The National Business Review reports that Whitcoulls, the Australia and New Zealand-based book chain, is close to rolling out a new online bookstore, although it’s doing its best to keep the launch low profile. This is Whitcoulls’ second stab at creating an online site following the failed efforts in 2000 by its then owners, Blue Star Group, to get e-tailer Flying Pig fully off the ground.
Spokeswoman Lauren Thompson said the company had the potential to deliver goods much quicker in Australasia than if the orders were placed through Amazon.com. “It will be quite a sophisticated system,” Thompson said. The company declined to disclose the official launch date though NBR understands it will be in two months. Test runs of the Whitcoulls.co.nz site were conducted this week.