Kobo, a Rakuten company and leading innovator in the digital reading space, today announced the eRead Local program for American Booksellers Association (ABA) members, created to encourage customers to try eReading. With the belief that eBooks have a place in the lives of even those most passionate about the printed page, Kobo is committed to showcasing how the format can complement any reading life by putting money behind the idea.
The eRead Local program is set to launch later this summer and will run for 100 days, with the exact timing to be determined. Participating ABA members will receive $5 USD per new Kobo customer acquired. What’s more, each new customer who creates a Kobo account through an affiliate ABA member will receive a $5 USD credit for use toward their first purchase of a Kobo eBook.
ABA members who acquire 100 new customers will be entered for a chance to win an in-store event with a bestselling author, and those who acquire 50 new customers will be eligible for a chance to win Kobo eReaders for in-store customer contests to help generate further in-store foot traffic. In addition, members will be provided with a full Kobo marketing kit, which will include a term sheet, promotional posters, online banners, and a reading app communication guideline.
“As we continue to strengthen our partnership with the ABA, we’re pleased to offer this comprehensive incentive program, with the goal of driving more customers to member stores through an expanded eBook offering,” said Michael Tamblyn, President and Chief Content Officer, Rakuten Kobo. “We’re passionate about enabling people to read more often and at more times throughout the day – in line at the grocery store, on a work lunch break, or while waiting to pick up kids between their daily activities. Our free reading app allows people to turn the devices they already use on a daily basis into an eReader, which we believe is the perfect way to complement their existing reading lives by giving them more ways to get into their next great book.”
For more details about the eRead Local program, please contact Catherine Villar, Partner Manager, North America, Rakuten Kobo at cvillar@kobo.com.
For more details about Kobo: www.kobo.com
About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s fastest-growing eReading services offering more than 4.7 million eBooks and magazines to millions of customers in 190 countries. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo provides consumers with a choice when reading. Kobo offers an eReader for everyone with a wide variety of E Ink eReaders and Google-Certified Android tablets to suit any Reader’s style including the award-winning Kobo Touch™, Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura, Kobo Aura H20, Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Arc, Kobo Arc 7, Kobo Arc 7HD, Kobo Arc 10HD – and the newly launched Kobo Glo HD. Along with the company’s free top-ranking eReading apps for Apple®, BlackBerry®, Android®, and Windows®, Kobo ensures the next great read is just a page-turn away. Headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten, Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains around the world. For more information, visit www.kobo.com.
