Software Now Available in Bookstores Worldwide
Book chains pick up new SoftCollection line from Abacus

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Abacus, the Grand Rapids computer book and software
publisher, has now received commitment from major book and software chains
in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to carry their new,
low-cost software line, the SoftCollection.

In the U.S., Waldenbooks, Software Etc., Electronics Boutique, Borders,
Follett College Bookstores and U.S. distributor, Golden-Lee, have agreed
to support the line. Outside the U.S., World's Biggest Bookstores and W.H.
Smith Bookshops in Canada will carry the line, as will Computer Bookshops
in the U.K., and several other international distributors, from the
Netherlands to Belgium to Australia.

According to Chuck Origer, Sales Director, "...price point and the variety
of subjects in the line..." were among the many reasons the SoftCollection
was so well received. Also according to Origer, "By being offered for sale
in the book channels, the SoftCollection titles represent increased
software accessibility to computer users. The book chain buyers who have
already picked up the line recognize that if these sideline products are
in the stores, they'll sell, and if they're not, the stores have lost an
opportunity to be more profitable."

Years ago, Abacus pioneered the move to publishing computer books with
companion diskettes enclosed, a practice that has become commonplace in
today's computer book marketplace. According to Arnie Lee, Abacus
President, "The practice of selling book and software combinations is
nothing new now, which is why we felt that the time was right for the
SoftCollection to fit into the computer book selling business. Another
reason for introducing the line now is that we've seen the tremendous
success that our European associates are having with these low cost
software products."

This software line was originally introduced in Europe, where two affiliate
companies, Micro Application in France and Data Becker GmbH in Germany,
have tested software in their book channels. The software sells very
strongly in independent and chain stores alike. In fact, the software line
now accounts for 34% of Data Becker's sales.

The SoftCollection includes a variety of programs, about 90% for Windows
users, including a complete desktop publishing program, DTP add-ons,
Windows utilities programs, entertainment, DOS desktop programs, and much
more. All the programs are priced from $15.05 to $19.95 U.S. The objective
behind the SoftCollection is to deliver targeted computing solutions to a
book and software combination, featuring high-powered software without the
high price.

Twenty titles in the Abacus SoftCollection line were shipping in late 1993,
with an additional eight titles released through January of '94. Abacus
has placed many display advertisements and was conducting mailings to
their customer base and reseller network through the end of the 1993.

Abacus is an established publisher of computer books and software since
1978. The company has published well over 300 titles that provide the
computer software and book market with information on "niche" topics that
many publishing giants overlook. Abacus books and software can be found at
chain and individual reseller locations worldwide.

Abacus
5370 52nd St S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
616-698-0330,  fax 616-698-0325

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