tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914401126533757247.post7825877079138370388..comments2024-01-23T07:51:33.212+00:00Comments on Claude Forthomme's Blog : Heralding the Future in Bookselling: A Zero Commission Bookstore for Self-Published AuthorsClaude Forthommehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871790739257823515noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914401126533757247.post-48915846953968339462013-10-07T08:36:26.163+01:002013-10-07T08:36:26.163+01:00Thanks, Sara Mills, for dropping by and sharing a ...Thanks, Sara Mills, for dropping by and sharing a little more about BWB and where it's heading - it sounds like you are heading in a very good direction!<br /><br />Speaking as a reader, I'm happy to hear that you are setting up a book review system that will be different from Amazon's, more independent from personal attacks and systemic bias. That's important and to be welcomed. <br /><br />And, in my view, it will be important for writers too: being featured on your bookstore's digital shelves will be a mark of guarantee that the book is a "good read", professionally edited. This is not the case with Amazon and it is certainly an area where independent e-stores can compete successfully.Claude Forthommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871790739257823515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914401126533757247.post-21931844824952127712013-10-02T21:27:51.166+01:002013-10-02T21:27:51.166+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sara Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06966303182572653516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914401126533757247.post-53697161454722453982013-10-02T21:25:41.529+01:002013-10-02T21:25:41.529+01:00Hi Claude,
I'm one of the partners at Bookstor...Hi Claude,<br />I'm one of the partners at Bookstore Without Borders. What a great post, and you have some insightful thoughts about the future of the book industry. <br />As for BWB, we've got an eye to the future as well. One of our partners is a software engineer who has built us not just an eBookstore, but a multi-layered platform that will bring all kinds of features to our store. One of those we will be rolling out soon is our review system. We will have a stable of professional reviewers reviewing the books on our site so that readers can get an honest, professional assessment of the books they're interested in buying. We want to take away the personal attacks and negativity that comes along with an open reviewer system, while still giving the reader valid, well-thought out reviews. <br />Our focus is on indie books and I think you're absolutely right about new bookstores needing a focus if they're going to compete. Another thing that BWB does differently is that we have content restrictions on our books so that BWB remains a family friendly website.<br />Just thought I'd share a little more about who we are and where we're headed.Sara Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06966303182572653516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914401126533757247.post-3187020098155105012013-10-02T07:51:34.952+01:002013-10-02T07:51:34.952+01:00A.M.Boyt and Renee, thanks for the comments. Yes, ...A.M.Boyt and Renee, thanks for the comments. Yes, I agree, any start-up facing Amazon has a steep road ahead! <br /><br />But I think an e-book store that would try to reproduced the whole range of book genres offered by Amazon would be destined to fail: too much to take on, too costly. The model to follow (in my view) is the one suggested by my analogy. If an e-bookstore makes a name for itself in a particular genre, possibly by setting up a website to review books and having a series of respectable reviewers on board to select the books on offer, then I do believe it would have a fighting chance and attract customers.<br /><br />Book discoverability remains the major hurdle for both writers and readers as you both know. Such a store, with a clear reputation and brand, would go a long way to solve the problem! Claude Forthommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871790739257823515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914401126533757247.post-54696579810041457252013-10-02T00:05:11.228+01:002013-10-02T00:05:11.228+01:00Interesting, and I agree with A.M. Boyt; there are...Interesting, and I agree with A.M. Boyt; there are a lot of factor to consider - however, I do believe it's just a matter of time before Amazon sees real competition. I read somewhere where their share of sales has slowed (can't remember where I read it), so people are willing to look elsewhere for books. We'll see what happens...Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12660062238426864621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914401126533757247.post-86640725288079912982013-10-01T21:34:48.921+01:002013-10-01T21:34:48.921+01:00This is interesting. The infrastructure required t...This is interesting. The infrastructure required to maintain something like this let alone advance it is very, very high. That would concern me. Where is the customer service portion of the website. Amazon didn't get big just by being there, they are able to chronically underprice competitors while offering superior customer service. This concept is viable, but it has a long way to go in order to compete w/ The Beast! Good luck to them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00737058644258162648noreply@blogger.com