Online catalogue
Your live stock searchable by title, author, ISBN or genre, synced from your POS with covers and blurbs.
Bookshop software: online catalogue, orders & events
Bookshops: your whole shelf, searchable online. More handselling, less hunting.
Customers ring all day to ask if you've got a book. Special orders live on slips in a shoebox, author nights sell by email and the book club runs out of someone's inbox. We build catalogue, ordering and event systems for independent bookshops that all talk to each other, then we host them and look after them.
Looking for bookshop software that puts your shelves online?
An independent bookshop is a shop, an events venue, a special orders desk and a book club host all at once. Most run it on a book trade POS, a website that doesn't know what's on the shelf, a spreadsheet of orders and a lot of sticky notes. Every 'have you got it?' call means someone walking the shelves while the counter queue grows.
Wollopit builds custom bookshop software around how your shop actually runs. Your stock goes online straight from your POS, so readers can search it, hold it or order what you don't have. Author nights sell their own tickets with a copy of the book. Book clubs and school booklists mostly run themselves. We connect the tools you already use, replace the ones holding you back and look after the lot on our own servers, so you can get back to handselling.
01The problems
What we hear from bookshops
Does your bookshop have these problems? Here's how we'd fix them.
Indie bookshops win on curation and service. The trouble is the service side usually runs on paper slips, phone calls and memory.
- The problemIs it in stock?The phone rings all day with 'have you got this one?' and someone leaves the counter to walk the shelves.How we fix itLive stock search on your website straight from your POS, with the section it's shelved in and a 'hold it for me' button.
- The problemSpecial orders on slipsOrder slips in a shoebox. A book arrives and nobody remembers who wanted it or whether they paid a deposit.How we fix itOnline special orders tracked from request to supplier to shelf, with a text to the customer the day it lands.
- The problemHolds shelf chaosA pile of books behind the counter with sticky notes on them. Half never get collected.How we fix itA digital holds list with collect-by dates, reminders and books released back to the shelf when a hold lapses.
- The problemAuthor events sold by emailRSVPs in an inbox, a guess at how many chairs to put out and no idea how many copies to order for the signing.How we fix itEvent ticketing with ticket and book bundles, capacity limits, QR check-in and a sorted signing queue.
- The problemBook clubs run by emailMembers in a spreadsheet, the monthly pick ordered by guesswork and the club discount applied from memory.How we fix itBook club management with member lists, the monthly pick reserved per member and the discount applied at the till.
- The problemStaff picks stuck on shelf talkersBrilliant handwritten recommendations that only people standing in the shop ever see.How we fix itStaff picks online with each bookseller's notes, shown on the website, in the newsletter and on an in-store screen.
- The problemGift cards only at the counterPaper vouchers in a drawer and nothing to offer the aunt who lives in Perth.How we fix itDigital gift cards sold online, emailed in seconds and redeemable in store or on the website.
- The problemThe website doesn't know the shelfThe online shop lists books you sold last week and misses the box that came in on Tuesday.How we fix itStock and prices synced from your POS with covers and blurbs from Nielsen BookData, so the website stays honest.
- The problemBooklist season eats JanuarySchools email booklists, parents ring in a panic and the back room disappears under half-packed orders.How we fix itA school booklist portal where parents order the whole list in one go, with pick lists and collection slots.
- The problemBig releases and signed copiesA huge release or a signed batch sells out over the phone in an hour and regulars miss out.How we fix itPre-orders with fair allocations, member-first windows and click and collect on release day.
- The problemThe newsletter takes all SundayNew releases and events copied into Mailchimp one at a time, every link checked by hand.How we fix itNew arrivals, staff picks and upcoming events drop into your newsletter template automatically.
02What we build
Solutions
What we build for bookshops. Usually all talking to each other.
Pick the one that's hurting most or join the whole lot up. Everything is built around how your team works, not the other way round.
Special orders
Customers request any title online, pay a deposit if you like and get a text when it arrives.
Holds & reservations
'Hold it for me' from the website, collect-by dates, reminders and automatic release back to the shelf.
Event ticketing
Author talks, launches and kids' storytimes with tickets, book bundles, capacity limits and QR check-in.
Book clubs
Member lists, monthly picks reserved per member, club discounts and meeting reminders.
Book subscriptions
A book a month picked by your staff, billed automatically and great as a gift.
Staff picks
Each bookseller's favourites with their own notes, on the website, in emails and on a shop screen.
Digital gift cards
Sold online, emailed instantly and redeemable in store or online with balances tracked.
Pre-orders & signed copies
Big releases and signed stock allocated fairly, with limits and release day pickup.
School booklists
Every school's list online, ordered in one go by parents, packed from pick lists and collected on time.
Newsletter builder
New arrivals, events and staff picks pulled into your branded email template ready to send.
Loyalty card
A reader card in their phone wallet with points or stamps that works at the till and online.
A website that reads well
Hand-built, quick on mobile, with live stock, events and opening hours, built to rank for 'bookshop near me'.
03The systems
The big ones
Your whole bookshop, on one system.
These are the systems bookshops ask us about most. Each one works on its own and they get properly clever when they're joined up.
Online catalogue
Your whole shelf, searchable from the couch.
Your POS stock goes live on your website, with covers and blurbs filled in from Nielsen BookData. Readers check if it's in before they drive over, hold it for pickup or buy it on the spot. Fewer phone calls, more feet through the door.
- Live stock from your POS
- Search by title, author, ISBN or genre
- Covers and blurbs from Nielsen BookData
- Shelf section shown on every title
- 'Hold it for me' button
- Buy online with click and collect
- Postage via Australia Post or Sendle
- Not in stock? Order it in
- Google Merchant Center listings
- New arrivals page updated daily
Special orders & holds
No more shoebox of order slips.
Every special order and hold sits in one list with who wanted it, what they paid and where it's up to. When the book lands the customer gets a text. If they don't collect, a reminder goes out before it goes back on the shelf.
- Orders taken online or at the counter
- Optional deposits paid by card
- Supplier and ETA on every order
- Text when the book arrives
- Collect-by dates and reminders
- Lapsed holds back to the shelf
- Customer order history
- Orders grouped by supplier
- Uncollected orders report
- Works on the counter tablet
Events & author nights
Author nights that sell their own tickets.
Create an event once and it's on your website, Google and Facebook with tickets on sale. Sell a ticket on its own or bundled with the book. You'll know exactly how many chairs and copies you need before the night.
- Ticket only or ticket plus book
- Free RSVPs for launches
- Capacity limits and waitlists
- QR check-in at the door
- Signing queue by ticket number
- Book order sized to tickets sold
- Recurring storytimes and clubs
- Off-site venue events
- Reminder emails and SMS
- Takings and books sold per event
Book clubs & subscriptions
Clubs and subscriptions that run themselves.
Book clubs get their own member lists with the monthly pick reserved for every member and the club discount applied at the till. A staff-picked book subscription bills itself each month and makes the easiest gift in the shop.
- Book club member lists
- Monthly pick reserved per member
- Club discount at the POS
- Meeting dates and reminders
- Book a month subscriptions
- Automatic billing and card retries
- Gift subscriptions with a start date
- Genre or age preferences
- Pickup or posted each month
- Member emails and SMS
School booklists
Booklist season without the back room meltdown.
Each school's list goes online by year level so parents order the lot in one go and pay up front. You get pick lists grouped by title, supplier orders sized to demand and collection slots to keep the queue moving.
- Lists by school and year level
- Parents order the full list at once
- Optional and second-hand items
- Paid up front by card or Afterpay
- Pick lists grouped by title
- Supplier orders sized to demand
- Collection time slots
- Backorder alerts to parents
- School invoices to Xero or MYOB
- Lists copied forward each year
04How it changes
Before and after
An author night, wolloped.
Here's how a Thursday author talk could change. Every bookshop is different, so we map yours first.
Before
- RSVPs trickle into the shop inbox for weeks
- Replies counted on a notepad to guess the chairs
- Forty copies ordered on a hunch
- Payment taken at the door from a cash tin
- Names scribbled on a list for the signing queue
- Leftover stock sits by the counter for a month
After
- Tickets sell online with or without the book
- Capacity limits and a waitlist do the counting
- The book order matches the tickets sold
- QR check-in on a phone at the door
- Signing queue sorted by ticket number
- Spare signed copies go straight onto the website
05Services
Everything under one roof
Software, websites and systems for bookshops.
Whether you're starting fresh or upgrading what you've got, it's one team from the first sketch to the support call.
Custom software for bookshops
Built around how your bookshop actually runs: online catalogue, special orders and the admin in between, in one system you own.
Websites for bookshops
Fast, hand-built websites that rank for the searches your customers make and turn visits into enquiries, bookings or orders.
Bookshop system upgrades
Running on spreadsheets, old software or a platform you've outgrown? We move your data across and upgrade in stages so the business never stops.
Apps and portals for bookshops
Holds & reservations and event ticketing: customer and staff portals that work on any phone without an app store.
Integrations and automation
We connect Circlesoft, Nielsen BookData and Shopify so information moves on its own and nobody retypes it.
Hosting, support and care
Managed hosting, updates, backups and security for your bookshop, looked after by the people who built it.
06Integrations
Connections
Plays nicely with what you already use.
We connect to the book trade systems you rely on, work alongside the platforms you're happy with or replace the ones holding you back.
- Circlesoft
- Nielsen BookData
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- Square
- Lightspeed
- Stripe
- Afterpay
- Xero
- MYOB
- Australia Post
- Sendle
- StarShipIt
- Mailchimp
- Klaviyo
- Humanitix
- Eventbrite
- Google Merchant Center
- Google Business Profile
07How we work
The process
Some people dip their toe in. We turn up in a rebreather.
We get properly below the surface of your bookshop: the systems, the busy days and the jobs everyone hates. Then we fix the bits that matter most first.
- 01
Think
We spend time on the counter, at the special orders desk and at an event night, then work out what's actually slowing you down.
- 02
Archi-tech
We plan it before writing code: your stock feed, orders, holds, events, clubs, booklists, hosting and cost.
- 03
Build
Real engineering, shown to you early and often. Usually the most painful bit first, so you get a win before Christmas or booklist season.
- 04
Look after
We host it, maintain it and keep improving it. When something breaks you call the people who built it.
08Questions
FAQ
Things bookshops ask us.
Something else on your mind? Ring 0423 011 252 and ask the people who'd build it.
Can it connect to our bookshop POS?
Usually, yes. We connect to common book retail systems like Circlesoft as well as Square, Lightspeed and Shopify POS so stock, prices and sales stay in sync.
Can customers really see what's on our shelves?
Yes. Your website shows live stock from your POS, including the section it's shelved in. Readers can hold a copy for pickup, buy it online or order it in if you're out.
Will customers know when their special order arrives?
Yes. When you receive the book it's matched to the order and the customer gets a text or email straight away. Reminders go out if it's not collected.
Can we sell event tickets bundled with the book?
Yes. Sell tickets on their own or with a copy of the book, set capacity limits and check people in with a QR code. You'll know how many copies to order before the night.
We already have a Shopify site. Do we have to switch?
No. If your POS and online shop are doing their job, we build around them: the catalogue sync, special orders, events, clubs and booklists on top. If something's holding you back we'll show you what replacing it would involve before anything changes.
Can you handle school booklists?
Yes. Each school's list goes online by year level, parents order and pay in one go and you get pick lists, supplier totals and collection slots.
How much does a bookshop system cost?
It depends on what you need, so we quote up front once we understand it. No surprise invoices, no lock-in and you own what we build.
How long does it take?
Smaller jobs like online special orders or event ticketing can be quick. Bigger systems are planned in stages so you get the first win early instead of waiting for everything at once.
Who looks after it once it's built?
We do. We host it on our own managed servers and keep it updated and secure. When you need something you ring the people who built it.
We already have systems. Can you upgrade them instead of starting again?
Usually, yes. Most bookshops we work with keep what's working and upgrade the rest in stages. We move your data across, connect the old and new while we switch and retire the old system only when the new one is proven.
Contact
Got a bookshop problem? Consider it wolloped.
Tell us what's slow, broken, manual or missing. You don't need a spec, just describe what's going on.