This potential new e-reader may get me to throw away my Kindle

Should you’re concerned about supporting native bookstores when buying e-books as an alternative of enormous firms like Amazon, Bookshop.org is perhaps creating an e-reader system that accomplishes simply that.

For years, Bookshop.org has been the go-to place to purchase books on-line whereas nonetheless supporting native bookstores. The location lets you choose a close-by bookstore, and once you make a purchase order, it will get a share of the income. Earlier this yr, Bookshop.org expanded its assist for native bookstores by launching an e-book store and its own mobile app within the US. This implies now you can purchase e-books whereas nonetheless supporting your native bookstore.

Nevertheless, one draw back of utilizing Bookshop.org’s e-book retailer is that you just’re restricted to studying e-books on its cellular app, fairly than on an e-reader system like a Kindle. In an interview with USA Today earlier this yr, Bookshop.org‘s founder and CEO, Andy Hunter, defined that is “attributable to Amazon’s proprietary digital rights administration software program (DRM) and publishers’ DRM necessities.”

However plainly Bookshop.org would possibly quickly have an answer to this subject: creating its personal e-reader system. Good E Reader not too long ago noticed a touchdown web page on Bookshop.org’s web site for an “E-book reader,” suggesting that the group could quickly introduce its personal.

Bookshop.org’s e-book gross sales are on the rise

Its CEO has mentioned previously an e-reader is feasible

Since BookShop.org launched its e-book retailer earlier this yr, the corporate has already offered over $1 million value of e-books. Its CEO, Andy Hunter, says the corporate now tasks $3 million in whole e-book gross sales by the top of the yr (by way of Publisher Weekly).

With its e-book enterprise mannequin increasing quickly, it will make sense for Bookshop.org to think about launching its personal e-reader, so readers can get pleasure from their books not solely on the app but additionally on an E Ink system much like a Kindle or a Kobo. Based on Android Authority, Hunter has floated the thought of Bookshop.org making an e-reader earlier than, and that it is doable it might be launched by way of a crowdfunding marketing campaign.

Since Bookshop.org’s inception, the corporate has raised over $40 million for native bookstores. When somebody buys a bodily e book or an e-book from Bookshop.org, a lot of the income go to the unbiased bookstore they’ve chosen to assist.

“Bookshop.org places this mission and the general public good above monetary pursuits, giving over 80 % of our revenue margin to unbiased bookstores,” the group explains on its web site.

If Bookshop.org introduces its personal e-reader, it may turn into a robust competitor to Amazon’s Kindle lineup. I like the thought of an e-reader that lets me purchase e-books whereas supporting my native bookstore, fairly than relying solely on Amazon. I get pleasure from visiting and making purchases at my native bookstore, however I additionally admire the comfort of e-books. An e-reader that lets me learn digitally whereas supporting my native store can be incredible and looks like the perfect of each worlds. Though the present replace is only a web page on Bookshop.org‘s web site that claims “E-book reader” with no additional particulars, it is onerous to not get enthusiastic about what this system may do and what it may imply for the way forward for native bookstores within the digital age.

Bookshop.org’s CEO mentioned on Threads earlier this yr that Kobo integration is on the “Bookshop.org e book roadmap,” so whether or not it launches its personal e-reader or not, hopefully, someday within the close to future, you’ll learn any Bookshop.org e-books on a Kobo system.