News

W H Smith launches Priority Moments with O2

25.07.11 | Lisa Campbell

W H Smith has launched a new half-price book promotion in partnership with mobile phone network O2, which it said has the potential to reach 22 million new customers.

Priority Moments, which launches today (25th July), allows O2 customers to download a free app which will allow them to take advantage of special offers with many of O2’s partnership companies.

People on the O2 network will be able to buy two Priority Moments “pick of the week” books at WHS for half price each week, starting with Alan Sugar’s memoir, What You See is What You Get (Pan Macmillan), and Stephen King’s Full Dark No Stars (Hodder). The app will show users their nearest offers within a particular locality.

Toby Keir, head of non-fiction and digital at WHS, said he hoped the offer would help to target a wider market of readers. He said: “O2 has 22 million customers who will be able to take advantage of this offer, it is a vital new market for us and we hope it will encourage more people to get into reading—it is nearly 40% of the population.”

Other companies which have signed up to O2 Priority Moments include Zizzi restaurant, Yo! Sushi, Hotel Chocolat, Wallis, Fitness First and Pizza Hut.

WHS has signed a deal to be the only bookseller in the Priority Moments offer for a year and will support the new campaign with in-store promotions. O2 customers without smartphones can text 2020 to take advantage of the offer.

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By Alex

Hi Everyone,
I am doing some research on mobile phone provider’s loyalty programs, such as O2 Priority. I basically want to find out if these kinds of loyalty programs act as incentive to choose a particular mobile phone provider. If you have a mobile, and if you’ve heard of loyalty programs before great! Please take 2 minutes of your time and answer my short survey, most questions are multiple choice anyway! I would appreciate your help very much and by answering the survey, you are improving my research method!

http://www.kwiksurveys.com?s=NMMOOO_a7c91391

Wed, 27/07/2011 - 18:25
By Barry H

I understand that, but Stephen King and Alan Sugar were going to sell anyway, let's be fair. Why not do one well established name and one lesser known author, at least?

It isn't going to happen, I know, because all they're thinking about is profit, I'm just saying it would be nice to give some great mid-list authors some promotion.

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 11:11
By Peter

WHS does need to offer new and fresh lists to build on their reputation of offering fresh new books, otherwise people will eventually tire of the same old few bestsellers that are available for 50% or more discount from everywhere. I came across a great new lifestyle books publisher recently: www.greatestguides.com and WHS should be taking a bit of a risk and promoting something like that. Food for thought anyway if the right people at WHS read this.

Thu, 28/07/2011 - 10:23
By Disgruntled

Just checked their site - R&J book club, R&J kids book club, and a page dedicated to the TV Book Club - They showcase plenty of new authors/books.

so, to modify a quote:

'WH Smith have put their heads together and come up with a list of a dozen or so great books by lesser known authors who could really benefit from a scheme like this'

Thu, 28/07/2011 - 11:37
By WHS Worker

This promotion started last week, commencing the 18th and Bill bryson's At home was the first title.

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 20:21
By Walshie

what like the Richard and Judy Book club that showcases new authors twice a year? check your facts you cynic

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 16:31
By Barry H

Of course I want businesses to survive, what a ridiculous thing to say.

And yes, the Richard & Judy book club is a great thing, although obviously nowhere near the scale it was a few years ago. And don't publishers have to pay a large sum to have their books included in the scheme? I believe that was the case with the R&J children's book club that ran earlier this year, at least.

Mid-list authors are "a business" too. Looking at it from a business point of view, Stephen King and Alan Sugar are in no danger of "going under", but a lot of great mid-list authors are, as are a lot of smaller publishing houses. No, they're not high-street chains, but if we lose them then what are the booksellers going to stock? The same top 20 authors over and over again, churning out "safe" stories on the strength of their existing brand?

Wed, 27/07/2011 - 14:07
By Walshie

i thought that was business was about or do you want to see the high street completely empty?

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 16:32
By Barry H

Great! Because Alan Sugar and Stephen King need all the help they can get in attracting readers. Their books would likely have gone unheard of were it not for this offer.

Let's hope other equally little-known writers benefit from the scheme in the future. I see someone called Bill Bryson is featured in the graphic at the top of the page. I wonder if he's any good?

That was sarcasm, by the way. Just in case anyone missed it.

Wouldn't it have been nice if O2 and WH Smith had put their heads together and came up with a list of a dozen or so great books by lesser known authors who could really benefit from a scheme like this? I don't think Stephen King et al need the help, really.

Mon, 25/07/2011 - 23:45
By Daphne Bentwater

It's not about lesser known authors. It's about selling some books and making some money.

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 08:54
By Walshie

like i said the Richard and Judy book club is run twice a year, promotes new authors and is also included in the offers most weeks i just think nobody wants business's to survive nowadays makes me laugh

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 16:35
By Barry H

Great! Because Alan Sugar and Stephen King need all the help they can get in attracting readers. Their books would likely have gone unheard of were it not for this offer.

Let's hope other equally little-known writers benefit from the scheme in the future. I see someone called Bill Bryson is featured in the graphic at the top of the page. I wonder if he's any good?

That was sarcasm, by the way. Just in case anyone missed it.

Wouldn't it have been nice if O2 and WH Smith had put their heads together and came up with a list of a dozen or so great books by lesser known authors who could really benefit from a scheme like this? I don't think Stephen King et al need the help, really.

Mon, 25/07/2011 - 23:45
By Walshie

what like the Richard and Judy Book club that showcases new authors twice a year? check your facts you cynic

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 16:31
By Daphne Bentwater

It's not about lesser known authors. It's about selling some books and making some money.

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 08:54
By Walshie

i thought that was business was about or do you want to see the high street completely empty?

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 16:32
By Barry H

I understand that, but Stephen King and Alan Sugar were going to sell anyway, let's be fair. Why not do one well established name and one lesser known author, at least?

It isn't going to happen, I know, because all they're thinking about is profit, I'm just saying it would be nice to give some great mid-list authors some promotion.

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 11:11
By Walshie

like i said the Richard and Judy book club is run twice a year, promotes new authors and is also included in the offers most weeks i just think nobody wants business's to survive nowadays makes me laugh

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 16:35
By Barry H

Of course I want businesses to survive, what a ridiculous thing to say.

And yes, the Richard & Judy book club is a great thing, although obviously nowhere near the scale it was a few years ago. And don't publishers have to pay a large sum to have their books included in the scheme? I believe that was the case with the R&J children's book club that ran earlier this year, at least.

Mid-list authors are "a business" too. Looking at it from a business point of view, Stephen King and Alan Sugar are in no danger of "going under", but a lot of great mid-list authors are, as are a lot of smaller publishing houses. No, they're not high-street chains, but if we lose them then what are the booksellers going to stock? The same top 20 authors over and over again, churning out "safe" stories on the strength of their existing brand?

Wed, 27/07/2011 - 14:07
By WHS Worker

This promotion started last week, commencing the 18th and Bill bryson's At home was the first title.

Tue, 26/07/2011 - 20:21
By Alex

Hi Everyone,
I am doing some research on mobile phone provider’s loyalty programs, such as O2 Priority. I basically want to find out if these kinds of loyalty programs act as incentive to choose a particular mobile phone provider. If you have a mobile, and if you’ve heard of loyalty programs before great! Please take 2 minutes of your time and answer my short survey, most questions are multiple choice anyway! I would appreciate your help very much and by answering the survey, you are improving my research method!

http://www.kwiksurveys.com?s=NMMOOO_a7c91391

Wed, 27/07/2011 - 18:25
By Peter

WHS does need to offer new and fresh lists to build on their reputation of offering fresh new books, otherwise people will eventually tire of the same old few bestsellers that are available for 50% or more discount from everywhere. I came across a great new lifestyle books publisher recently: www.greatestguides.com and WHS should be taking a bit of a risk and promoting something like that. Food for thought anyway if the right people at WHS read this.

Thu, 28/07/2011 - 10:23
By Disgruntled

Just checked their site - R&J book club, R&J kids book club, and a page dedicated to the TV Book Club - They showcase plenty of new authors/books.

so, to modify a quote:

'WH Smith have put their heads together and come up with a list of a dozen or so great books by lesser known authors who could really benefit from a scheme like this'

Thu, 28/07/2011 - 11:37

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