presentation to ccmi tim godfray, chief executive, the booksellers association of the united kingdom...
TRANSCRIPT
Presentation to CCMIPresentation to CCMITim Godfray, Chief Executive, The Booksellers Association of the
United Kingdom & Ireland30th November 2011
Publishing on the Move – Issues for Booksellers and 10 recommendations to consider
We are not talking about the end of ………
We are talking about huge structural shift in the book market
From high street to on-line
1972: bookselling in the UK
Independents
2011: bookselling in the UK
Independents
Strategic shift: migration from high street to on-line
Consumers seeking books are:Consumers seeking books are:Promiscuous – shopping from a wide variety Promiscuous – shopping from a wide variety
of outletsof outletsVery price consciousVery price consciousNot adverse to copying copyright materialNot adverse to copying copyright materialGadget savvy (mobile phones) Gadget savvy (mobile phones) Using bookshops more and more as Using bookshops more and more as
showrooms ……… viewing the book in the showrooms ……… viewing the book in the bookshop and subsequently ordering on-linebookshop and subsequently ordering on-line
Arrival of the e-book
Current UK e-book Current UK e-book sales: c. 8% of total sales: c. 8% of total book salesbook sales
US estimates for e-US estimates for e-books in 2015: up to books in 2015: up to 50% of total book 50% of total book salessales
E-book ‘revolution’ – E-book ‘revolution’ – device leddevice led
Effect on number of bookshops in BA membership
Market shift – esp. Market shift – esp. from High Street to from High Street to onlineonline
BA membership BA membership numbers (specialist numbers (specialist bookshops): 2006/10bookshops): 2006/10 Total outletsTotal outlets
-19.1%-19.1% Independents Independents
-25.9% -25.9%
Fewer specialist Fewer specialist bookshopsbookshops
Clear pattern – fewer Clear pattern – fewer openingsopenings
BA Membership Numbers 2006 - 2011
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Year
Nu
mb
er o
f O
utl
ets
Issues at stake for EU booksellers in the digital world (1)
1.1. Price: Price: Internet booksellers lower cost base than high streetInternet booksellers lower cost base than high street Price comparison search enginesPrice comparison search engines Amazon Amazon
2.2. Very difficult to have your own e-book platform Very difficult to have your own e-book platform Small bookseller – on back of someone else (who takes Small bookseller – on back of someone else (who takes
most of the commission)most of the commission) Gardner’s (UK wholesaler) HiveGardner’s (UK wholesaler) Hive Google AffiliateGoogle Affiliate aNobiiaNobii
Large bookseller – own site powered by someone else Large bookseller – own site powered by someone else (e.g. OverDrive)(e.g. OverDrive)
Issues at stake for EU booksellers in the digital world (2)
3.3. Traditional booksellers lack knowledge (e.g. web Traditional booksellers lack knowledge (e.g. web marketing; populating a website; selling hardware; marketing; populating a website; selling hardware; social networks (e.g. Facebook & Twitter))social networks (e.g. Facebook & Twitter))
4.4. Cannot get hold of the hardware: e-Reader Cannot get hold of the hardware: e-Reader manufacture only wants to deal with large manufacture only wants to deal with large accounts – not individual independent booksellersaccounts – not individual independent booksellers
5.5. Lack of knowledge: Who owns the e-book rights? Lack of knowledge: Who owns the e-book rights? How can I get hold of the e.pub/Adobe file? How can I get hold of the e.pub/Adobe file?
Issues at stake for EU booksellers in the digital world (3)
6.6. Standards: many e-books do not Standards: many e-books do not possess their own unique numerical possess their own unique numerical identifier (c.f. almost all printed books identifier (c.f. almost all printed books have the ISBN)have the ISBN)
7.7. Public libraries (some) have been lending Public libraries (some) have been lending e-books free to anyone, without controlse-books free to anyone, without controls
8.8. VAT imbalance: printed books in the VAT imbalance: printed books in the ‘reduced’ band; e-books in the ‘standard’‘reduced’ band; e-books in the ‘standard’
What CCMI might now recommend?
10 possibilities10 possibilities
1. Ensure consumers have a choice by fostering diversity in the marketplace
….. to be able to choose the formats
2. Value Added Tax: support no tax on reading
3. e-books: support training courses to help booksellers learn new skills
4. Support Copyright
5. Support ARROW to disseminate rights’ information
6. Beware of domination in the marketplace
7. E-books: ensure library lending does not undermine bookshops
8. See standards introduced for e-books: support EDItEUR
9. Support the promotion of reading
10. Agree that bookshops are culturally important
Many thanks!Many thanks!Tim Godfray, Chief Executive, The Booksellers Association of the
United Kingdom & [email protected]
Publishing on the Move – Issues for Booksellers and 10 recommendations to consider