Bloomsbury reveals plans to support indies amid pandemic

Bloomsbury has announced a strategy to support independent bookshops during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The publisher has invited bookshops to share its website and delivery channels, and will credit 15% of the purchase price back to the shop.

The initiative aims to support vendors whose usual methods of delivery may be compromised.

Bloomsbury UK consumer sales director Brigid Nelson said: “Everyone in the publishing industry is doing everything they can to provide books across the country at a time when readers need them most.

"We hope that this initiative helps towards protecting independent bookshops from losing out during this period of challenged trading due to the coronavirus.

"Bookshops are an essential pillar of local communities and the publishing industry, and we’re proud to help support small, independent retailers at this time of crisis.”

The scheme is set to run until 1st June 2020, with orders over £25 eligible for free delivery.

Rosamund de la Hey, owner of independent bookshop The Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells in the Scottish Borders, commented: "Every penny counts for indie bookshops right now, so it’s brilliant to see Bloomsbury launching this new online scheme.

"Many indies have gone online themselves for the first time in the past week, so hopefully we may all emerge from this crisis with some positives. What Bloomsbury have put together, with equal speed and efficiency, is really encouraging."