Dear Bookstore Owner,
Over 50% of the paper books that people read are borrowed or bought used.
The authors receive nothing for all that usage of their works, which isn't fair.
AE provides a partial solution: it lets readers tip authors for specific books.
If you like the idea, you can get paid for helping get it off the ground.
You Can Help in Two Ways
One, ask the authors you deal with to check out AE.
Two, display the sign below, which we will provide, at your store's register.
Proof of Concept Then Growth
With a small pilot group of bookstores, we seek to answer two questions:
- Will some readers tip authors?
- Will some authors publicize AE?
If the answer is yes (in non-trivial numbers), proof of concept will be achieved.
Ideally, growth will follow as more bookstores help and more authors publicize the app. The incentives exist. Beyond the ethical case for promoting fairness to authors, the cash compensation for bookstores is generous and the income for authors is found money.
How You Get Paid
Bookstores that help receive 20% of the tips.
This 20% is shared equally among these stores.
Example: if tips total $1,000,000 and 100 stores help, each store receives $2,000.
Each store in a chain receives a separate share.
Tips can come from anywhere.
Terms may change.
Tips From Anywhere
Bookstores receive a 20% share of tips regardless of where those tips come from. Therefore, they will receive far more tip money from non-customers than from customers, provided the tipping idea spreads. For example, a bookstore that helps promote AE in Miami Beach may receive tip money from readers in Ft. Lauderdale, Yuma, Spokane, Singapore, and so forth.
Is this arrangement fair to authors? Well, bookstores will be rewarded generously only if they successfully kickstart a new income stream for authors. Authors aren't going to do it themselves. Bookstores are the essential early promoters.
Estimated Income
For the first year at least, tip volume will likely be low.
As to the potential? Who knows? GoFundMe took from 2010-2013 to reach 1 million donations. Now, there are ~63 million per year and ~$40 billion has been given.
Ultimately, over $100 million annually in tips is realistic if authors promote the app.
$100 million annually in tips would yield $20 million annually for bookstores. If, say, 500 stores were participating, that would equal $40,000 per store. Likewise, $1 million annually in tips would equal $400 per store.
Uncollected Tips
Some authors will not collect their tips. After 5 years, an author's uncollected tips will be distributed equally to bookstores promoting AE.
Sign Up Your Bookstore or Ask Questions
Call AE at 623-290-9161 from 11am - 8pm ET (US).