Salisbury bookshop set to benefit from new Amazon rival
Bookshop aims to support local stores all across the UK.
A new online book store has been set up to support independents around the country, including The Rocketship Bookshop in Salisbury.
Bookshop.org is hoping to rival online giant Amazon, which first started off selling books in 1994.
It aims to give customers an "'ethical" alternative to buy their books while also supporting independent shops.
Just a week after the website was launched (2nd November) over £50,000 has been raised for local bookshops.
You can see what stores are taking part by going to bookshop.org.
HOW IT WORKS
The website has been set up so that people can support their local bookshops by shopping online.
Shops that are partners, who sell books using the online store, will earn a 30% commission on the sales they generate.
10% of all other sales on bookshop.org goes to support participating independents as an overall earnings pool that is evenly divided and distributed to stores every six months.
The Rocketship Bookshop on Bridge Street are one of those benefitting from the new organisation.
Founder of the shop, Jo Boyles, said:
"It started out in America as bookstore.org and during that time America was in lockdown and it actually saved quite a few independent businesses and the idea is kind of an alternative to Amazon really.
I think it will be really important for us because it keeps us in people's minds during the lockdown when people can't get out and visit the High Street, it also allows us to show what we really care about as well so we create lists of the books we like, the books we want to promote and the books we think our customers will be interested in."
Due to the lockdown coming in on Thursday (5th November), The Rocketship Bookshop is going to have to close it's doors once again.
However, they are still going to be doing click and collect and delivery so they can provide for their customers during a difficult time.
All the details can be found on their website.