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

In case you’re excited about supporting native bookstores when buying e-books as a substitute of huge firms like Amazon, Bookshop.org is likely to be growing 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 positioning lets you choose a close-by bookstore, and once you make a purchase order, it will get a share of the income. Earlier this 12 months, Bookshop.org expanded its help 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.

Nonetheless, one draw back of utilizing Bookshop.org’s e-book retailer is that you simply’re restricted to studying e-books on its cell app, moderately than on an e-reader gadget like a Kindle. In an interview with USA Today earlier this 12 months, Bookshop.org‘s founder and CEO, Andy Hunter, defined that is “on account of Amazon’s proprietary digital rights administration software program (DRM) and publishers’ DRM necessities.”

However evidently Bookshop.org may quickly have an answer to this situation: creating its personal e-reader gadget. Good E Reader just lately noticed a touchdown web page on Bookshop.org’s web site for an “E-book reader,” suggesting that the group might quickly introduce its personal.

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

Its CEO has stated up to now an e-reader is feasible

Since BookShop.org launched its e-book retailer earlier this 12 months, 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 tip of the 12 months (through Publisher Weekly).

With its e-book enterprise mannequin increasing quickly, it might 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 in addition on an E Ink gadget much like a Kindle or a Kobo. In accordance with Android Authority, Hunter has floated the concept of Bookshop.org making an e-reader earlier than, and that it is doable it may very well be launched through 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 impartial bookstore they’ve chosen to help.

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

If Bookshop.org introduces its personal e-reader, it might change into a robust competitor to Amazon’s Kindle lineup. I like the concept 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 incredible and looks as if the most effective 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 gadget might do and what it might imply for the way forward for native bookstores within the digital age.

Bookshop.org’s CEO stated on Threads earlier this 12 months that Kobo integration is on the “Bookshop.org 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.