Weeblets is a new app developer, producing and distributing family-oriented mobile apps based on licensed animated videos.  They launched their first app, VeggieTales Spotisode Collection, as an Amazon Appstore for Android exclusive in early March.  “We knew we’d have the best chance for a successful launch if our app, which melds VeggieTales videos with the Weeblets gaming experience, could be merchandised alongside other VeggieTales products, where the fans already were,” said Weeblets CEO Adam Somer.  “With the promotion Amazon provided us for the exclusive, which they over-delivered on, we knew that it was the best decision we could make.”

Did the launch of your app perform to your expectations?

Somer:  This was our first release, so we set our install targets based on research and the stories we’d heard from the many developers we’d talked to during our planning. The launch wildly exceeded our expectations.  Amazon made sure that parents who knew VeggieTales already--and parents who might not yet know, but would likely love VeggieTales--found our app.  We could have made the best app in the world and used the most popular cartoon ever and still failed if we couldn’t get it to the fans.  Discovery is a real problem for developers, and the Amazon exclusive took that problem away and allowed us to focus on the app experience.

What do you feel are the benefits to selling your app in the Amazon Appstore for Android?

Somer:  Our apps are based on well-known licensed animations. Amazon’s ability to merchandise alongside related products is very unique and a critical asset when trying to reach the people who already love the properties.   Amazon has a special category and Best Seller list for just for kids’ apps; also sells VeggieTales videos, books, music, and other merchandise; has millions of people looking to load up their new Kindle Fires, and the ability to target promotions to all of them. Most importantly though, Amazon had the willingness to work with us and bring forward all their unique merchandising tools in order to set up a great launch promotional program and put our app in front of a very large number of the right people.

What’s next for Weeblets?

Somer:  We’re looking forward to the next stage as we begin to offer new features and levels in the VeggieTales Spotisode Collection, begin to experiment with Amazon’s In-App Purchasing API and look for new ways to promote our apps with Amazon.