How Bookshop.org Survives—and Thrives—in Amazon’s World

Bookshop.org, an online platform created to support independent bookstores, utilizes an independent, community-oriented approach to distribution. Journalist Kate Knibbs takes readers behind the scenes with Bookshop.org’s founder, Andy Hunter, detailing his creative approach to content distribution in various forms, how he built the company, and how it works as an alternative for book buyers to purchase titles online while directing a percentage of sales to local bookshops, aiding them financially. Despite launching during the pandemic, Bookshop.org has rapidly grown, proving to be a substantial lifeline for independent bookstores. While this article does not mention documentary film specifically, it speaks to how another field is seeking innovative strategies to address disruptions to its traditional infrastructure by pursuing solutions that center audience and demand new forms of collaboration.