In its first week of operation after launching in the U.K. on November 2, Bookshop.org sold £440,000 (about $575,810) worth of books, earning £83,000 (about $108,620) for local bookstores and attracting 480,000 visitors to the website. The number of bookshops on the platform in the U.K. has increased from about 150 at launch to 250.
"We're very pleased with how it has turned out so far," said Bookshop founder and CEO Andy Hunter.
Describing Bookshop.org as "a game changer for independent bookshops" that has "taken the sting out of Amazon," Jessica Paul, owner of Max Minerva's Marvellous Books & More in Bristol, observed: "This is another weapon in our arsenal to provide curated, thoughtful recommendations to our customers who want to shop online.... Our personal experience has been incredible. We've made more than enough to cover our rent for the month, and that's a huge weight off our shoulders during this lockdown. It's been fantastic to see the people we've reached, not just our wonderful loyal customers, but customers from all over the U.K. The lists are another avenue for us to be creative and share it with like-minded people."
Nicole Vanderbilt, Bookshop.org U.K.'s managing director, told the Bookseller: "We are very encouraged by our first week of trading. We've seen great support from publishers, authors, bookshops and readers. The money generated for independent bookshops on the platform will have a real impact on these shops which are so vital to our culture."
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The Covid-19 "firebreak" lockdown in Wales was lifted yesterday. Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association of the U.K. and Ireland, tweeted: "Welcome back to all our Welsh members coming out of lockdown today--go forth and sell many books! #ChooseBookshops @Books_Wales @TheHoursBrecon @WellfieldBooks1 et al."
And from the Book Council of Wales: "Good luck to all bookshops reopening in Wales this week. Show your support by popping in, ordering online or by telephone. Find your local bookshop here."
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Other Welsh booksellers lighting up Twitter yesterday:
Chepstow Books, Chepstow: "So excited to be back open after 17 long days. A huge thank you to every single person who supported us via web, e-mail or phone orders during lockdown (still encouraged)."
Griffin Books, Penarth: "WE ARE OPEN!!! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us during the #Wales lockdown. You're the best! We will be *OPEN* as usual from 9.00 am this morning (with social distancing measures in place) and can't wait to see all of your lovely faces!"
Palas Print, Caernarfon: "eLythyr Palas Print ¦ Ail Agor ¦ Reopening ¦"
Book-ish, Crickhowell: "Much love and support to my fellow Welsh booksellers coming out of lockdown today."
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In the most recent installment of its "5 questions" series, BookNet Canada interviewed Hilary Atleo, co-owner of Vancouver's Iron Dog Books, an Indigenous-owned bookshop and booktruck dedicated to the belief that "books should be affordable and accessible." Among our favorite responses in the q&a:
What attracted you to bookselling?
I like hard work, and I don't care about being wealthy. One day I looked at the career options in an office, and I said, "I need to make my work life more like my time away from work" and what I like to do for fun is go to bookshops and drink coffee. Now I spend almost every day in a bookshop drinking coffee and it's the best life in the world.
What is the most pressing issue facing bookselling today?
Government policy that creates a hostile environment for new entrepreneurs. Booksellers are essential to the creative economy of Canada, and yet the municipal, provincial, and federal governments have cultural policies that encourage the writing and publishing of books but not the selling of them. If we want our literary community to thrive in Canada, we need to make it possible for young people to start in the bookselling industry and actually make a living; that means addressing runaway commercial leases for small independents and properly taxing and regulating online retailers and their labor practices. --Robert Gray