Parable.com, the online presence for The Parable Group family of independently owned retail partner stores, has discontinued its e-book sales.

Sally Ross, Parable Group’s marketing and communications strategist, indicated that consumers were not significantly interested in buying e-books from Parable.com.

“In response to lack of consumer demand for eBooks on Parable.com and to better serve our partner retailers, we made the decision to discontinue selling eBooks on Oct. 1,” Ross told Christian Retailing. “Our eBook customers were alerted via email in early October, and a follow-up reminder was emailed on Oct. 29. EBook customers have until Nov. 30 to access any eBooks they have not yet downloaded.”

Ross noted that Parable Group has observed a shift in consumer behavior in recent years.

“We’ve seen consumer demand shift to physical books ordered on Parable.com to ‘pick-up in-store,’ ” she said. “This online feature has seen significant double-digit year-over-year growth and has become a successful traffic-driving tool for our brick-and-mortar partners.”

Consumers do have other store options for Christian e-books, however. Covenant Group stores and the LifeWay Christian Stores chain are among them.

“The demand for eBooks is based on a number of variables, including author and genre, but is generally still growing at LifeWay Christian Stores,” LifeWay spokesman Marty King told Christian Retailing. “However, eBook growth is slower than projected by most in publishing and retail just a year or two ago. Demand for print books, of course, is still very strong, so the industry is trying to understand the relationship between print and digital.”

Innovative Inc. continues to sell e-books on the websites the company provides for more than 300 retailers and ministries. 

“We give the buyer the option to purchase the product on the website, in the store (generally at the same promotional discount as online) and the eBook or audiobook,” said Larry Haege, Innovative president.

Significant costs are involved in offering an e-book service, however.

“There is a high cost to create and maintain e-book stores, particularly with all of the digital rights management required,” Haege said. “Stores generally need to be a part of a group like Signature Marketing in order for eBooks to be feasible.”

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