Independent bookstores can only sell what is on the physical shelves. Hardly any bookstore has a website where customers can place orders and have them shipped out. Digital books are easy to buy, but if you don’t want to deal with Amazon, Google, or Kobo, there aren’t many alternatives. Bookshop.org has just launched an e-book section of their website, and their entire business model is to help indie bookstores in the United States to start selling e-books directly to customers and earn a commission for doing so.
Through Bookshop.org’s E-Book platform, indie bookstores can compete with Amazon’s Kindle apps. Built to bolster revenue streams for brick-and-mortar bookstores, Bookshop.org’s digital books initiative is a monumental addition to its multi-award-winning giveback model and an advancement for the book industry. Empowering local bookstores to sell digital products and earn 100% of the profits from those sales highlights Bookshop.org’s ongoing commitment to supporting local bookstores in the digital age.
“When we launched Bookshop.org, the vision was to support local bookstores in their battle against Amazon and other online retailers,” says Andy Hunter, CEO and Founder of Bookshop.org, “This launch represents our commitment to bookstores and their communities. We’re focused on keeping bookstores afloat and helping them flourish in the digital age.”
Launched in January 2020, during a pivotal moment for bookstores, Bookshop.org has raised over $35 million for independent bookstores in the United States alone. As a certified B Corp, Bookshop.org allocates over 80% of its profit margin to over 2,200 independent bookstores in the US.
“I’ve said it before – booksellers and bookstores save lives. I’m thrilled to see Bookshop.org’s new platform making ebooks accessible while staying true to supporting independent bookstores,” said James Patterson, Bestselling Author.
“This is the missing piece we’ve all been waiting for. Bookshop.org has already built a fantastic, essential ecosystem connecting bookstores with the authors and readers who love them,” says Lev Grossman, American novelist and journalist. “Now, with this new ebook platform, there’s no limit to how far it can go and how big it can get.”
The platform is available online via any web browser and through mobile app stores on Apple and Android, further supporting Bookshop.org’s multi-award-winning giveback model that gives booksellers the financial assets to thrive against retail giants.