The Literary Life with Chip & Eric

Read the full article at MSNBC.com

MIAMI - Cassandra Smith spends $800 a month renting designer handbags and leases a luxury condo in downtown Miami. Environmentalist Zoee Turrill helped create a bike-sharing program at the University of Denver.

Though they might seem to come from different ends of the consumption spectrum, they have something in common: They’re not buying things.

The rise of rental or borrowing services catering from everyone from fashionistas to environmentalists has even spawned a marketing buzzword: the “transumer.”

It’s a lifestyle that’s “less about treasure and more about pleasure,” according Reinier Evers of Trendwatching, an Amsterdam-based market-research firm that coined the term.

It almost seems anti-American to rent, rather than buy; a look at the popular reality TV show “Clean House” is a testament to Americans’ love of accumulating stuff. But Evers says that in this global recession, people are warming to the idea of renting, and not buying, certain goods — because of cost, ease or space considerations.

“On the one hand, you have consumers who want to collect as many experiences and part-time possessions as possible,” Evers said. “And then there are transumers who value non-ownership for environmental reasons: to only use something when you really need it, which involves everything from renting to passing something on to the next person.”…….

…….Rentals also reduce the amount of natural resources spent on producing an item, says Eric Ginsberg of Bookswim, a New Jersey-based book rental company.

“There’s a tremendous amount of natural resources used to make books, DVDs, you name it,” he said. “Sharing an item also saves driving to and from the store. Our books come in the mail. Our books are essentially taking mass transit to get to our customers.”

Bookswim would not give out sales figures or the number of their subscribers, but Ginsberg said that in the past year and a half, the company’s membership has risen 500 percent……..

Watch the video at Yahoo.com

We love books, especially those juicy, page-turning bestsellers. But in these recessionary times, the average cost of a hardback ($26!) has put a cramp in our reading style. Sure we frequent the public library when we can, but unfortunately we can’t ever seem to get our hands on the latest must-read due to long waiting lists. (Plus, the library doesn’t serve mocha lattes or let us browse in our pajamas at 2 a.m.)

Enter BookSwim, a Netflix-style service for readers that specializes in current hardcovers. The concept is simple. Sign up for a monthly subscription (ranging from $20-$40 depending on how many books you want to have checked out at one time). Then log on to the the BookSwim site and set up your reading list. BookSwim mails you the books you crave, along with a prepaid shipping mailer to send them back. Keep books as long as you like (there are no late fees) and Book Swim ships you more upon their return.
The site was founded by George Burke who used to spend hours reading the latest releases at his local bookstore café, then put them back on the shelf at the end of the night. He noticed others were doing the same thing and got inspired to create a community for readers like himself. Their motto: read more, pay less.

And if a must-read becomes a must-have, no problem. BookSwim’s “try before you buy” policy lets you pay for any book that you just don’t want to send back.

If you’re wondering where to sign up, drop by the BookSwim website and you can start building your reading list today.

Read full article at CoolMomPicks.com

Need a couple of last-minute Father’s Day ideas to make tomorrow just a wee bit more special? We’ve got a few ideas that won’t cost you 8 zillion dollars in overnight shipping - or even a trip to the store……….

………5. Bookswim is like Netflix for books, and any erudite dad would love a subscription - along with some guaranteed time to actually read them. Right now code ILikeMyDad09 gets you $10 off a $50 gift card, or $25 off $100. And it’s a great choice for eco-crusaders too.

Read the article at InStyle.com

Having trouble deciding between Lauren Conrad’s buzzy new tome, a best-seller like Stephanie Meyer’s The Host or a classic book like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice? Don’t bother! Keep your beach tote packed with a subscription to Bookswim.com, an online book-borrowing service that functions like NetFlix. The process is stress-free: create a list of picks, they will ship directly to your doorstep, and don’t worry about returns—keep the books as long as you want with no shipping or late fees. Best of all, subscriptions start just under $10, which means you can all the books you’ve been dying to read, the new bikini you’ve been coveting and still have money left over for your summer getaway.

INSTYLE.COM READER SPECIAL
Enter “SUMMER09″ at checkout for one month free as part of a three-month subscription.

—Lisa Tilson

Read the full article at News12.com

“The only man a girl can depend on is a daddy,” said Frenchie in one of my favorite movies, Grease. That stuck with me. My dad has proved it to me time and time again! My father has taught me so much. He taught me to put family first, loyalty, to work hard, to value all of the things I am fortunate to have and take care of those things. He has tried to teach me how to take care of my car and save money, but I am still working on those things! My dad has always been there for me. He never missed a thing. He would play outside with all of the neighborhood kids and always entertain us. Poor dad happily sat through countless shows, dance recitals, cheerleading competitions, rounds of Candyland and even allowed my sister and I to do his hair! Til this day, he never misses a special segment or blog . I do have one complaint about Dad–in fact, it’s a running joke in our family. He is impossible to buy for. We get him a million gift cards–so boring. So this year I did a search for gifts for my dad, and yours. Maybe you’ll have better luck than I usually do!

Here’s what I came up with…………

If your dad travels- or just likes to read - try “Book Swim” . It’s like Netflix, but books. $20/month www.bookswim.com

Read the article at WUSA9.com

WASHINGTON (WUSA) — There’s a new term out there for all of you who want what you want when you want it. Without, that is, paying full price.

Transumer.

A transumer is motivated by the here and now. Say, you want that designer handbag. But you don’t want to charge up your credit card to bring it home.

Or, you rent books, DVD’s, or anything you want for the moment - just not forever.

Rental industry expert Eric Ginsberg, with Bookswim.com, says this kind of spender has gotten a boost from the economy.

And, because of companies like Netflix, that ushered in a new way to do business, consumers benefit.

“There’s the convenience of free home delivery. No due dates. No late fees. People have really embraced that as a model,” says Ginsberg. “Previously, rental was based on timeframes.

Online renting can save you hundreds or thousands on your favorite items. You keep more money and don’t have to worry about accumulating stuff you won’t use.

And, Ginsberg believes transumerism will continue even after the economy bounces back, as people realize they don’t have to spend all their money, to have everything they want.

Read the full article at Fort Wayne News Sentinel

Did you know there’s a book-rental service that works similarly to how Netflix rents movies?

BookSwim, www.bookswim.com, lends paperbacks, hardcovers, bestsellers, new releases and classics with free shipping both ways. Members can take as long as they want to read their books and won’t incur late fees. They even have an option to buy and keep the books they love. Plans range from about $15 to $40 a month.

BookSwim also rents college textbooks.

Read the full press release at Rutgers.edu

A nonprofit microlending organization and a new online phone application for commuters were considered to be the top two business ideas at the 9th annual Rutgers Business Plan Competition, hosted by Rutgers Business School’s Institute of Business, Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) . The competition qualifies student and alumni participants to submit their ideas for a new and innovative business to encourage the development of business plans that have the potential to become an engine of economic growth and job creation in New Jersey. This year’s prizes, totaling $35,000, were generously contributed by The New Jersey Sales Executive Foundation……

……Last year’s winning team, Bookswim, a book rental company based on the Netflix model, has since gained national attention and has been featured in prominent industry publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine’s quarterly Entrepreneur’s Startups and more.

Read the full article at AppScout.com

Do you go through 2, 3, or more books on a monthly basis? A heavy reading habit can add up, but now there’s BookSwim.
This site is similar to Netflix’s monthly renting plan, where subscribers can take out a certain number of books and return them whenever, with no late fees.

“Light reader” customers can receive 3 books a month for $19.98 per month. The “casual reader” can receive up to 5 books a month for $24.97 (that’s the price of 1 hardcover). The “avid reader” can receive 7 books each month for $29.96. Finally, the “devout reader” can receive 11 books a month for $39.94.

BookSwim also offers deals on textbooks and summer reading material for students.

Read the full article at CBSNews.com

(CBS) Before heading to the beach this summer, you’ll need everything from beach chairs to towels, coolers and carriers, and toys for the little ones…

…A LITTLE LIGHT READING

You love to read, but you don’t have time to browse the bookstores, or room for all those hardbacks, and you know how much they cost. Bookswim is perfect for you. It’s the “Netflix” for books. You go on the website, order the books you want, and they’ll deliver pretty much wherever you are at no extra charge, so you can get the whole family reading, for just $20 per month…

Read the full article at Publishersweekly.com

…From Anna Klassmann De Souza, Netflix: The economy has everyone down, but don’t let it affect your summer reading material. This Summer ‘09 BookSwim, the Netflix for books (online book rental), is offering one month free for summer reading. “Swimmers” can enter the code “SUMMER09″ at checkout for one month free as part of a three month summer subscription to BookSwim…

Read the full article at Seventeen.com

If you love to read, and you read a lot, you’re going to want to check out BookSwim.com…

…When you’re all done, you just mail it back and Book Swim will send you another one! Check out bookswim.com for more info!

Read the full article at MSN.com

Having shelled out close to $700 in car repairs last month and facing a chimney repair that is creeping up to $5,000 or more, I’m fed up with the endless cost of owning stuff…

…”You can get rid of the stuff that is clogging your life,” said Eric Ginsberg, the vice president of marketing for BookSwim, a Netflix-like service for books…

…But maybe the rental lifestyle offers a new way to spend money on what you really want.