Bookshop.org Rolls out Kindle-Like App to Curb Local Bookstore Invasion by Amazon
Bookshop.org’s new e-reader app enables local bookstores to sell books for the first time directly to readers. For CEO and founder Andy Hunter, it is a healthy stride towards empowering local businesses in the digital age. “Right now, no matter how much you love your local bookstore, buying an e-book means going to Amazon or another big platform,” Hunter explains. E-books are a key revenue stream for publishers and authors, and they could be for independent bookstores too.”
The app is available on iOS, Android, and web browsers. With nearly a million titles available, major publishing houses are accessible, and readers can annotate, add notes, sync across devices, and discover books through an explore page with genre-based recommendations.
It doesn’t share e-book profits the same way the others do: Bookshop.org is sending 100% of profits from e-book sales to local bookstores. “There’s no real way to make it profitable, but we don’t care about that,” says Hunter, touting the mission of this certified B Corporation: “Our goal is to help independent bookstores survive and thrive in the digital age.”
Hunter sees the project as part of a larger effort to help local communities. “In an age where billionaires and e-commerce titans dominate the news, we can invest in our local communities—no matter where we are getting our books.”
The site is currently Amazon’s only significant competitor in online book sales, having sold more than 80% of all e-book sales and controls the Kindle marketplace. But Hunter believes that Bookshop.org’s app offers readers a powerful alternative. “There’s no reason to give a billionaire your $9.99 for an e-book when you can support a local bookstore for the same price,” he says. Since publishers set fixed prices for e-books, the competition isn’t about cost or shipping, making the choice about values and community impact.
The app further features a feature for social sharing. Readers can share quotes directly from e-books on platforms including Instagram and TikTok. This will come complete with a link for readers to buy the digital book. Hunter hopes to make discussions about books more dynamic while encouraging sales to local bookstores.
Why can’t we share passages from books if users of Spotify and Apple Music can share playlists, and fitness apps can share workout stats? Hunter asks. “This could fuel discussions on platforms like TikTok, and independent bookstores will benefit from the buzz.”
Bookshop.org has brought out a new app amidst a pressing trend to shop locally, even within the digital world. While some start with TikTok communities and grassroots campaigns that seek to shift power from tech giants, Hunter believes this shift is critical. “We don’t have to surrender control of our lives to Silicon Valley,” he says. “We can stay local, even when reading digital books.”
