NY Times: Growth slows for online book sales

Growth in online sales of books and other merchandise has slowed dramatically, according to a report in today’s New York Times.

Online online book sales will rise an estimated 11 percent this year, compared with nearly 40 percent last year.

EBay reported that revenue from Web site sales increased by just 1 percent in the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year.

Other highlights:

In response, a so-called clicks-and-bricks hybrid model is emerging, said Dan Whaley, the founder of GetThere, which became one of the largest Internet travel businesses after it was acquired by Sabre Holdings.

The bookseller Borders, for example, recently revamped its Web site to allow users to reserve books online and pick them up in the store….

Barnes & Noble recently upgraded its site to include online book clubs, reader forums and interviews with authors. The company hopes the changes will make the online world feel more like the offline one, said Marie J. Toulantis, the chief executive of BN.com. “We emulate the in-store experience by having a book club online,” she said.