Shimmy Books
A peer-to-peer second-hand book marketplace for the UK — built on Sharetribe with ISBN auto-fill, MoovParcel shipping, discount codes, and 4,000+ users at launch.
Demo
Project overview
Shimmy Books is a peer-to-peer second-hand book marketplace built for the UK market, connecting book sellers with buyers looking for affordable second-hand reads. The platform needed smart listing creation tools, flexible shipping options, and seller engagement features to make buying and selling books as frictionless as possible.
We built the full platform on Sharetribe in 2 to 3 weeks — launching with 4,000+ users and 3,400+ book listings.
The Challenges
Shimmy Books required a set of smart, book-specific features alongside robust shipping and seller tools that go well beyond Sharetribe's default capabilities.
Custom landing page — designed and developed to convert both buyers and sellers
ISBN auto-fill — sellers enter an ISBN and book details are automatically fetched and populated via Google Books API, eliminating manual data entry
MoovParcel shipping integration — automated shipping via DPD and Yodel with real-time rates and label generation
Custom delivery options — InPost locker delivery integrated as an additional shipping method
Wishlist — buyers can save and track listings they want to purchase
Report a listing — buyers can flag inappropriate or inaccurate listings for moderation
Discount code feature — platform-level promotional codes for driving buyer acquisition and retention
Our Approach
We started with a custom landing page designed to clearly communicate the value of buying and selling second-hand books on Shimmy Books to both audiences.
The standout feature was ISBN auto-fill — sellers simply enter a book's ISBN and all details including title, author, description, and cover image are automatically fetched via the Google Books API and populated into the listing form. This dramatically reduces the time and effort required to list a book, driving higher seller participation.
MoovParcel was integrated to power shipping via DPD and Yodel — generating labels automatically at the point of sale. InPost locker delivery was added as a custom option, giving buyers a flexible, contactless collection alternative popular in the UK market.
A wishlist was built for buyers to save listings, and a report a listing feature was added for community moderation — keeping the catalogue clean and trustworthy. Discount codes were implemented at the platform level, giving the operator a tool to run promotions and drive buyer acquisition.
The Results
Delivered and live within 2 to 3 weeks
4,000+ users registered at launch
3,400+ book listings active on the platform
ISBN auto-fill reducing listing time significantly
MoovParcel shipping with DPD, Yodel and InPost live
Discount code and reporting features operational
Book Marketplace
Sharetribe
MoovParcel
Discount Codes
Stripe Connect
ISBN Auto-Fill
Google Books API
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