Abebooks.com, a leading online marketplace for books, announced the launch of Abebooks.com.au and Abebooks.co.nz. The company said its 300 independent sellers from the region asked for a local site that would feature their own books.

"There is vibrant book culture in Australia and New Zealand, yet no major online book retailer helping booksellers sell their books to the world," said Hannes Blum, president and chief executive officer of Abebooks. "Abebooks has arrived to connect people with booksellers in this region, and to showcase these books to a wider international market."

The microsite features books by local authors and showcases books on local history, biography, language, and culture. Book prices can be viewed in Australian dollars, and books that are located in Australia and New Zealand can be searched for first.

Guy Weller, general manager of Mr. Pickwick's Bookshop in Katoomba, New South Wales is one of the 300 Australian and New Zealand booksellers now selling via Abebooks. "Frankly, we are impressed. In a very short period, Internet sales via Abebooks have climbed to around 14% of our total sales, and we sell a lot of books in our store," Mr. Weller said. "The oddest things have sold ­ books we would never consider a likely seller in our own store. Our first order was for an obscure West Australian family history, and that came from Ireland. Then The Concrete Manufacturers' Year Book from 1935, which went to Slovenia, of all places."

To launch the microsite Abebooks is running ads in Australian and New Zealand print media with the tagline "Because You Read." Abebooks staff will visit nine cities in July and August to help sellers start selling online. Tour stops include Adelaide, SA; Auckland, New Zealand; Brisbane, QLD; Byron Bay, NSW; Canberra, NSW; Melbourne, VIC; Newcastle, NSW; Singleton, NSW; and Sydney, NSW

http://www.abebooks.com.au

http://www.abebooks.co.nz