Readme.fi
Readme.fi is a Finnish online bookstore and publishing house selling Finnish-language non-fiction and children's books directly to consumers. It operates as Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, a subsidiary of Bonnier Books Finland, serving individual Finnish readers and families via its readme.fi e-commerce site.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHelsinki, Finland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Readme.fi does
Readme.fi is a Finnish online bookstore and publishing house (kustantamo) operating as the consumer-facing brand of Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, a private limited company (Business ID 0599340-0) and subsidiary of Bonnier Kirjat Suomi Oy (Bonnier Books Finland), itself part of the Bonnier Group. Founded in 2004 and headquartered at Lönnrotinkatu 18A, Helsinki, the company specializes in Finnish-language non-fiction (tietokirjat) and children's books (lastenkirjat), with editorial categories spanning cookbooks, nature/outdoor guides, sports and fitness, hobbies, military history, self-improvement, and an extensive children's line that includes licensed franchise titles (Harry Potter, LEGO, Star Wars, Minecraft). The catalog also includes activity books, sound books with audio buttons, and educational titles.
The company operates a standard proprietary e-commerce platform at readme.fi serving as both storefront and primary marketing channel. The site features categorized product browsing, new releases, upcoming titles, promotional deals, author information, and direct purchase with home delivery within Finland. No mobile app, public API, or third-party marketplace integration is documented. The platform's underlying technology is described as conventional e-commerce infrastructure without proprietary differentiators.
Readme.fi generates revenue exclusively through one-time physical book sales at fixed retail prices (ranging approximately €14.90 to €44.90 per title, with discounted offerings down to €15.00). The business model is direct-to-consumer (B2C), with no subscription, freemium, or recurring revenue component and no enterprise or B2B sales motion. The customer base consists of Finnish-speaking individual consumers and families, segmented horizontally across persona types (adult readers across hobby categories and parents/children). The company employs approximately 10 people and operates from a single Helsinki location, with operations and compliance governed by EU GDPR frameworks under the Bonnier Books Finland parent.
Readme.fi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Readme.fi
- Legal name
- Readme.fi/Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö
- Website
- https://readme.fi
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Readme.fi is a Finnish online bookstore and publishing house selling Finnish-language non-fiction and children's books directly to consumers. It operates as Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, a subsidiary of Bonnier Books Finland, serving individual Finnish readers and families via its readme.fi e-commerce site.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Readme.fi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing (MPAJAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Children’s Reference & Informational Series Publishing (MPAJAFAN)
Keywords
Where Readme.fi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helsinki
- HQ country
- Finland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Readme.fi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Physical Book Sales: Readme.fi generates revenue through the sale of physical books (hardcover and paperback) via its e-commerce website. Customers purchase individual books at listed prices with no subscription model. Revenue is one-time per transaction with no recurring component.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual book purchases at fixed retail prices |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Readme.fi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Readme.fi is a Finnish publishing company and online bookstore that publishes and sells Finnish-language non-fiction books (tietokirjat) and children's books (lastenkirjat) directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform readme.fi. The catalog spans cookbooks, nature and outdoor guides, sports and fitness books, hobby guides, travel guides, personal development, war and military history, and family literature, including licensed international franchises such as Harry Potter, LEGO, Minecraft, and Star Wars. The company operates as the consumer brand of Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, a subsidiary of Bonnier Books Finland, delivering physical books to customers across Finland.
Product overview
Readme.fi is a Finnish online bookstore and publishing company (verkkokirjakauppa ja kustantamo) specializing in non-fiction books (tietokirjat) and children's books (lastenkirjat). The company is part of the Bonnier Books group and operates as Readme.fi / Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö. Their catalog includes a wide range of subject areas including cookbooks/ruokakirjat, travel guides/matkaoppaat, nature guides/luontokirjat, sports and fitness books, hobby guides, military history books/sotakirjat, personal development, and an extensive children's book section with titles spanning fiction stories, activity books, sound books with audio buttons, and educational books. The e-commerce platform allows customers to browse, purchase, and have books delivered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Peruna! Kasvipohjaisia perunareseptejä kaikille (Peruna! Plant-Based Potato Recipes for Everyone)
Companies that use Readme.fi
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Readme.fi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Readme.fi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Werner Söderström OsakeyhtiöcoreReadme.fi is the consumer-facing brand and website of Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö (Business ID: 0599340-0), a Finnish publishing company and part of Bonnier Books Finland. Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö is the legal entity operating the Readme.fi brand.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Readme.fi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Schildts & Söderströms: Schildts & Söderströms is a Finland-Swedish publisher producing literature, non-fiction, and children's titles in both Finnish and Swedish. It is a direct peer in publishing Finnish-language non-fiction and competing for the same authors and shelf space.
- Suomalainen Kirjakauppa: Suomalainen Kirjakauppa is Finland's largest domestic bookstore chain, with both physical stores and an online store. It is a direct peer because it sells Finnish-language books across lifestyle, fiction, and children's categories to the same end consumers.
- Otava: Otava is one of Finland's largest publishing houses, producing Finnish-language fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. It is a direct peer because it competes with Readme.fi / Werner Söderström in acquiring authors and publishing Finnish non-fiction titles.
- CDON: CDON is a Nordic online marketplace selling books alongside other consumer goods. It is a direct peer because it offers physical books online to Finnish consumers, competing with readme.fi on convenience, pricing, and catalog breadth.
- Adlibris: Adlibris is the leading Nordic online bookstore, operating across Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. It is a direct peer because it sells physical books to Finnish consumers through its own e-commerce platform, competing head-on with readme.fi for Finnish-language titles and licensed international IP.
- Tammi: Tammi (part of Bonnier Books Finland alongside Readme.fi) is a major Finnish trade publisher of fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. It is a direct peer because it publishes overlapping Finnish-language content for the same consumer base.
Emerging players
- BookBeat: BookBeat is a Bonnier-owned audiobook and e-book subscription platform operating across the Nordics. It is an emerging player within the same Bonnier ecosystem, representing the digital reading format that competes with readme.fi's print-only offering.
- Storytel: Storytel is a leading Nordic audiobook and e-book subscription service. It is an emerging player because it represents the digital format that Readme.fi does not currently offer, capturing consumer reading time that could otherwise be redirected to print.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Readme.fi social profiles
Digital presenceReadme.fi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Readme.fi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Readme.fi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Readme.fi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Readme.fi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Readme.fi
What does Readme.fi do?
Readme.fi is a Finnish publishing company and online bookstore that publishes and sells Finnish-language non-fiction books (tietokirjat) and children's books (lastenkirjat) directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform readme.fi. The catalog spans cookbooks, nature and outdoor guides, sports and fitness books, hobby guides, travel guides, personal development, war and military history, and family literature, including licensed international franchises such as Harry Potter, LEGO, Minecraft, and Star Wars. The company operates as the consumer brand of Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, a subsidiary of Bonnier Books Finland, delivering physical books to customers across Finland.
Is Readme.fi a public or private company?
Readme.fi is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Readme.fi founded?
Readme.fi was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Readme.fi based?
Readme.fi is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, in the Europe region.
How does Readme.fi make money?
One revenue line is on record: physical Book Sales.
Who are Readme.fi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Schildts & Söderströms, Suomalainen Kirjakauppa, Otava, CDON, Adlibris and Tammi. Emerging players are BookBeat and Storytel.
Does Readme.fi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Readme.fi.
What industry is Readme.fi in?
Readme.fi's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAH, Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAFAN, Children’s Reference & Informational Series Publishing. Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.