Target set to sell Amazon’s Kindle nationwide
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — On June 6, Target will become the first brick-and-mortar retailer to sell Amazon’s Kindle electronic reader at its stores across the United States, the company said on Wednesday.
In late April, Target (TGT, Fortune 500) began selling the Kindle at its flagship Minneapolis store and 102 others in south Florida, as part of a test program. Wednesday’s announcement marks the roll-out of the device to stores nationwide.
“Our guest’s response to Kindle has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Mark Schindele, senior vice president at Target in a prepared statement.
The discount retailer, which is best known for its “cheap chic” merchandise, said it will sell Amazon’s (AMZN, Fortune 500) popular e-readers for $259 each, the same price as on Amazon.com.
In 2007, the Kindle became the first device of its kind to allow wireless downloads of digital books, magazines, newspapers, and even personal documents. Customers could sync their Kindle books to other electronic devices, including the iPhone and Blackberry (RIM).
Since Kindle’s launch, a flood of copycat devices have hit the market, as technology companies such as the Sony (SNE) and Hewlett Packard (HPQ, Fortune 500), as well as traditional book retailers such as Barnes and Noble (BKS, Fortune 500), vie for top dog status in the e-reader market.
In recent months, however, Apple’s (APPL) iPad, which also downloads digital books and magazines, has shown the first real signs of shaking Amazon’s grip.
According to a ChangeWave survey conducted in early May, Amazon’s Kindle has the largest share of the U.S. e-reader market at 62%, but the iPad, which has sold over 2 million units since its April debut, is gaining fast.
Target operates 1,740 stores in 49 states, which could help boost sales of the Kindle, Amazon’s best-selling product.
The Kindle Store, found on Amazon.com’s website, currently boasts over 550,000 titles in its library. That’s up from 90,000 when it launched just three years ago. 
