Bookoff

What Bookoff does

BOOKOFF U.S.A. INC. is a Gardena, California-based specialty retailer that buys and sells secondhand books, CDs, DVDs, video games, electronics, and related media, operating as the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Bookoff Group Holdings. Founded in October 1999, the company runs 22+ company-owned retail locations across six U.S. states (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, and Texas), including a differentiated Ani-Lab sub-brand of anime-focused stores in markets such as Little Tokyo, Irvine, Brooklyn, and NoHo. Revenue is generated through a buy-and-sell model — purchasing used items from consumers at negotiated prices and reselling them in stores — supplemented by a Shopify-powered e-commerce shop (shop.bookoffusa.com) and third-party marketplace listings on eBay and Amazon.

The technology stack is standard retail commerce tooling rather than a proprietary platform: Shopify powers the e-shop, Google Analytics tracks site traffic, and Google Pay and Shop Pay handle checkout payments. Gashapon (capsule toy) vending machines, recurring pop-up events with Japanese-entertainment partners such as Hololive Production and Snow Miku, and a charitable Million Book Donation Project serve as engagement and merchandising extensions. The company targets two primary customer segments: anime and manga enthusiasts seeking Japanese imports and collectibles, and general budget-conscious consumers of used media, with a horizontal segmentation approach and no disclosed enterprise or B2B accounts.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across physical retail, owned e-commerce, and third-party marketplaces, with marketing executed primarily through organic social channels (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter) and in-store events. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the only structured compensation data is hourly wages for part-time retail and warehouse positions ranging from $13.00 to $20.00+ depending on location. The business is privately held, with no funding rounds disclosed, and operates as part of the broader Bookoff Group Holdings network.

Name

Bookoff

Legal name

BOOKOFF U.S.A. INC.

Website

https://bookoffusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

BOOKOFF U.S.A. INC. is a U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Bookoff Group Holdings that operates 22+ retail stores and an e-commerce presence buying and selling secondhand books, CDs, DVDs, video games, and Japanese anime/manga merchandise to consumer and hobbyist audiences across six states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondhand Retail (Books, Media, and Anime Merchandise)

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (4595), Book Retailers and News Dealers (459210)

SIC

Retail-Catalog & Mail-Order Houses (5961)

akta.pro primary industry

Books, Media & Entertainment Resale (CRAFAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Used, Rare & Antiquarian Bookstores (CRALAAAB), Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF)

Keywords

• Secondhand books retail
• Used media resale
• Anime merchandise stores
• Video game buyback
• Japanese import goods

Headquarters

HQ city

Gardena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales - Secondhand Goods: BOOKOFF USA operates retail stores that buy and sell secondhand electronics, books, CDs, DVDs, video games, and other reuse items. The company purchases items from customers at negotiated prices and resells them in stores.
2. E-commerce Sales: Online sales through the company's Shopify-powered e-shop (shop.bookoffusa.com) and third-party eBay marketplace listings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BOOKOFF USA buys and resells secondhand books, manga, CDs, DVDs, video games, consoles, anime figures, and Japanese import merchandise through a chain of 22+ physical retail stores and a Shopify-powered e-commerce shop. The company runs a cash buyback program that lets consumers trade in used media for cash, which feeds the resale inventory, alongside specialty Ani-Lab stores dedicated to anime and Japanese pop culture.

Product overview

BOOKOFF is a secondhand retail chain that operates as a unified platform combining physical retail stores with e-commerce channels. The core offering includes physical BOOKOFF retail stores (including specialty Ani-Lab anime stores) that buy and sell secondhand electronics, books, CDs, DVDs, video games, and collectibles, supported by a buyback program. This is complemented by the BOOKOFF e-SHOP online store and third-party marketplace presences on Amazon and eBay. Additional offerings include gashapon vending machines, pop-up events for anime and Japanese culture merchandise, and the Million Book Donation Project for charitable donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ani-Lab: Specialized anime and manga-focused retail stores operated by BOOKOFF, featuring Japanese collectibles, trading card games, and Japan import merchandise. Locations include Little Tokyo (Los Angeles), Irvine, Brooklyn, and NoHo (New York).
• BOOKOFF Ani-Lab

Products and services

• BOOKOFF Retail Stores Chain of 22+ company-owned physical retail stores across Arizona, California, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, and Texas that sell secondhand electronics, books, manga, CDs, DVDs, video games, consoles, and Japanese-import merchandise to individual consumers.
• BOOKOFF e-SHOP Company-owned Shopify-powered online store at shop.bookoffusa.com selling books, media, anime merchandise, and other inventory to U.S. consumers, with Google Pay and Shop Pay checkout.
• BOOKOFF Ani-Lab (Anime Stores) Specialty anime-focused retail store concept under the Ani-Lab sub-brand, featuring manga, Japanese collectibles, trading card games, and Japan retro games, with locations in Brooklyn, Little Tokyo (Los Angeles), NoHo (New York), and Irvine.
• Buyback Program Service allowing customers to sell used books, CDs, DVDs, video games, game consoles, and figures to BOOKOFF stores for cash payment on-site, feeding the company's resale inventory.
• eBay Storefront BOOKOFF's third-party eBay store (ebay.com/str/bookoffusainc) where the company lists and sells used books, media, and merchandise directly to consumers.
• Amazon Storefront BOOKOFF's third-party Amazon presence where the company lists and sells products through Amazon's e-commerce platform.
• Gashapon (Capsule Toy Vending) Gashapon capsule toy vending machines available at select BOOKOFF retail locations offering collectible toys and anime-themed merchandise to consumers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nihonchokuhan Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 February 2026Nihonchokuhan Inc. collaborated with BOOKOFF USA to host limited-time Hololive Production pop-up events at six retail locations across the United States, beginning February 20, 2026. The pop-ups feature official Hololive Production merchandise, interactive fan experiences including photo spots, purchase bonus postcards, and fan message walls designed to deepen engagement with local Hololive communities. Norihiko Ito, Director and Head of Entertainment Global Division at Nihonchokuhan Inc., stated the initiative aims to strengthen their U.S. market presence and bring Japanese entertainment culture to fans worldwide through immersive retail experiences.
• Hololive ProductioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 February 2026Hololive Production partnered with BOOKOFF USA for pop-up events at six locations, providing official merchandise and fan engagement experiences. This collaboration brings Japanese virtual YouTuber entertainment culture to American fans through the retail channel.
• Nihonchokuhan Inc. (Snow Miku)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 October 2025Nihonchokuhan Inc. collaborated with BOOKOFF U.S.A Inc. to host a 'Snow Miku' pop-up event at the BOOKOFF San Diego store starting October 24, 2025. The event featured exclusive merchandise, photo campaigns, and social media engagement aimed at promoting Japanese culture and expanding their North American presence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Half Price Books: Half Price Books operates the largest chain of used book, movie, music, and video game stores in the US, with locations primarily in the Midwest and West Coast. It is a direct peer to BOOKOFF USA with a comparable buy-and-sell model and product mix across secondhand media.
• ThriftBooks: ThriftBooks is the largest online seller of used books in the United States, operating an e-commerce marketplace that competes directly with Bookoff's e-SHOP and online trade-in programs for secondhand book inventory.
• Powell's City of Books: Powell's City of Books is an iconic independent used and new bookstore based in Portland, Oregon, with both physical retail and an online marketplace. Comparable to BOOKOFF's physical store strategy and emphasis on used books.
• Strand Bookstore: Strand Bookstore is a landmark used bookstore in New York City operating a substantial physical retail presence and a strong rare book collection. It overlaps directly with BOOKOFF's New York NoHo and Massapequa locations in the used book category.
• BookPeople: BookPeople is a large independent bookstore based in Austin, Texas, combining new and used books with a community-focused retail model. Comparable in scale and product positioning to BOOKOFF's general secondhand retail stores.

Broad incumbents

• GameStop: GameStop is the largest US specialty retailer of video games and consumer electronics, operating a major trade-in program for used games, consoles, and accessories. Comparable to BOOKOFF's video game, console, and software buy-and-sell vertical.
• Amazon: Amazon operates the dominant US e-commerce platform with substantial used books, music, movie, and video game marketplace inventory through third-party sellers. Competitively relevant to BOOKOFF's e-commerce and marketplace channels.
• eBay: eBay is the leading online auction and fixed-price marketplace for used goods globally. Bookoff itself operates an eBay storefront, and eBay represents the most direct marketplace competitor for secondhand media.

Emerging players

• Decluttr: Decluttr is an online trade-in service that buys CDs, DVDs, video games, books, and tech directly from consumers for resale. It competes with BOOKOFF's buyback program by offering direct-to-consumer trade-in without requiring a store visit.

Regional players

• CDJapan: CDJapan is a Tokyo-based online retailer specializing in Japanese CDs, DVDs, manga, anime merchandise, and collectibles. Comparable to BOOKOFF Ani-Lab's focus on Japanese imports and anime/manga products, though primarily serving customers from Japan rather than a US retail base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bookoffo
• Facebookfacebook.com/bookoffusainc
• Instagraminstagram.com/bookoffusainc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/book-off-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bookoff