The deal will allow Waterstones to sell Imagine’s full eBook range, including the successful For Beginners, Tips & Tricks and Genius Guide brands. With Waterstones providing free Wi-Fi and allowing customers to browse eBooks and download digital content via digital eReaders in store as well as at home, the quality bookstore chain is evolving to take advantage of what digital reading can offer in wake of a tablet and smartphone explosion with the likes of the iPad 3, Google Nexus 7, Samsung Galaxy S3 and the highly anticipated iPhone 5.
Group Creative Director Mark Kendrick said of the partnership: “Imagine is not about one route to market. It’s about choice. Our aim is to make our content available to as many readers on as many platforms as we can. This agreement with Waterstones gives us another outlet for our exciting technology and lifestyle eBook content, and makes it easy for customers already familiar with the Waterstones high street brand to purchase and enjoy an Imagine eBook.”
“Digital is now very much the equal to reading physical books,” he added. “And this partnership is yet another example of Imagine’s commitment to our ‘Content is King’ strategy of making our highly valuable technology content available to a global audience via as many top quality digital outlets as possible.”
Over its seven year history Imagine Publishing has transformed from a traditional print publisher to an international content powerhouse, says the company.
Specialising in technology, entertainment and knowledge Imagine claims to have pioneered the bookazine revolution on print newsstand, as well as being the first major publisher to bring its entire print portfolio to a digital platform. Waterstones represents another step in Imagine’s content strategy of expansion through digital platforms as part of a bigger internationalisation programme
Waterstones joins Imagine’s current group of digital content partners, including Apple, Amazon, Kobo, Zinio and WHSmith.
