U.S. Consumer Book Buying

Summary of a recent webinar, U.S. Consumer Book Buying, put on by Bowker and AAP. Thanks to Sue Polanka for her summary and comments.

A few items that caught my attention:

• 2008 - e-commerce the dominant channel for book sales, beating out brick n mortar. 2009 - so far, large chain bookstores are back at the top

• Before 1975 there were 8 choices for entertainment/info (books was one) - in 2009 there are 21 choices (books still there), more choices = less room for reading books, harder to reach users

• trade market: double digit declines in hardcover/paperback and mass market sales, yet ebooks are up 28%. Cost differential in sales - hardcover vs. eBooks $6.25 price difference

• consumer today wants what they want, when they want it, how they want it