A victory for local bricks & mortar stores!

Dear Friend of Bookshop Santa Cruz,
 
This week, the California State Legislature and Governor Jerry Brown signed a new state budget which includes a new law requiring out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax for online purchases. This represents a hard-fought victory for local bricks and mortar bookstores, pharmacies, shoe stores, bike shops and other local retailers, including many members of Think Local First Santa Cruz County, who spent the last decade asking the California State Legislature to level the playing field between main street businesses and online retailers (such as Amazon.com and Overstock.com). We argued that online retailers were given an unfair price advantage by not having to collect sales tax over local, bricks and mortar businesses, even though bricks and mortar stores were the ones creating jobs in California and contributing to local economies.
 
Unfortunately, in response to the signing, Amazon announced that it was firing its affiliates in California. We understand that many members of our community use affiliate programs to promote books and raise money for their businesses, organizations, schools or causes, so we want to offer our affiliate program to you. By becoming a Bookshop Santa Cruz affiliate, when a visitor from your website shops at www.bookshopsantacruz.com, you earn a 5% commission on each purchase. Sign up today at www.bookshopsantacruz.com/affiliate and in the next few weeks we will provide detailed instructions on how to link to Bookshop Santa Cruz to earn the most money for your business or organization.
 
Learn more about our affiliate program.
 
Thank you California legislature and Governor Brown for taking a stand for local businesses and, as always, thank you Santa Cruz for your ongoing commitment to shopping locally.
 
 
Casey Coonerty Protti
Owner
Bookshop Santa Cruz