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Chancellor's High Street Roundtable | Campaign Update from ACT parent company Bira

19 Mar 2026

The Chancellor held a roundtable discussion on a future high street strategy last week, with Bira the sole voice representing smaller retail businesses. Read an update on Bira's place at a... Read more…

Independent bike shop takes stand against selling or repairing e-scooters with police echoing plea

18 Mar 2026

An independent bike shop is refusing to sell or repair e-scooters over concerns about how they are being used, with the area’s police force backing the call and urging others to follow... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira backs calls for online marketplace accountability over dangerous product safety failures

13 Mar 2026

Findings from consumer rights publication Which? add to calls from the E-Bike Positive campaign to better scrutinise these sites and promote quality e-bikes from reputable manufacturers and... Read more…

Independent retailers warn Spring Statement missed opportunity as geopolitical tensions threaten high street recovery

5 Mar 2026

ACT parent company Bira has warned that the Chanellor's Spring Statement offered no new support for high street businesses, as rising tensions in the Middle East threaten to push up energy... Read more…

Scottish bike shop and cafe expands into bigger premises as council recognises 'positive impact on economy'

3 Mar 2026

A Scottish bike repair shop and cafe has recently moved premises into a bigger unit thanks to a growth in business, with the local council noting the positive impact it would have on the local... Read more…

Local Bike Shop Week returns this May, with independent retailers reporting strong benefits from past events

19 Feb 2026

Local Bike Shop Week is approaching, with this year’s celebrations taking place from Sunday 3 May to Saturday 9 May 2026 - and retailers have highlighted the positive experiences they've... Read more…

Independent bike shops unite for inaugural Local Bike Shop Week celebration

17 Feb 2026

A week to celebrate and highlight the expertise and passion of independent bike shops across the UK is set to be held this May.
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ACT part of coalition letter calling for consultation on online VAT reform

16 Feb 2026

A 18-strong coalition of business organisations and tax experts, including the ACT and led-by its parent company Bira, has today written to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury calling for a... Read more…

Government's pub-only business rates package is "poor decision based on politics", ACT parent company Bira says

29 Jan 2026

The government's decision to give pubs a 15% business rates discount while excluding independent retailers is a "poor decision based on politics rather than what is good for the local economy",... Read more…

Independent retailers demand equal treatment as Government prepares pub rates relief

9 Jan 2026

ACT parent company Bira has has demanded equal treatment for small shops after the government announced plans to water down business rate rises for pubs.
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US audiobook platform Libro.fm launches to indie bookshops in UK

Posted on in Business News

Independent bookshops in the UK can now sell audio books through Libro.fm. Launching in the last couple of weeks in the UK, the digital audio book platform, which already partners with independent bookshops in the US and Canada, is now available to indie bookshops in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

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Mark Pearson, Libro.fm co-founder and CEO., said: “We’re excited for booksellers to start using Libro.fm and gain confidence in the platform ahead of launch, and know they’ll look forward to sharing it with their customers."

Madison Mullen, product manager at Libro.fm, added: “In 2022, 29% of new visitors to our website were from outside the US, so we know that there are readers all around the world who are eager to support their local bookshops with their audiobook purchases. We have six years of experience working with 12,000+ booksellers across 2,100 bookshops in the US and Canada, and our highest priority is making sure that Libro.fm is an audiobook service that booksellers around the world will be proud to promote to their customers.”

Libro.fm is an employee-owned social purpose corporation founded in 2014, with a digital audiobook platform that works with 2,100+ bookshops to offer audiobooks and monthly audiobook memberships. The platform aims to enable bookshops to compete against Amazon’s Audible subscription model, offering 300,000 titles that can be redeemed through credits. Currently, more than 80% of Libro.fm partner bookshop revenue comes from monthly memberships, though customers can also purchase individual audiobooks.

Earlier this year, Bookshop.org, the online bookselling platform for independent bookshops, revealed it had completed a £1.5m fundraising round which would enable it to add audiobooks and e-books to its UK platform. The online retailer will also develop a mobile app for customers. Bookshop.org said the move would enable independent bookshops in the UK to offer audiobooks and e-books. It is planning to launch a private beta version of its service in late 2023, followed by a full launch in 2024.

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