
If you’ve been watching the e-book reader market evolve these last couple of years, you’ve probably noticed that the Amazon Kindle is still largely the most popular of these devices. The Apple iPad almost falls into a different category altogether, but its success needs to be considered as well.
With this in mind, how can alternatives like the Kobo eBook reader and the Barnes & Noble Nook compete? One major difference between these two offerings and the Kindle is that they are much more accessible in the real world. You can walk into a B&N store and try the Nook. You can’t, for now, walk into an “Amazon” store to try the Kindle.
That hands-on experience can win over a few people who are sitting on the fence and it seems that Amazon is recognizing that the competition could be taking away some of its potential customers. So, how is the online retailer combating its lack of real world retail presence? By partnering with existing retail stores!
There’s word that the Amazon Kindle will be sold at Staples stores soon and this may open the door to other “real world” retail experiences for the Kindle in the future. How can you apply this to your own business? If you have an online-only storefront, it may be worthwhile to consider how you can bring a real “hands-on” experience to your potential customers.
This could be by partnering up with existing stores, as is the case with Staples and the Kindle, or it could be setting up a kiosk or booth occasionally in high traffic areas. This way, real people can see your real products, rather than just an image on a computer screen.