The Bookseller.com

29th August 2008

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Christmas fray moves online

07.11.07 Graeme Neill

Internet retailers are jostling for position in the Christmas books market, as Amazon predicts the festive season will be its best yet. Amazon.co.uk launched its new offer "Gift Central" last week, providing recommendations by gender, product line and price. It is currently highlighting its Books of the Year, selecting four Books of the Week (sold at 55% discount), and discounting hundreds of new releases.

"It's shaping up really well. It's already in line to be our best Christmas yet," said Amazon lead account manager for books Amy Worth. Amazon predicted that its top five book gifts will be Jamie at Home, Nigella Express, The Dangerous Book for Boys Yearbook, Terry Pratchett and Ian Rankin.

The internet retailer also revealed that as part of its new Amazon Prime delivery service, which launched on Monday, customers within London and Birmingham can order books at 8.30am on Christmas Eve and receive them that evening at a price of £7.49 per item.

Meanwhile Play.com revamped its website this week with a Christmas look highlighting its two chief offers, a two for £20 on key chart hardbacks and four books of the week at half price. It has also introduced a gift finder service.

Its offer is backed by what Play's Georgina Stoaling described as a "significant" increase in advertising spend, including a books only ad campaign. She said that among titles doing well are Richard Hammond, Nigella Lawson, Eric Clapton, Life on Mars tie-in Rules of Modern Policing and Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Retail amazon Graeme Neill Christmas