Amazon today moved to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint with the introduction of Amazon Source, a program that will let independent bookstores and other retailers sell the company's Kindle devices.

Those who sign up for Amazon Source will get a 6 percent discount on Kindles and 35 percent discount on accessories they sell, but will also have the option of earning 10 percent on every Kindle book purchased on sold devices for the first two years.

"We believe that retailers, online or offline, small or large, should be striving to offer customers what they want—and many customers want to read both digital and print books," Russ Grandinetti, vice president of Amazon Kindle, said in a statement. "For many years, bookstores have successfully sold print books on Amazon—now Amazon Source extends this opportunity to digital. With Amazon Source, customers don't have to choose between e-books and their favorite neighborhood bookstore—they can have both."

That 10 percent commission only applies to paid e-book purchases and single-issue periodicals. Magazine subscriptions, video content, apps and other content types are not eligible, Amazon said.

Amazon Source is split into two programs: Bookseller and General Retailer. "Our General Retail Program was crafted to meet the needs of retailers who just want to make money on the physical products they sell," Amazon said. "The Bookseller Program has an e-book commission component, which makes it a great fit for booksellers who curate and recommend books to their customers on an ongoing basis."

The program you choose depends on the state in which your store is located. If you have a location in an ineligible state, you have to pick the General Retailer option, and do not have the option to earn commission on e-book purchases.

Ineligible states include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Vermont.

Participants can switch between retailer and bookseller once a year, Amazon said. They can also return any purchased merchandise within six months with no penalty, as well as sell other e-readers in conjunction with the Kindle.

Amazon tested the program during a local pilot phase that included stores like the University of Puget Sound Campus Bookstore in Tacoma and JJ Books in Bothell. Interested parties should email Amazon at [email protected] to learn how to sign up.

At this point, Amazon largely sells its Kindle devices through its own website. The e-readers and tablets have been available at big box retailers in the past, but last year, Target and Walmart stopped selling Amazon's devices.

Though Amazon has seen more success with its Kindle lineup than Barnes & Noble has with the Nook, B&N does offer the in-store experience for those with questions and concerns, something it has mentioned numerous times when comparing itself to the Kindle.

Amazon Source, meanwhile, applies to the entire Kindle lineup. For more, see PCMag's reviews of the 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Paperwhite, and the low-cost Kindle.