There’s something beautifully calming about walking into a quiet bookstore, but with the convenience of large-scale online retailers and the economic consequences of the pandemic, small stores are facing unprecedented challenges. To survive, local bookstores are banding together and selling through Bookshop, an online retailer that rivals the likes of Amazon and still benefits your independent bookstore. The site has been so successful that it expanded from the US to the UK just this week.
Started by the co-founder of Literary Hub, Andy Hunter, Bookshop allows independent bookstores to create a virtual storefront on their platform and ensures they receive the full profit margin they would get from selling at their physical location. Bookshop handles customer service and shipping. Users can browse in participating bookstores or by title and be randomly paired with a store.
The site began with 250 participating stores and now hosts over 900. So far, they have raised over $7.5 million for local bookstores across the US. Bookshop is a B Corporation and their mission statement declares they exist “to benefit the public good by contributing to the welfare of the independent literary community.”
Bookshop’s British branch launched yesterday with 130 participating stores. They expect to host over 200 by the end of the year. The local bookstore has been an epicenter of the community for generations. Fortunately, Bookshop allows customers to continue to support their locally-owned store with all the convenience of online shopping. If you’re looking for a new great read or are seeking more ethical holiday shopping avenues, we encourage you to check out Bookshop.
