Bookshop Raises $1 Million for Independent Bookstores

Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that has partnered with independent bookstores to share a percentage of each purchase, has officially raised $1 million dollars for independent bookshops across the country. Though the site was supposed to be in beta until the fall, they have already made incredible strides in the wake of Covid-19. Bookshop.org founder Andy Hunter said of the website, “We launched with a very simple site that had a bunch of bugs.” With a small team, the site was initially launched in January and the team had plans to re-launch later in the year to compete with Amazon as an alternative site through which to purchase books.

However, in the wake of Covid-19, the Bookshop team was not prepared for how big Bookshop was about to become. In its first full month of operation, Bookshop sold about $50,000 worth of books. By the end of March, the site had sold about $950,000 worth of books. With independent bookstores struggling to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, about 600 bookstores have signed on to become Bookshop affiliates, earning a percentage from every sale made on the site. 

image via Jackson Hole News & Guide

For Hunter and his team, he says they are “just trying to control it all. Since April 1st, Bookshop has brought on five new team members. Hunter is grateful that his Bookshop staff can continue to have jobs and that they can continue to support independent bookstore owners and their staff.

Featured Image via Letters Bookshop