Better World Books
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online retail, Bookselling |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Christopher Fuchs, Xavier Helgesen, Jeff Kurtzman |
| Headquarters | Mishawaka, Indiana , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | David Murphy (former president and CEO) |
| Products | New and used books |
| Parent | Better World Libraries (since 2019) |
| Website | betterworldbooks |
Better World Books—also operating under the name Qumpus, Inc.—is a U.S.-based online retailer specializing in both new and used books. Established in 2002 by students from the University of Notre Dame, the company sources its inventory mainly through book collection drives conducted at more than 1,800 colleges and universities, as well as donations from upwards of 3,000 library systems and various campus and community donation points. Distribution centers are located in Mishawaka, Indiana; Reno, Nevada; York, Pennsylvania; and Dunfermline, Scotland.
History
Following their 2001 graduation from Notre Dame, Christopher Fuchs, Xavier Helgesen, and Jeff Kurtzman began selling used textbooks online. In 2002, they initiated a book drive supporting the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, Indiana, which generated $10,000 through sales of 2,000 books; half of these proceeds were allocated to literacy programs.
In 2003, the trio earned first place in the Notre Dame Social Venture Business Plan Competition, receiving $7,000 and mentorship from entrepreneur David Murphy. Murphy subsequently served as president and CEO of Better World Books from 2004 until 2011 before pursuing a role in Notre Dame's Master of Entrepreneurship program.
The company obtained a credit line guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2004 and secured $4.5 million in venture capital funding from Good Capital LLC alongside private investors in 2008.
Better World Books expanded internationally by establishing a facility in Dunfermline, Scotland in 2008 and launching a UK-based e-commerce platform two years later. In 2016, the company opened a distribution center in Reno, Nevada, which created approximately 150 new jobs.
Recognized as a certified B corporation by the nonprofit B Lab for its dedication to social impact—including contributions of books or profits toward global literacy efforts—the organization had donated nearly $14 million by 2013.
In March 2019, Better World Books closed its final physical retail location to concentrate on expanding its e-commerce presence and enhancing market penetration.
By 2019, the company was processing roughly 30 million donated books annually; about one-third were sold while another third were given away to partner organizations—highlighting its substantial role within the online used book industry.
On November 6, 2019, Better World Books was acquired by Better World Libraries, a nonprofit aligned with its mission and affiliated with the Internet Archive. This acquisition supports the digitization of millions of books for increased online availability. Between July 2019 and March 2020 alone, more than 700,000 unique ISBNs were contributed to the Internet Archive; donations surpassed 1.4 million books during 2020 and approached one million in early 2021.
Partners
For every book purchased through BetterWorldBooks.com, Better World Books contributes a copy to organizations such as Feed the Children, Books for Africa, and other beneficiaries. The company also collaborates with several literacy-focused non-profit organizations, including:
- Books for Africa – gathers and distributes books to children across Africa.
- The National Center for Family Literacy – delivers educational programs and literacy support to vulnerable children and families.
- Room to Read – establishes libraries and schools, provides scholarships in underprivileged areas like Southeast Asia, and publishes children's literature in various languages.
- Worldfund – enhances English proficiency in Latin American countries.
- Prison Book Project – a nonprofit based in Quincy, Massachusetts that supplies inmates with books and legal materials.
- Robinson Community Center – connected with University of Notre Dame, offers tutoring and educational services in South Bend, Indiana.
- National Literacy Trust – an independent charity based in London dedicated to promoting literacy.
- READ International – transfers surplus secondary school books from the UK to Tanzania to support education in East Africa.
- The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) – an Irish organization committed to improving literacy and numeracy skills.
- Internet Archive – has partnered with Better World Books since 2019 to digitize books for archival purposes.
These collaborations reflect Better World Books' strategic approach of merging commercial activity with social responsibility, enhancing its presence and competitive positioning within the online book retail sector.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Book selling websites
- Independent bookstores of the United States
- Online retailers of the United States
- Antiquarian booksellers
- Social enterprises
- Companies based in Indiana
- American companies established in 2002
- Retail companies established in 2002
- Bookstores established in the 21st century
- B Lab-certified corporations
- EBay stores
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment