Penguin Random House U.K. Launches "My Independent Bookstore"

Penguin Random House announced the launch of social retail platform "My Independent Bookshop" yesterday. The website, now in beta, allows users to compile their 12 favorite titles to create a virtual bookshop. Authors can participate as well and set up shop with their most recent works. The recommendation engine is linked to major social channels such as Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, allowing bookshop creators to share their favorite works with their friends and family.

Users are incentivized to create, update, and share their bookshops through a rewards program that provides opportunities to meet authors, gain early access to new titles, and obtain tickets to book events.

Not only does the site hope to boost PRH book sales, but it also seeks to empowers physical bookstores in the U.K. Users can select their favorite independent bookstore, and a commission from users' book sales will be transferred to the selected shop. This, and the ecommerce functionality of the entire site, is achieved through hive.co.uk, the ecommerce arm of Gardners wholesalers.

For more details on Penguin Random House's move into retail, read the full press release below.

Press Release
Share the books you love now. Discover what you'll love next.

Penguin Random House UK has today launched 'My Independent Bookshop', a new reader recommendation platform allowing book lovers to set up a virtual bookshop, share their favourite reads and discover, recommend and review books online. Supported by Terry Pratchett, 'My Independent Bookshop' will create a vibrant community of virtual shops and high streets with human recommendation and discovering new stories at its heart.

The free site launches today in closed beta, kick-starting a month-long period where select authors and book fans will be invited to join the community and start creating their shops. Anyone with an interest can also register at www.myindependentbookshop.co.uk to be among the first to set up their virtual bookshop when 'My Independent Bookshop' goes live to the general public.