blogspot.com

Over the past decade, the success of companies like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba have made the advantages of electronic commerce apparent. Business transactions over the Internet create greater value for a larger customer base. Individuals have the ability to instantly purchase goods and services at any location and at any time. Aside from the complexities in properly running a successful E-commerce website, operational and start-up costs are low.

Publisher HarperCollins has now taken on the task of relaunching its website, focusing solely on selling HarperCollins titles and authors directly to readers. The initiation of this project is seen by some as an attempt to combat HarperCollins’ and other publishers’ reliance on Amazon as a sales channel. The risk of this reliance has become apparent in the dispute between Hachette and Amazon; while the two companies fight over e-book terms, Amazon has decreased customers’ accessibility to Hachette titles.

Developing its own direct-sales channel will give HarperCollins more control over the interaction and relationship with their customers, not only in the US but worldwide. The new HarperCollins.com will significantly decrease the power of the middleman, and give HarperCollins a better position in negotiations with retailers.

http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2014/harpercollins-pivots-to-sell-print-and-ebooks-directly-to-readers-through-main-website/