AUCKLAND, Today: A new campaign designed by Auckland agency Republik – with PR input from Impact – to help Kiwis find a love of books will see dozens of bestsellers given away for free today (Valentine’s Day).
The concept launched by online retailer Bookdepository.com utilises a temporary bookshelf set in regional locations around New Zealand.
In addition to bestselling titles from international writers, a number of well-known Kiwi authors’ titles will also be given away.
Book Depository’s Mitch Lang says while by global standards New Zealanders are avid readers and have one of the highest per-capita rates of book consumption, there are many who prefer to social media over paperbacks.
“In a digital age where content is consumed in byte size, the love of a good book has been lost to many and there is an entirely new generation of young adults who have not known a time when books were their first source of information and inspiration,” he said.
“Some of these campaigns are being utilised by the online retailer in their other markets overseas.”
“The initiative today is about helping lapsed bibliophiles renew their relationship with reading and, also inspiring those who have never experienced the sensation of rushing home to start a new book.”
Republik’s Paul McNamara said: “The Valentine’s Day activation is part of a larger stream of successful marketing concepts created for the online retailer.
“This latest campaign is designed to drive consumers to connect with a vast number of book titles available online.
“The positive results from the creative we have developed for Book Depository has seen them adopted in other countries including Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland and Argentina and we anticipate the results of this latest work may also see it exported as well.”
McNamara says they will work with public relations agency Impact PR to help bring the activation to life in Wellington and Christchurch.
Lang says in keeping with the Valentines’ Day theme, there will be romance, poetry and drama titles available, however the majority of the books are from the New Zealand bestsellers list and cover a range of genres such as food & beverage, history, science, biographies, science, fiction, personal development and children’s titles.
He says the free books will only be available today, and limited to one per person and can be selected up from the shelf with no purchase required.
“Nielsen data shows New Zealanders buy more than six million hardcopy books per year and our own figures have found Kiwis are the second-highest consumers of physical books among the countries we supply to.
“Demand for hard copy books through online channels remains strong in the region with around 6% of New Zealand’s population considered an active subscriber and says their growth in sales in this country is driven by the offer of free delivery on 20 million titles.
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