John McNamee Frankfurt 2006 revised

Digitisation of content: how booksellers can survive and develop their businesses? : 

Digitisation of content: how booksellers can survive and develop their businesses? John Mc Namee European Booksellers Federation President EBF Frankfurt Book Fair 5 andamp; 6 October 2006

Digitisation of content: can we survive this seismic shift in the book trade? : 

Digitisation of content: can we survive this seismic shift in the book trade?

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Digitisation and publishing: 

Digitisation and publishing Digitisation has already brought many benefits to the book trade [e.g. print on demand] Digitisation of content is not new Activities of the search engines have accelerated the process UK and Irish publishers likely to digitise content onto own servers

Fears of booksellers (1) : 

Fears of booksellers (1) Publishers by-passing booksellers Authors by passing publishers and booksellers

Fears of booksellers (2): 

Fears of booksellers (2) Book content being downloaded in the home, university and work Book content being shared by consumers [like NAPSTER in the music industry] Complete texts being placed onto university intranets

Fears of booksellers (3): 

Fears of booksellers (3) Even more students will obtain information over the internet School textbooks will be downloaded direct to the school and classrooms Libraries lending books electronically on-line

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Glasgow Caledonian Library : 

Glasgow Caledonian Library 1,200 terminals for public use

Fears are real: 

Fears are real Number of IT literate customers increasing fast Academics moving away from printed books Libraries seem to be moving away from printed books Growth of broadband

Development of the e-book reader: 

Development of the e-book reader Will consumers take up the new e-book readers? Don’t know!! Borders have agreed to sell the Sony E-Reader

Timescale: 

Timescale Lots of hype Take longer than initial predictions to gain momentum Timescale will depend on the consumer When it does happen it will move very fast

How long have booksellers got before these seismic changes occur?: 

How long have booksellers got before these seismic changes occur? 1.5 years?

What types of books will be downloaded first?: 

What types of books will be downloaded first? Audio books Academic books Non-fiction (e.g. reference and travel) Books for the library and school markets

Which booksellers will be particularly vulnerable? : 

Which booksellers will be particularly vulnerable? Academic booksellers School and library suppliers Some high street booksellers

Digitisation of content: can the book trade survive this seismic shift? : 

Digitisation of content: can the book trade survive this seismic shift? Yes

Overall: 

Overall Printed book will survive Some bookshops will close But bookshops generally will survive With far more choice, consumers will want advice More books will be read (but more will be electronic) Most authors will not bypass the publisher

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Booksellers only have to see a reduction in sales of around 4% brought about by digitisation, and their business could be under financial pressure

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Booksellers should consider …..: 

Booksellers should consider ….. Focusing on advice, service and trust Selling books and content on the web in print, electronic and other formats Selling e-readers Offering audio and text browsing and downloading points in the shop Offering print-on-demand Specialising Selling more non-book products

Booksellers should …….: 

Booksellers should ……. Talk now to publishers to see how booksellers might be involved Support publishers in protecting their copyright (no search engine should hold text data without the prior permission of the copyright holder) What s the difference between Google and the booksellers????? Bookseller pay for their stock!!

Publishers should not cut off the middleman: 

Publishers should not cut off the middleman 'You have to be as good as the pirate is. Don’t cut out the middleman. Publishers, as much as you love your product, it doesn’t matter to the consumer, in the same way that record buyers aren’t bothered whether Madonna is on Warner or EMI. You need to help retailers develop the sales of digital content on the net. It makes no sense to act alone.' Tim Renner (former CeO Universal Music) at London Book Fair, 5th March 2006

New challenges facing booksellers, digitisation , e-readers & e-downloading, price competition, operational costs etc.: 

New challenges facing booksellers, digitisation , e-readers andamp; e-downloading, price competition, operational costs etc.

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Independent Booksellers buy at 10/15 % poorer discount than chains. Buying comparison even worse when compared to supermarkets or Book Club discount.

WHAT CAN BOOKSELLERS DO TO SURVIVE INTO THE FUTURE?: 

WHAT CAN BOOKSELLERS DO TO SURVIVE INTO THE FUTURE?

Lobby and Fight for Different Legislation: 

Lobby and Fight for Different Legislation

Create Strategic Alliance: 

Create Strategic Alliance

Is it possible for Booksellers to exist on back-lists sales alone?: 

Is it possible for Booksellers to exist on back-lists sales alone? Lobby publishers to create better trading terms. Become more involved in trade/industry initiatives e.g. WBD, there are some great marketing ideas.

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Specialise, consider becoming more specialist in one or more areas in your bookshop Create a better backlist Train staff regularly especially in areas of customer service Use knowledge of Industry/books to train staff Become solution providers for customers Watch cost controls, rent / rate reviews. Electricity andamp; telecom services – Insurance costs. Every 100 euros saved is equivalent to profit from 500 euros sales.

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Good book-buyers, ensuring good stock mix Alert to trends and changing markets Have good training programmes for staff Booksellers in the future will have to be…

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Is it the end?? NO IT’S NOT!!

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Digitisation of content – a seismic change (biggest change since Guttenberg) Not the end of the book world Bookshops can, and will, survive Extent of their survival will be influenced by the policies of publishers The book trade is entering a new world

Digitisation of content: can booksellers survive this seismic shift in the book trade? : 

Digitisation of content: can booksellers survive this seismic shift in the book trade? John Mc Namee European Booksellers Federation President