Recent numbers seem to agree with my view. In the numbers from 2014, it seems that ebook sales have leveled off some and traditional books are now holding their sales stats from the past few years. Huffington Post shares some figures that suggest Print books may once again be outselling ebooks. Publisher's Weekly also uses recent counts to propose the two forms of books can coexist and share the market.
Some of the more interesting stuff I read while researching this topic is the small percentage of Amazon's income that actually comes from book sales. Only 7% of their total revenue. Not sure what to even think about that. Then again, I've bought a number of video games and movies from Amazon and my daughter watches for their deals on Crest White Strips and gets them a lot cheaper than she can in a store even with a coupon. This same article in Forbes blames B&N and Borders as much for the decline in independent books stores as it did Amazon.
Those big stores like Borders, B&N, and BAM are struggling even after pushing half the independent booksellers in the country out of business. Why? My local B&N is usually so crowded it's difficult to browse and forget about getting a seat in the cafe. Borders already closed shop. In a few years, perhaps the indies that managed to hang on will be the last booksellers standing.
Not being self-published, I have no personal knowledge of how those sales are going but I've read enough on my friends' blogs and listened at my writers' meetings to know income for indie authors isn't making many people rich. Is it because ebooks sales have evened out?
Don't forget to take advantage of the Goodreads Giveaway chance to win a copy of Alex J. Cavanaugh's upcoming release of Dragon of the Stars.
Do you think the indie bookstores will outlast the big box stores? Do you see Amazon as the big bad wolf like discussed in the Forbes article? Did you know how little of their revenue Amazon makes on book sales even though that's how most people think of them? Do you buy anything other than books from Amazon?
21 comments:
Thanks for mentioning my giveaway!
I think the independent stores will last.
Amazon sells so much stuff now - I'd be curious what the percentages are across the board.
I sure hope independent book stores last. We have a great one in our town and I would be very sad if it went away. I do read ebooks on my kindle but I still like my hardcovers better.
Hi Susan .. yes ebooks, print books and Amazon's world ... I prefer good books in print ... and am happy to read novel type books on an ereader ... Love Christine's cover ... and the shout out for Alex - cheers Hilary
I think there will be independent stores, just not as many. Yeah, sure as heck not getting rich, can attest to that lol
The indies will survive if they can just hold on a little longer. They can cater to their customers in ways the bigger chain stores can't. Plus they can diversify with gifts and a coffee shop. (Usually better than the one you find in B&N.)
I wish I was a math and science geek. The only time I enjoyed math was when I had geometry. While everyone else was failing it, I was acing it. haha
And I buy books wherever I can get them. I love bookstores!
I think Amazon is more of a competitive threat to the general merchandisers such as Walmart than the indie bookstores. Small stores need to focus on the forte of customer service and interaction with their communities. No business grows without staying innovative and keeping in touch with their customer base.
Lee
Tossing It Out
When they tally ebook sales, they're looking at more than indie sales. Nearly every traditional publisher does digital now. Every trad book I've looked at on Amazon had print, digital and sometimes audio.
I'm beginning to see a return to balance. Hopefully the roller coaster will level out by the end of the year.
The articles I read recently said that ebook READER sales have actually dropped, and paperback books have increased a little bit. Not surprising. Every industry has a correction period, and we're in one now. I imagine many indie writers (either self pubbed or small press) will quit. That will pave the way for a whole new cycle, I think.
I'm a hybrid and I see no difference in my sales. I seem to get more "press" about my Indie, but I'm not sure why that is.
As to the rise in hardcopies, I see it as a trend like everything else. People jump on what's new, try it out, but still like the familiar to fall back on.
I'm glad we have at least on Indie bookstore in our town. When Borders came in three Indies went under. When Borders closed their doors, one came back. Yay!
I enjoy numbers too when it relates to what's happening with books. Personally, I think the huge Kindle sales of a few years ago were due to the Kindle being new and everyone buying one and loading up their devices. E readers are no longer a novelty and ebook sales have leveled out as a result. No, I don't believe ebooks will ever overtake print. There's a place for both in the lives of people who love to read.
I think the Indie stores will make a bit of a rebound. With Borders gone and B&N closing stores, there is a void that needs to be filled as there will always be people who want to brouse a bookstore. Like me.
I think cool little bookshops will survive. The big book supermarkets are pretty much done, what they offer Amazon does better and cheaper.
mood
Moody Writing
I think I've only ever bought books from Amazon - although I may have bought some videos for presents last year too. I definitely prefer to read on my Kindle now and very, very rarely read physical books any more. But I'd hate for my bookstore to close so I buy lots of books as gifts! :)
I would say things have evened out. So now, since I'm an Indie, I've decided on focusing my attention on finishing a few novels this year. Crit, beta, and then polish and edit to perfection. Whatever that is.
I think people can get more selection from online stores than IRL stores, so big businesses like B&N struggle. But the people who go to indie stores will probably keep going to them for the experience :).
Thanks so much for the shout-out! And anyone who wins Alex's book is in for a fantastic read. I got an ARC and loved it! I really hope indie bookstores will outlast Amazon, but I think most will close. We'll have "antique" bookshops with print books and that's probably about it.
Yay Christine and man I'm always confused as the numbers change in where sales are reaching and down spiraling.
I figured once ebooks became "normal" and not "that new shiny toy" print books would come back around. Even the die hard e-reader fans still like to "hold" a book. (Well at least I think so.)
I don't like BAM or the one I was in. It was crappy, small and ick. We still miss our Borders but our Barnes is absolute heaven to be in. The girls that make the drinks are THE BEST, and the cafe has a great bar that we work at.
We just love it there. Hoping it stays around for a lot longer but we'll see how it goes.
There's a used bookstore in town but no seats. And I go for the seating, and the cookery magazines.
Have a great week, Susan. Cheers and boogie boogie.
We only have one BN near me but when I pop in I have to walk by toys, knick knacks and odd things BEFORE I get to the books. I find that odd. I'm indie published and its interesting watching Ebooks and pback book trends. I love my kindle and trips to bookstores are no longer a daily addiction. Not sure if that's good or bad.
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