Tie-up for selling books online

Makook.com, a pioneering online auction site in the Middle East and the North African (MENA) region, and Magrudy's bookstore chain have announced a strategic alliance for the sale of books online.

Effective yesterday online shoppers looking for bargain prices will be able to start bidding for any of the four Harry Potter books on the makook.com website. The promotion also includes a children's fancy dress competition on January 30.

"Makook.com is likely to attract many more retailers in future. It is a simple and inexpensive way for them to expand their market reach. For makook's customers, this means access to more and better deals," said Khalid Al Tayer, CEO and co-founder of makook.com.

Makook, one of the first companies incubated from Dubai Ideas Oasis in 2001, won the 'E-Biz Challenge' from Dubai Internet City out of 1,385 global entrants.

The company aims to build a dynamic online marketplace based on an auction service offering an inexpensive and effective online sales channel to individuals and businesses across the MENA region.

Initially, Magrudy's will only use the makook.com site to sell their promotional book titles, but toys and other merchandise will follow soon afterwards.

Mansoor Abulhoul, development manager for Magrudy's, explained: "As an online sales channel, makook adds a lot of value. It provides business with an additional sales avenue at no cost, while affording consumers the possibility to purchase goods at below-store prices."

Having placed their bids for their favourite Harry Potter title online, fans can wizard their way to Deira City Centre on January 30 at 5pm and join in a clue-solving mission dressed as their chosen character from the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone movie.

More information and entry forms for this event are available in-store at Magrudy's.