Re: Ebooks Will End Bookstores, Change Publishing And Save Reading

From: "dtpollard947" 
> 
> Following the pattern of recorded music and videotaped movies, books are
> poised to change from a focus on the format to content with the adoption
> of ebooks.
> 
> http://www.suite101.com/content/ebooks-will-end-bookstores-change-publis\
> hing-and-save-reading-a327209#ixzz1A1BDc1cf
> <http://www.suite101.com/content/ebooks-will-end-bookstores-change-publi\
> shing-and-save-reading-a327209#ixzz1A1BDc1cf>

This is a very simplistic article, which assumes book publishing is one simple model. Putting aside most of the assumptions, I'd just like to comment on the bookshop/bookstore situation.

The erosion of of bookshop sales is far less than might be expected by the downturn, and if the common descriptions of ebook killing print were correct. There are issues of new-title ranges and advertising support reductions by the big publishers, which are having an effect on sales. There is also an effect with the various ways Amazon is the cheap option [but not necessarily].

The big publishers are suffering from idiotically developing the ever-cheaper blockbuster, sold through supermarkets. That has also come back to bite them.

However, there is a far bigger problem, particularly for the big chains. This is about debt. I won't go into the different ways chains have been saddled with debt that is irrelevant to the book selling operation. And there are situations, often with small and independent bookstores where debt *is* directly relevant to attempts to keep going.

Debt post-crunch is a problem in two ways. The first is the cost of servicing [i.e. paying interest and staged capital repayment] and the second is the the short term borrowing that has become the habit. This last has, as any experienced banker should have warned, the consequence of risking being put out of business, because these days a loan often  cannot be replaced when it falls for repayment - that is the major problem that appears - or the new loan is at a much higher interest rate.

This means that even if the business is breaking even or better on its trading, the debt problems can sink it. This seems to be the situation with the big chains, and a number of the small and independent operations.

But the fact that there are many stories of bookshops doing well, or starting and showing good trade, means that the challenges of lowered gross sales for the industry can be overcome by  smart trading.

Of course, my comments higlight the importance of the business plan, and thinking through the consequences of any decision - in bad times as well as good. Perhaps it also reminds us of the importance of a marketing plan; and, I hope, that marketing can embrace new ideas. One example I read of was ofa bookstore that delivered ordered books immedately - a way to beat the incredible Amazon overnight!

Joseph [And POD publishers are succeeding well, but often their sales slip below the radar of statistics.]


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