Bookshop.org Celebrates 5th Anniversary

In January of 2020, Andy Hunter launched Bookshop.org with a handful of staff, a few dozen bookstore partners, and a mission to give online shoppers an option that would directly benefit indie bookstores and not that other guy.

Bookshop.org couldn't have come on the scene at a better time. When the pandemic hit, many stores were able to turn to Bookshop.org and stay open with their help. And the company is continuing to support the industry today by sponsoring Winter Institute, Children's Institute, and by talking to the press about the importance of independent bookstores. (They are also carbon neutral and a certified B Corp — committed to business practices that benefit their staff, community, booksellers, and the planet.)

After just five years of operation, Bookshop.org has raised more than $36 million for independent bookstores and completely changed the landscape for online book buying. And with the introduction of e-books earlier this month, Bookshop.org is poised to change the industry once again.

Congratulations to Bookshop.org for five incredible, impactful, and successful years.

"Bookshop.org is a force for good for independent bookstores and the readers who want to support them,” said ABA CEO Allison Hill. “In a world dominated by big tech and billionaires, Bookshop.org — and the indie bookstores it champions — offer readers a meaningful alternative: the opportunity to spend their money in a way that shapes the world they want to live in — one where neighborhood indie bookstores thrive, not corporate monopolies. We're incredibly grateful to Bookshop.org founder and CEO Andy Hunter for his extraordinary vision, execution, and commitment, as well as to the entire Bookshop.org team for their amazing support and everything they've done for independent booksellers and readers.”

If you'll be joining us at Winter Institute 2025 in Denver, Colorado, make sure to attend the Opening Reception (co-sponsored by Bookshop.org!) to celebrate their 5th anniversary (and ABA’s 125th)!

Whether your store already uses Bookshop.org or is interested in joining, there will be several Wi2025 Bookshop.org education sessions for you, like Bookshop Blueprint: Insights from Bookshop.org's Leading Stores or Bookshop.org ABCs of Selling E-books.