27.02.14 | Lisa Campbell - The BooksellerSmith made the announcement at the IPG Conference this afternoon (27th February), telling publishers the enterprise should be “a collaborative effort to offer something new”.
The website, bestlittlebookshop.com will sell a wide range of books from all publishers, but it will also contain profiles where other “partner” booksellers from around the world will be able to offer collections of specialist and hard-to-find, unusual books. It will launch in four languages simultaneously: German, English, French and Arabic.
Smith, who headed the now Amazon-owned The Book Depository for five years before leaving the company last November, was adamant that the website would not be “driven by algorithms”, thereby differentiating itself from other online booksellers.
Smith said: “We believe good bookselling is a craft, that careful selection and exceptional service makes for more delighted book buyers. By being independently minded—not driven by algorithms to create book lists—we believe that we can add a human touch to book buying that is sorely missing online.”
Publishers will also be able to set up their own profiles to sell directly to consumers from the website. However, the platform will not sell e-books. Smith said: “I don’t believe that readers get to see some of the very exciting publishing happening out there at the moment. We’re living our lives more globally, yet getting access to a worldwide platform for books is tough. Books, both new and vintage, should be properly showcased. Readers haven’t abandoned their love of print quite yet.”
In addition to showcasing titles Smith feels do not currently get the attention they deserve, Best Little Bookshop will also offer categories in multiple languages. Smith described the website as “reader-focused, professional, innovative, beautiful in design and human in character”, and added that the company aimed to become “the most loved little online bookseller in the world”.
The business will be initially run by Smith with marketing support from his wife Sharon Smith while it takes off, before he appoints more staff. “I think there is room in the market for our business model,” he said.
He called on publishers interested in working with him to get in contact over the next few weeks. Before joining The Book Depository, Smith was previously the head of e-commerce at Waterstones and the head of online operations at GAME stores.
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