New buy-back scheme for used books, powered by Zeercle
Customers can trade old books for new on Bookshop.org
Authors to benefit from second hand book sales through shared fund
London, Wednesday 28 August 2024. Bookshop.org is announcing today the launch of Bookloop by Bookshop.org, a buy-back service powered by a new partnership with Zeercle, that enables customers to exchange pre-owned books for store credit to use on future Bookshop.org purchases.
An easy-to-use scan and collect-from-home service, Zeercle already operates partnerships in France, Germany and on the UK high street through bookselling chain WHSmith. Thanks to Bookloop by Bookshop.org, independent booksellers in the UK will have access to this online circular economy market for the first time, with the opportunity to benefit directly from customers spending the credit they receive on new books through Bookshop.org.
Through this new partnership, Bookshop.org will not be selling used titles on its platform, which will continue to carry exclusively new books. Instead, as part of the agreement, Zeercle will sell on any traded titles through online marketplaces that explicitly exclude Amazon-owned and operated websites.
Bookshop.org’s commitment to a sustainable economy has always been a key priority for the company. From offsetting all their deliveries, to acquiring the prestigious B Corp Best for the World status in 2022, Bookshop.org is now helping independent bookshops to benefit from the fast-growing retail sector of online second hand books, and take part in a broad consumer move into pre-owned consumer goods and the circular economy.
As part of Bookshop.org’s win-win ethos, authors will also benefit. Zeercle are committed to contributing a percentage of second hand book sales to authors, through an arrangement with the Society of Authors and the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) called 'Bookloop by Bookshop.org for Authors'. The plan is for accumulated royalties to be distributed initially through a shared author fund, to be reviewed from March of next year. In this way, authors and independent bookshops will benefit from sales of second hand books from launch.
Nicole Vanderbilt, Managing Director of Bookshop.org UK, said: “We are very excited to launch Bookloop by Bookshop.org, powered by our new partnership with Zeercle. While as a platform we carry exclusively new books, we are keen to offer the opportunity to our customers to exchange their pre-owned books for credit to use on our website. This will still bring a benefit to independent booksellers, boosting sales that will help them gain extra commissions, as well as authors via the arrangement with ALCS and the Society of Authors, while ensuring the second-hand books don’t end up on Amazon.”
Eric Gagnaire, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeercle, said: “We are incredibly excited to partner with Bookshop.org to launch the Bookloop service in the UK. At Zeercle, our mission is to promote sustainability in the retail industry, and this service aligns perfectly with our goals. By giving books a second life, we are not only reducing waste but also fostering a community of readers who value sustainability and support independent bookshops. This initiative is a win-win for both the environment and the local economy.”
Anna Ganley, Chief Executive of the Society of Authors, said: “We’re thrilled to support the launch of Bookloop by Bookshop.org in the UK, and it’s great to see the thoughtful way Zeercle and Bookshop.org have brought their win-win approach to the second hand book market. At a time when authors, like independent bookshops, are under so much pressure through technology and changes in the way books are bought and sold, we’re excited to see how authors will benefit, and hope it will strengthen the connection between authors and bookshops.”
Amber Harrison, Co-Founder of independent bookshop FOLDE in Dorset, said “We're excited to see this new initiative launch. Independent bookshops have led the way in retail when it comes to sustainability, from being more environmentally responsible to reducing waste. Closing the loop on getting pre-owned books to new readers while benefiting both bookshops and authors feels extremely positive. It's a really sustainable way of getting books into the hands of more people, without cost being a barrier.”
To find out more, please visit the dedicated Bookloop by Bookshop.org page here.
