to showcase their inventory to consumers seven days a week. Soon stores will
be able to upload their inventory and customers can find out how close they
are to the book they want. We're also adding bookshop reviews and event
details to BookRabbit (tm), so soon we're sure it will be a key reference
site in every booklover's pocket as well as an invaluable tool in the
bookseller's sales armoury. The service is free and lists all booksellers
who want to be listed. All they have to do is register their details on the
web site. We're looking at more innovations that will help independent
booksellers over the next few months, in conjunction with Midas Merchant also
part of Argent Vive PLC, for customers we're putting together an exciting
multi-channel plan."
Notes to Editors
The service has been designed to take advantage of the iPod Touch and the
iPhone using the touch screen interface; it will also work on any other
internet enabled phone using the web service.
There are over 1,700 UK bookshops already listed on the service and we
aim to roll out inventory information as retailers sign up. Bookshops can add
themselves to the site by visiting http://www.BookRabbit.com/bookshop.
BookRabbit is owned and developed by Retail8, the consumer division of
ArgentVive plc (ArgentVive.com) formally Samedaybooks plc. ArgentVive plc is
an e-commerce group with market leading technology and the development
capability, infrastructure and sales models to rapidly expand in B2B and B2C
markets.
The aim of the company is to develop online businesses in order to become
a major provider of internet based solutions to enterprises across a wide
range of industry.
The http://www.BookRabbit.com site has a demo of the service and
photos are also available from the BookRabbit Media office on
+44(0)1932-569-912.
For more information, please contact Martin Hearn at BookRabbit on
+44(0)1932-569-912, martin@bookrabbit.com
|
