Singapore independent booksellers team up to launch Bookshop.sg
A collective of eight independent booksellers in Singapore has launched Bookshop.sg, a new online platform offering convenient access to over 40,000 titles while supporting the local literary community.
The e-commerce site, which began taking orders on May 14, is a collaborative initiative by Epigram Books, Basheer Graphic Books, Wardah Books, Thryft, Sea Breeze Books, City Book Room, Union Book and Nurul Anwar Bookstore. Together, they have created a unified platform that features a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books in English, Mandarin and Malay.
According to The Straits Times, the launch of Bookshop.sg enables customers to browse and purchase titles across all eight participating stores, consolidating orders into a single, streamlined shopping experience.
Readers can enjoy free local shipping on orders above S$150, while smaller orders incur a delivery fee of S$5.90.
Eddie Lim, chief executive of Thryft, told The Straits Times that the collaboration is designed to “offer a socially conscious alternative for book lovers who want to support local businesses.”
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The platform mirrors similar efforts seen in the US and UK, where local bookstores have united online to better compete with larger global e-commerce giants.
While recent months have seen a spate of bookstore closures in Singapore — including the exit of Times Bookstores in September 2024 and the closure of Epigram Coffee Bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum in January 2025 — the team behind Bookshop.sg is placing emphasis on innovation and cooperation to rejuvenate the trade.
The project brings renewed energy to Singapore’s independent bookselling scene, offering an online solution that addresses logistical inefficiencies while showcasing the diverse voices of the city-state’s literary landscape.
With readers now able to mix and match titles from a variety of specialised bookstores in one checkout process, Bookshop.sg promises to simplify the book-buying experience without compromising on diversity or cultural relevance. By pooling resources and leveraging digital platforms, the independent bookstores aim to strengthen their reach and resilience amid evolving consumer habits.
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