The Bookmark

What The Bookmark does

The Bookmark, Inc. is a privately held, specialty direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer founded in 1980 and headquartered in Lincoln, California. The company curates and sells Christian Science literature — physical books, transcripts, audio CDs, and digital PDF downloads — drawn from early and contemporary works on metaphysics, healing, and the history of the Christian Science movement led by Mary Baker Eddy. The catalog is organized into categories spanning introductory, basic, advanced, and biographic/historic study, and includes 154+ downloadable titles, 54+ advanced study titles, and 24+ biographic and historic titles. The underlying technology is a standard e-commerce website with self-service checkout, phone-order support (1-800-220-7767), and instant digital delivery via alphanumeric download links; no proprietary technology, mobile app, or integration platform is referenced.

The business operates on a one-time purchase model with prices ranging from approximately $5.95 to $199.00 per item, distributed globally through the company's own storefront. The go-to-market motion is content-led e-commerce: detailed product descriptions, educational category pages, a newsletter archive, and the 'Christian Science in the 21st Century' audio talk series serve as top- and mid-funnel engagement channels. The customer base is fragmented across individual practitioners, students, historians, and newcomers to Christian Science, with no disclosed enterprise or institutional customers. The company has eleven employees, no disclosed funding, no parent organization, and no M&A activity — characteristics of a small, independently owned niche retailer that has operated continuously for over four decades.

Name

The Bookmark

Legal name

The Bookmark, Inc.

Website

https://thebookmark.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Bookmark is a privately held, specialty e-commerce retailer founded in 1980 that curates and sells Christian Science books, transcripts, audio recordings, and digital downloads to practitioners, students, historians, and newcomers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Literature Retail

NAICS

Book Retailers and News Dealers (459210), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRALAAAE

Religious & Spiritual Books Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Books, News & Magazines Retail

SECONDARYMPAJAHAB

Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Religious & Spiritual Publishing

SECONDARYMPAJAHAL

Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Religious & Spiritual Publishing

SECONDARYMPAJAHAC

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Religious & Spiritual Publishing

Keywords

• Christian Science books
• Religious literature retail
• Metaphysical publishing
• Spiritual study materials
• Religious e-commerce

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Physical books and transcripts sold as one-time purchases. Products include hardcover and softcover books, transcripts, and collections. Prices range from approximately $5.95 to $199.00 per item.
2. Digital Downloads: PDF downloads of transcripts and addresses available for instant access. Downloads require Adobe Reader. Customers receive alphanumeric download links after order completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Bookmark is a curated online retailer that sells Christian Science literature — physical books and transcripts, audio CDs, and PDF digital downloads — focused on metaphysical study, healing through prayer, and the history of the Christian Science movement. Products span elementary to advanced study materials, biographies of Mary Baker Eddy, and free introductory audio content, all sold direct-to-consumer through the company website and phone orders.

Product overview

The Bookmark is an e-commerce bookstore specializing in Christian Science literature and materials, established in 1980. The company offers a curated collection of early and contemporary works on Christian Science, healing, metaphysics, and Christianity. The product portfolio includes physical books and transcripts, CDs, and digital PDF downloads. Products are organized into categories including Advanced Study materials, Basic Study materials, Biographic and Historic Works, and New to Christian Science resources. The company also provides past newsletters and audio content including the 'Christian Science in the 21st Century' audio series. The Bookmark primarily serves Christian Science practitioners, students, and those interested in spiritual healing through prayer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Christian Science Books and Transcripts Physical and digital books and transcripts covering Christian Science metaphysics, healing, and theology, including works by early Christian Science teachers such as Martha Wilcox, Paul R. Smillie, Helen Spangler, Bicknell Young, Josiah C. Merriman, and Mary Baker Eddy. Sold to Christian Science practitioners, students, and researchers.
• Christian Science CDs Audio recordings of Christian Science lectures, talks, and addresses on spiritual healing and metaphysics, for practitioners and students who prefer or supplement with audio learning.
• Christian Science Downloads Digital PDF transcripts available for instant download, including association addresses, class notes, and writings by early Christian Science teachers. Over 154 downloadable titles are offered; PDFs require Adobe Reader and are delivered via alphanumeric download links after order completion.
• Advanced Study Materials Advanced-level books and transcripts for deep study of Christian Science metaphysics, including association addresses covering topics such as animal magnetism, treatment, and spiritual healing. 54+ titles currently listed.
• Basic Study Materials Elementary books and transcripts providing simple explanations of Christian Science concepts for new students seeking foundational understanding.
• Biographic and Historic Works Biographies, memoirs, and historical accounts of Mary Baker Eddy and the early Christian Science movement, including titles about the founding of the Church and Eddy's spiritual work. 24+ titles currently listed.
• New to Christian Science Introductory materials for individuals newly discovering Christian Science faith and practice who need accessible entry-point resources.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Barnes & Noble: Large US bookstore chain carrying Christian, spiritual, and metaphysical titles including Christian Science works. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping selection and stronger physical retail presence, setting competitive baselines for availability and pricing.
• Amazon (Books): Global general retailer with the largest online bookstore, including new and used Christian Science titles. Provides a broad incumbent alternative for mainstream Christian Science readers and imposes baseline price and convenience competition on specialty retailers like The Bookmark.

Direct peers

• Christianbook.com (Christian Book Distributors): Largest online retailer of Christian literature across denominations, selling books, Bibles, and study materials globally. Directly comparable as a multi-category online Christian bookstore, though much broader in scope than The Bookmark's Christian Science focus.
• Christian Science Publishing Society: Official publisher of Mary Baker Eddy's writings and The Christian Science Monitor. The Bookmark operates as an independent specialty retailer and complement to this incumbent publisher's catalog, both serving the same Christian Science readership with primary and supplementary literature.

Others

• AbeBooks: Online marketplace for rare, out-of-print, and used books, including a significant Christian Science meta-section. Relevant as a structural alternative where readers seeking historical Christian Science writings can substitute specialized retailer inventory with marketplace listings.

Emerging players

• Morehouse Publishing: Episcopal-affiliated publisher of liturgical, theological, and devotional titles with direct online retail. Comparable as a specialty Christian publisher-retailer combining curated books, study guides, and digital formats for a defined Christian audience.
• Kessinger Publishing: Specialist in reprinting rare and out-of-print books, including historical religious and metaphysical works. Comparable as a niche player monetizing hard-to-find historical and metaphysical texts, overlapping with The Bookmark's scarce-content positioning.
• Paraclete Press: Independent Christian publisher producing contemplative, spiritual, and liturgical books and audio. Comparable as a small, mission-driven publisher-retailer that combines original publishing with curated backlist and audio content in the Christian spiritual reading space.
• Upper Room Books: Christian publisher of devotionals, Bible study, and spiritual formation resources, often with direct-to-consumer sales. Comparable as a denomination-rooted publisher combining physical books, digital downloads, and online learning resources for Christian practitioners.

Regional players

• Leaflet Missal Company: Long-established Catholic religious goods retailer selling books, missals, and devotional items via catalog and online. Comparable as a small, denomination-focused direct-to-consumer religious retailer with a curated, education-oriented catalog and loyal subscriber base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-bookmark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Bookmark