The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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ArgentVive inks web development deal

04.12.07 Anna Richardson

ArgentVive, the e-commerce group formerly known as Samedaybooks, has signed a deal with Redberry Digital to develop its search tool BookRabbit into a new book buying and social network hybrid aimed at the "prolific book buyer".

Redberry will provide ArgentVive's Retail8 Consumer Division with design and build services in return for a fee and a share of the new BookRabbit 2.0 site's sales revenue.

The current version of BookRabbit offers a search and location service for users to help them find local bookshops using a mobile web browser, such as the iPhone. The new version is expected to launch mid-2008, with a number of additional features.

Kieron Smith, Retail8 m.d., said: "We are targeting a book selling market worth £550 million which is not being engaged with or adequately serviced. Our aim is to secure a significant market share by meeting the more demanding needs of prolific book buyers who, like us,
have a passion for books."

Retail8 has also appointed Will Jones as IT director, and Kwen Wan. Jones previously worked at Waterstone's where he developed the bookseller's new transactional website.

Retail Anna Richardson ArgentVive Redberry Digital Retail8 social networking