- Winners of Bookshop.org’s Indie Champions Awards announced today
- Revamped awards recognise Leena Norms, Noreen Masud, Hollie McNish, Led by Donkeys & more as strongest indie bookshops supporters via Bookshop.org
- Thames & Hudson is the publisher that championed indies online the most, while Kim Lund from Faber & Faber is spotlighted among professionals
- Through the support of customers, publishers and authors, Bookshop.org has hit £4m profit generated for indies over the Christmas period
London, Thursday 9 January 2025. Bookshop.org is today unveiling the winners of its annual Indie Champions Awards, spotlighting individuals and organisations that have supported independent bookshops the most by using Bookshop.org throughout 2024.
The news comes as Bookshop.org has now reached the milestone of £4 million profit generated for independent bookshops in the UK, following a strong Christmas trading season.
First launched in 2022, and revamped to award seven overall winners this year, Bookshop.org’s Indie Champions Awards aim to celebrate writers, industry professionals, publishers and organisations who have taken concrete steps to financially support independent bookshops through Bookshop.org sales, alongside using the platform in innovative ways.
The Awards highlight the winners’ support for indie bookshops via Bookshop.org, including regular linking to the platform; incorporating Bookshop.org into their campaigns; and helping Bookshop.org reach new audiences through creative partnerships.
The 2024 winners of Bookshop.org’s Indie Champions Awards are:
- Hollie McNish, Author of Lobster: and other things I’m learning to love
- Kim Lund, Key Account Manager at Faber & Faber
- Led by Donkeys, Authors of Led By Donkeys: Adventures in Art, Activism and Accountability
- Leena Norms, Author of Half-Arse Human
- Noreen Masud, Author of A Flat Place
- Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Author of Amazing Asia
- Thames & Hudson
Hollie McNish said: “This is just the loveliest award to win, thank you so much! One of the things I love most about being a writer (aside from the writing!) is being able to visit and work with so many of the amazing independent bookshops on my tours. The UK is absolutely jam-packed with the most gorgeous independent bookshops run by book lovers and staffed by book lovers where you can get so much advice and inspiration. As a parent, I am also in love with so many of the children’s sections, whether that’s whole kid’s sections full of hammocks and hideaways, or simply a child-sized chair or cushion corner where kids feel welcomed. For me, Bookshop.org has been the most incredible way to encourage people who cannot get there physically, to support these bookshops so easily online. Not only that, but they put together such great ‘playlists’ of books each month that I’m always finding something new to delve into.“
Kim Lund, Key Account Manager at Faber & Faber, said: “It is an absolute joy to work with the team at Bookshop.org to promote all things books within the independent sector and an honour to be chosen for an Indie Champions Award! It has been a particular pleasure to be able to set up the Books That Give promotion to support the sterling work done by Bookbanks to enable access to books in foodbanks across London and Norfolk.“
Led By Donkeys said: “We’re honoured to be announced as one of Bookshop.org’s ‘Indie Champions’. Bookshop.org is playing a huge role in supporting local bookshops that remain such an important part of many high streets and communities. Make Bookshop.org your go to for book buying if you can’t make it to your local bookshop in person.”
Leena Norms said: “Put simply, independent bookshops and initiatives like Bookshop.org are how we win – it’s how we keep our communities, how we keep our hope, how we keep our sanity. Companies that care and play fair are what readers want, and the success of Bookshop.org is a testament to that. I’m full of fizz and honoured to be an Indie Champion, and can’t wait to keep independent bookshops at the heart of my work as a video maker, author and incorrigible book buyer.”
Noreen Masud said: “So staggered and honoured to win this award! Indie booksellers are some of the most passionate, knowledgeable and wise people I know – I wish I could cut this award into a thousand pieces and share it with all the wonderful indie bookshops who’ve been so kind to me and to my book A Flat Place.”
Rashmi Sirdeshpande said: “Indie bookshops are expert curators who champion a richly diverse range of voices. They’re beautiful, welcoming spaces and the beating hearts of their local communities and I’m very proud to support them!”
Sophy Thompson, Managing Director of Thames & Hudson, said: “We’re delighted to be recognized in Bookshop.org’s Indie Champions Awards. As an independent publisher, we greatly value the work undertaken by indie bookshops and by extension, by Bookshop.org, to foster community cohesion, support access to reading and bring the arts closer to people’s lives.”
Nicole Vanderbilt, Managing Director of Bookshop.org UK, said: “We are excited to announce the winners of Bookshop.org’s Indie Champions Awards for 2024. While the format of the Awards might have changed, their purpose is still very much the same. On the one hand, they are our way to say a heart-felt thank you to organisations and individuals who have been supporting independent bookshops across the UK by using Bookshop.org in creative, inspiring ways. On the other hand, the Awards are also aimed at encouraging the wider industry to discover or rediscover the power of Bookshop.org not only to support bookshops, but to engage with new readers and drive book sales, too.
We were especially delighted to have a strong Christmas trading period, which led us to reach the important milestone of £4 million in profit generated for independent bookshops in the UK. The Indie Champions are a reminder that we couldn’t do what we do without the support of authors, publishers, and organisations that champion our work, our platform and our mission. A big congratulations to all the winners, and here’s to continuing to champion independent bookshops and the incredible contribution they bring to the UK’s publishing ecosystem.”
Follow #IndieChampions for the latest developments on social media.
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