Publishing News reports that wholesaler Gardners is moving into the digital age with the creation of a “digital warehouse” to complement its long–established business shifting physical books. “We are knitting together the myriad of new e-commerce services and platforms utilising digital technology for the benefit of booksellers and publishers,” says Commercial Director Bob Jackson.
Among the services on offer are all the things you’d normally expect of a digital warehouse, including capability for publishers to link their existing digital files, eBooks, audio downloads and extended bibliographic content such as ‘search inside’, with retailers. Publishers can also utilize a range of digitization services designed to enable any size of publisher to create digital content economically and to use it for publicity and eBook sales with all of Gardners’ customers. The wholesaler is using its existing IT staff, with input from IT services company Value Chain International, to administer the new service.