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

For those who’re concerned about supporting native bookstores when buying e-books as a substitute of huge firms like Amazon, Bookshop.org may be creating an e-reader gadget 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 while you make a purchase order, it will get a share of the earnings. 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 simply’re restricted to studying e-books on its cellular app, moderately than on an e-reader gadget like a Kindle. In an interview with USA Today earlier this yr, Bookshop.org‘s founder and CEO, Andy Hunter, defined that is “resulting from 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 challenge: creating its personal e-reader gadget. Good E Reader lately 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 up to now an e-reader is feasible

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

With its e-book enterprise mannequin increasing quickly, it could make sense for Bookshop.org to contemplate launching its personal e-reader, so readers can get pleasure from their books not solely on the app but additionally on an E Ink gadget just like a Kindle or a Kobo. In response to Android Authority, Hunter has floated the thought of Bookshop.org making an e-reader earlier than, and that it is potential 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 earnings 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 might turn out to be a powerful 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, moderately than relying solely on Amazon. I get pleasure from visiting and making purchases at my native bookstore, however I additionally respect the comfort of e-books. An e-reader that lets me learn digitally whereas supporting my native store can be implausible and looks as if the very best 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 arduous to not get enthusiastic about what this gadget might do and what it might 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 can learn any Bookshop.org e-books on a Kobo gadget.