Bookshop.org is reported to be working on an e-reader device of its own, Good e-Reader reported. This, if true, will mark the boldest expansion the company has ever attempted so far, one that could position the company as a new entrant in a segment that has long been dominated by Amazon.
The company earlier made headlines when it launched its online bookstore in the United States early this year. The online platform also came out in support of independent bookstores and has funneled millions of dollars to small bookstores across the United States. This way, customers had a way to buy books online while supporting local shops. This business model also pitched it in direct competition with Amazon.
The company had also launched an app for reading purchased titles. There are also plans to offer audiobooks as well. It is also in the process of setting up shop in the United Kingdom as well where there are reports of introducing e-books and audiobooks in the coming months. The company already boasts an expansive catalog of content, which includes bestsellers to niche works. Buyers have the option to direct a portion of each sale to their favorite indie bookstore.
However, there is no information yet as to what the upcoming Bookshop e-reader is going to be like. That said, CEO Andy Hunter has openly suggested they are exploring the possibility of launching e-reader hardware. Chances are that the venture is going to be crowdfunded. This would be in line with its central business theme, where it pushes for community-driven values. The company is also reported to have developed a landing page hinting at the project.
Such an e-reader will have one huge advantage over Amazon, which essentially locks users to its closed content ecosystem. In contrast, the Bookshop e-reader is expected to support multiple ecosystems, much like Android-powered e-readers from the likes of Onyx Boox, Bigme, and so on. This, hopefully, will leave it to the users to decide on the e-book reading app they’d prefer to use.
Such a device can also be a boon for the thousands of indie book shops spread across the United States. They can sell the hardware locally and earn commission in the process, both from the hardware as well as digital content sales. This can expand to the UK as well once the digital bookstore starts its operation in that country. If the venture proves profitable, those who have been opposing being tied to a closed ecosystem will have something to cheer about.
For now, the project remains speculative. But if Bookshop.org follows through, the independent bookstore movement may soon have a physical device to champion its cause—and readers may gain a genuine alternative in a space long shaped by Amazon.
