November saw the launch of an online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community. bookshop.org is designed to create a thriving ecosystem and an ethical alternative to Amazon.
They believe that bookshops are essential to a healthy culture:
“They’re where authors can connect with readers, where we discover new writers, where children get hooked on the thrill of reading that can last a lifetime. They’re also anchors for our high streets and communities. As more and more people buy their books online, we wanted to create an easy, convenient way for you to get your books and support bookshops at the same time.”
If you want to find a specific local bookshop to support, find them on the map at bookshop.org and they’ll receive the full profit from your order. Otherwise, your order will contribute to an earnings pool that will be evenly distributed among independent bookshops. Many of the wonderful indie bookshops in Essex are affiliated with the site. Plus there are some great reading lists to inspire you. Take a look at https://uk.bookshop.org