Online bookshop hits £3 million for independent sellers

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An online bookshop has reached its target of raising £3 million in profit for independent booksellers in its fight for them to “thrive in the world of ecommerce”. Nicole Vanderbilt, managing director of Bookshop.org UK, has urged publishers, authors, bookshops and readers to “embrace” its mission to allow independent bookshops to thrive in an age of ecommerce. “We want to help them be competitive in the world of ecommerce, translating their knowledge, passion and creativity to the online world, and freeing them of the logistics of online book order-taking and delivery.” She added: “We believe that a world where independent bookshops are successful businesses, with a robust online presence, is a better world for everyone.” Martin Higgins, UK retail director at Penguin Random House, said: “The development of Bookshop.org over the past two and half years in the UK has been remarkable. “They have complemented and amplified the growing UK independent bookshop market with an original business model, and have succeeded in ensuring many high street booksellers establish a strong online trading presence.