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

In the event you’re taken with supporting native bookstores when buying e-books as a substitute of huge firms like Amazon, Bookshop.org is likely to 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 whenever you make a purchase order, it will get a share of the earnings. Earlier this 12 months, 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 cell app, relatively 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 “as a consequence of Amazon’s proprietary digital rights administration software program (DRM) and publishers’ DRM necessities.”

However it appears that 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 mentioned previously an e-reader is feasible

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

With its e-book enterprise mannequin increasing quickly, it could 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 gadget just like a Kindle or a Kobo. In line with 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 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 ebook or an e-book from Bookshop.org, a lot of the earnings go to the impartial bookstore they’ve chosen to assist.

“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 may develop 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, relatively than relying solely on Amazon. I get pleasure from visiting and making purchases at my native bookstore, however I additionally recognize the comfort of e-books. An e-reader that lets me learn digitally whereas supporting my native store could be unbelievable and looks like 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 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 12 months 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 gadget.