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'''Better World Books''' |
'''Better World Books''' is an online for-profit bookseller of used and new books, founded in 2002 university students.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2013/05/04/secrets-of-a-successful-social-enterprise/|title=Secrets of a Successful Social Enterprise|publisher=Forbes|accessdate=September 18, 2013|author=Anne Field|date=May 4, 2013}}</ref> The non-profit [[B Lab]] has certified "Better World Books" as a "[[B corporation (certification)|B corporation]]", meaning it meets certain standards for social welfare, because it donates books or a percentage of its profit to literacy programs around the world.<ref name="Wall Street Journal2">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203413304577088604063391944|title=New Legal Structures for 'Social Entrepreneurs'|author=Kyle Westaway|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> As of 2013, the company had donated an estimated $14 million under this program.<ref name="Forbes"/> The company discloses information about funds raised, books re-used or recycled, and books donated in a ticker at the top of its website.<ref name="University Daily Kansan">{{cite web|url=http://kansan.com/news/2013/08/29/students-help-fight-illiteracy-through-online-book-vendor/|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130919011614/http://kansan.com/news/2013/08/29/students-help-fight-illiteracy-through-online-book-vendor/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2013|title=Students help fight illiteracy through online book vendor|author=Ashley Booker|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=August 29, 2013|publisher=[[The University Daily Kansan]]}}</ref><ref name="Internet Retailer">{{cite web|url=http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/11/30/broader-mission|title=A broader mission|author=Zak Stambor|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=November 30, 2011|publisher=Internet Retailer}}</ref> |
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Better World Books’ used book inventory comes primarily from regular book drives at over 1,800 colleges and universities and donations from over 3,000 library systems, in addition to donation boxes found on corners and on college campuses.<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristi-york-wooten/love-to-read-help-kids-wh_b_927110.html|title=Can Buying a Book Help Kids and the Environment?|author=Kristi York Wooten|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> The company has distribution warehouses in [[Mishawaka|Mishawaka, Indiana]]; [[Reno, Nevada]]; and [[Dunfermline]], [[Scotland]].<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="SouthBend Tribune">{{cite web|url=http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|title=A decade's worth of doing good|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=May 26, 2013|publisher=SouthBend Tribune|author=Gene Stowe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010144050/http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|archive-date=October 10, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="reno">{{cite news|url=http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2016/01/14/better-world-books-opens-reno-distribution-center-bringing-100-jobs/78802276/|title=Better World Books opens Reno distribution center, bringing 150 jobs|author=Jason Hidalgo|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=January 11, 2017|newspaper=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]}}</ref> |
Better World Books’ used book inventory comes primarily from regular book drives at over 1,800 colleges and universities and donations from over 3,000 library systems, in addition to donation boxes found on corners and on college campuses.<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristi-york-wooten/love-to-read-help-kids-wh_b_927110.html|title=Can Buying a Book Help Kids and the Environment?|author=Kristi York Wooten|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> The company has distribution warehouses in [[Mishawaka|Mishawaka, Indiana]]; [[Reno, Nevada]]; and [[Dunfermline]], [[Scotland]].<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="SouthBend Tribune">{{cite web|url=http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|title=A decade's worth of doing good|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=May 26, 2013|publisher=SouthBend Tribune|author=Gene Stowe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010144050/http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|archive-date=October 10, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="reno">{{cite news|url=http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2016/01/14/better-world-books-opens-reno-distribution-center-bringing-100-jobs/78802276/|title=Better World Books opens Reno distribution center, bringing 150 jobs|author=Jason Hidalgo|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=January 11, 2017|newspaper=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]}}</ref> |
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As of 2019, Better World Books handles about 30 million incoming books per year, of which 10 gets sold and 10 donated to partners. |
As of 2019, Better World Books handles about 30 million incoming books per year, of which 10 gets sold and 10 donated to partners. |
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Since November 2019 has been a subsidiary of not-for-profit Better World Libraries. |
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==Partners== |
==Partners== |
Company type | Private B Corporation |
---|---|
Industry | Online bookseller |
Founded | 2002 |
Founder | Christopher “Kreece” Fuchs Xavier Helgesen Jeff Kurtzman |
Headquarters | Mishawaka, Indiana; Atlanta, Georgia; Dunfermline, Scotland |
Revenue | $65 million[1] |
Number of employees | 340[1] |
Parent | Better World Libraries |
Website | betterworldbooks |
Better World Books is an online for-profit bookseller of used and new books, founded in 2002 university students.[1] The non-profit B Lab has certified "Better World Books" as a "B corporation", meaning it meets certain standards for social welfare, because it donates books or a percentage of its profit to literacy programs around the world.[2] As of 2013, the company had donated an estimated $14 million under this program.[1] The company discloses information about funds raised, books re-used or recycled, and books donated in a ticker at the top of its website.[3][4]
Better World Books’ used book inventory comes primarily from regular book drives at over 1,800 colleges and universities and donations from over 3,000 library systems, in addition to donation boxes found on corners and on college campuses.[5] The company has distribution warehouses in Mishawaka, Indiana; Reno, Nevada; and Dunfermline, Scotland.[1][6][7]
On November 6, 2019, Better World Books was acquired by Better World Libraries, a mission-aligned, not-for-profit organization that is affiliated with longtime partner, the Internet Archive. The plan is to digitize many more books and put them online.[8]
In 2001, shortly after their graduation from the University of Notre Dame, Better World Books founders Christopher Fuchs, Xavier Helgesen and Jeff Kurtzman sold their used college textbooks online.[9][10][11] The three then formulated a business plan using their experience selling books online.[9][10][11] In 2002, Fuchs and Helgesen held a book drive benefiting the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, Indiana.[9][10][11] During the drive, they collected and sold 2,000 books, which raised $10,000.[9][10][11] Half of the drive’s proceeds went to support literacy initiatives at the community center.[1]
In 2003, the three entered their business plan into the Notre Dame Social Venture Business Plan Competition, which was sponsored by the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.[10] They won the competition, with a grand prize of $7,000 and mentorship from entrepreneur and IrishAngel David Murphy.[10] Murphy served as Better World Books president and CEO from 2004–2011, before leaving to direct Notre Dame's Master of Entrepreneurship program (ESTEEM).[6][10][12]
Better World Books acquired a US Small Business Administration-backed credit line in 2004.[9] In April 2008, Better World Books secured an additional $4.5 million in venture capital via Good Capital, LLC and 18 private investors.[13]
In 2008, the company opened an operation in Dunfermline, Scotland, and started a UK website in 2010.[14][15][16][17][18] In 2016, the company opened a new distribution center in Reno, Nevada, creating 150 new jobs.[7]
In March 2019, Better World Books announced the closure of their last retail location in Goshen, Indiana. The decision has been made in order for the organisation to improve its e-commerce operations and reach more people.[19]
As of 2019, Better World Books handles about 30 million incoming books per year, of which 10 gets sold and 10 donated to partners.
Since November 2019 has been a subsidiary of not-for-profit Better World Libraries.
Better World Books donates one book to Feed the Children, Books for Africa, or smaller donation recipients for each book sold on BetterWorldBooks.com.[20][21] Better World Books provides additional support to literacy non-profits, including: