BookLender: Difference between revisions
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| industry = [[Electronic Commerce]] |
| industry = [[Electronic Commerce]] |
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| services = Online book rental |
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==Corporate history== |
==Corporate history== |
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The company was founded in 2000 by Douglas Ross, who had previously run a computer systems company, and Andrew Bilinski, who had worked for the [[US Air Force]], [[Electronic Data Systems|EDS]] & BDM International. Ross originally come up with the idea for Booksfree in 1999, and after selling his company was looking at what to do next. [[United States dollar|US$]]1 million of start-up funding was provided by friends & associates.<ref name="FairfaxTimes20070411" /><ref name="WashPost20021002">{{cite news|title=The Bookmobile Reinvented; Va. Start-Up Booksfree.com Delivers Dime Novels, Adjusted for Inflation | url=http://www.booksfree.com/washpost_article.shtml | date=2002-10-02 | accessdate=2008-04-14 | publisher=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> |
The company was founded in 2000 by Douglas Ross, who had previously run a computer systems company, and Andrew Bilinski, who had worked for the [[US Air Force]], [[Electronic Data Systems|EDS]] & BDM International. Ross originally come up with the idea for Booksfree in 1999, and after selling his company was looking at what to do next. [[United States dollar|US$]]1 million of start-up funding was provided by friends & associates. In 2008, Booksfree was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s top 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies. In February 2009 they shipped their 2 millionth book.<ref name="FairfaxTimes20070411" /><ref name="WashPost20021002">{{cite news|title=The Bookmobile Reinvented; Va. Start-Up Booksfree.com Delivers Dime Novels, Adjusted for Inflation | url=http://www.booksfree.com/washpost_article.shtml | date=2002-10-02 | accessdate=2008-04-14 | publisher=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> |
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==Business model== |
==Business model== |
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Revision as of 17:49, 25 October 2010
| File:Booksfree logo.jpg | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronic Commerce |
| Founded | September 2000 |
| Founder | W. Douglas Ross & Andrew E. Bilinski |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Book rental service |
| Services | Online book rental |
| Website | www.booksfree.com |
Booksfree is an online book rental company, the first to offer flat rate rental-by-mail to customers in the United States[1][2]. Established in 2000 and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, it boasts an inventory of over 100,000 titles and more than 13,000 subscribers[3]. On June 8, 2007 the company announced that it had delivered its millionth book.[4]
Corporate history
The company was founded in 2000 by Douglas Ross, who had previously run a computer systems company, and Andrew Bilinski, who had worked for the US Air Force, EDS & BDM International. Ross originally come up with the idea for Booksfree in 1999, and after selling his company was looking at what to do next. US$1 million of start-up funding was provided by friends & associates. In 2008, Booksfree was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s top 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies. In February 2009 they shipped their 2 millionth book.[3][5]
Business model
The company has been described as "the books version of Netflix",[6] and therefore has a similar business model to online DVD rental companies. Titles are offered in paperback, CD & MP3 CD audiobook formats. Separate monthly membership plans are offered for each medium starting at $9.99 for books, $12.99 for MP3-CD audiobooks & $22.49 for CD & MP3 CD audiobooks. A combination membership encompassing all media is also available. Each plan limits the number of items that can be checked out at any one time. Subscribers can pay a higher monthly fee in order to increase that limit. It is also possible to rent individual titles without having a membership.[7]
Memberships
Subscriptions to the site have grown from 4,000 in 2002[5] and 5,000 in 2003[8] to over 13,000 in 2007.[3] The vast majority of Bookfree's subscribers are women,[5] and the company has received coverage in many magazines aimed primarily at a female readership such as Woman's Day, First for Woman, and O, The Oprah Magazine.[9]
Competitive environment
The company's founders were quoted in 2002 as considering their main competition to be libraries and online book retailers, noting that each has drawbacks compared with Booksfree.[5] Comparisons between the services generally focus upon the availability of audiobooks from Booksfree and their decision to not carry hardcover books.[10] BookSwim is a competitive service with a similar business model that launched in 2006.
References
- ^ "BOOKSFREE.COM". Washington Business Journal. 2000-09-29. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
- ^ Richards-Thomas, Kimberly (Fall 2001). "Hokies chase the dot-com dream". Virginia Tech Magazine. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
- ^ a b c Tayloe, Monty (2007-04-11). "Online lending library calls Vienna home". The Fairfax County Times. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Online Book Rental Service Reaches Milestone with Delivery of One Millionth Book". BooksFree. 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b c d "The Bookmobile Reinvented; Va. Start-Up Booksfree.com Delivers Dime Novels, Adjusted for Inflation". The Washington Post. 2002-10-02. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Book Junkies, Rejoice!". O the Oprah Magazine. 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Available Membership Plans". Booksfree. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ Licalzi O'Connell, Pamela (2003-05-08). "Online Diary - Rent A Book". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Media Coverage". Booksfree. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ Andriani, Lynn (2007-07-02). "Netflix Book Model Draws Competitors". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2008-04-14. [dead link]