BookShop.org - How to Keep Your Local Book Stores Alive!
The Story of a Brand Show
Ramon Vela
4.9 • 147 Ratings
🗓️ 14 March 2024
⏱️ 67 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands
In this episode, we interview Andy Hunter, Founder and CEO of BookShop.org. Bookshop is an online bookstore that aims to financially support local, independent bookstores.
Bookshop is also a BCorp - a corporation dedicated to the public good. By design, they give away over 80% of their profit margin to stores and affiliates of stores: publications, authors, and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books!
Below are the key takeaways from our conversation:
* Andy's passion for helping local bookstores thrive in the digital age through Bookshop.org.
* He discussed how he struggled to secure investment and the need for champions like Morgan Entrekin who believe in an entrepreneur's vision and abilities.
* The importance of merging different disciplines and skills to create unique and impactful work in the business world.
* A discussion on how artificial intelligence might reshape the job market and the ever-growing importance of critical thinking skills.
* The struggle for small businesses to survive in the shadow of giants like Amazon and the detrimental effects of anti-competitive practices.
* Overcoming the challenges of limited budgets and the ever-changing social media landscape to reach customers effectively.
* How Bookshop.org's model of connecting customers to local bookstores and handling logistics has led to profitability that supports the community.
* The platform's expansion through organic growth, media attention, and the power of storytelling.
* The call for conscious consumerism that prioritizes community and local businesses.
* Supporting local businesses as an act of community-building and resistance against market monopolies is important.
* Encouragement for listeners to choose platforms that align with their values, like Bookshop.org.
Call to Action:
* Visit Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore.
* Share the episode with friends and family to spread awareness about the importance of local bookstores.
* Join the conversation on social media using #SupportLocalBookstores.
Join Ramon Vela and Andy Hunter as we break down the inside story of Tonal on The Story of a Brand.
For more on BookShop.org, visit: https://bookshop.org/
Remember to follow the show for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of business and wellness.
*
Today's Sponsors:
Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/
Compass Rose works with founders and executive teams to help identify issues and opportunities and work with you to operationalize the brand so you can grow and scale profitably, raise funds, innovate, and more. Visit for more information.
SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/
Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | bookstores punch way above their weight. They're so much more important than just like a store |
| 0:05.5 | that people are going to get their books some other way if these stores got a business. Because |
| 0:10.5 | the stores actually are doing programming. They're partnering with schools. They're partnering with |
| 0:16.2 | businesses. They're places where young people get their first exposure to books and become lifelong readers. |
| 0:22.6 | Like, when I was a kid, would hunker down in the aisles of a bookstore and discover all these great writers. |
| 0:28.6 | And they're bringing authors to town. |
| 0:30.6 | Like, they bring authors to their communities to do readings. |
| 0:33.6 | Like, there's so much bookstores do. |
| 0:35.6 | They're advocates for the cultural importance of books. |
| 0:40.1 | And if all the bookstores go away, then you're not going to have these advocates and |
| 0:43.9 | all these communities. |
| 0:45.8 | Every small town in America should have a bookstore because that don't keep books relevant |
| 0:49.5 | to the people in that town. |
| 0:51.2 | And then by extension, books will continue to be an important part of our culture |
| 0:56.1 | which is good for all of humanity books have been a total boom to the evolution of human consciousness |
| 1:02.4 | and our inner lives. Hey everyone, this is Ramon Vela, and this is another episode of the story of a brand. |
| 1:20.4 | Like always, we have an amazing guest in brand that we're going to feature on today's show. |
| 1:24.4 | But before we do, I want to give my main sponsor Compass Rose a special shout |
| 1:29.0 | out. Compass Rose is an advisory firm that is supporting me throughout 2024 and I just couldn't be |
| 1:34.7 | more grateful for their support. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be able to do the show without them. |
| 1:40.3 | But the most important thing I want to mention is why. Why I've chosen them as a partner. |
| 1:46.2 | I've connected with so many founders who tell me of the challenges that brands are facing, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ramon Vela, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Ramon Vela and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.