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Independent retailers face Fresh challenges as UK inflation climbs to 3.8%

20 Aug 2025

ACT parent company Bira has expressed serious concern following today's announcement that UK inflation rose to 3.8% in July, higher than the expected 3.7% and marking the tenth consecutive month... Read more…

Bike industry continues to face challenges as profits and forecasts falter at Giant, Canyon and Shim

14 Aug 2025

The global bike industry remains under pressure as Shimano, Giant and Canyon all report weaker profits and subdued outlooks for 2025.
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ACT to join industry leaders at brand new cycling trade event this September

13 Aug 2025

The ACT is set to be in attendance at the inaugural Cycling Industry News Live (CIN Live) trade show, which is set to bring together industry-wide education, market insight and product showcases... Read more…

Independent retail crisis deepens as nearly half see sales plummet compared to last year

12 Aug 2025

Britain's high street crisis has deepened dramatically with nearly half of independent retailers, including many in the independent cycling retail sector, reporting sales have crashed compared... Read more…

Independent retailers slam £5.9bn "de minimis" import loophole as Government delays action

11 Aug 2025

ACT parent company Bira has condemned the Government's inaction over the "de minimis" import loophole following a Sky News investigation revealing £5.9 billion worth of cheap imports... Read more…

Criminals undermining legitimate retailers as trading standards collapse

7 Aug 2025

Bira has warned that criminals are undermining legitimate retailers as trading standards services collapse, following a new Which? investigation.
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ACT welcomes Government's new product safety laws

23 Jul 2025

A leading cycle traders association has backed the government's move to protect consumers from dangerous products sold through online marketplaces, following Royal Assent of the Product... Read more…

Small Business Strategy Inquiry 2025 - ACT and Bira call for members to share their voice

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on... Read more…

Beyond the discount: Restoring integrity to the cycle supply chain

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.
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Bira welcomes Wales' business rates proposals but calls for key improvements

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street... Read more…

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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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