Book Retailing in Canada

The Globe and Mail reported Feb. 2nd that “an ambitious, 102-page study of Canada’s retail book sector conducted for Canadian Heritage” “provides a panoramic survey of the industry.”
“The retail book business in Canada generates annual sales in excess of $1.5-billion, much of them through one company – Indigo Books and Music – but overall sales through traditional book retailers are “flat” at a time when Canadian publishers are releasing more new titles than ever.”
“In 2006, [Indigo Books and Music] accounted for 44 per cent of domestic book sales – 67 per cent if one excludes online and mail-order sales and sales at university and college bookstores.”
Interesting stats highlighted by the G&M:
– average time spent reading: 4.5 hours a week;
– average number of books read each year: 17;
– percentage of Canadians who buy at least one book a year: 81.
For the Globe and Mail article, click here, and for the full report, The Book Retail Sector in Canada, click here.
Booksellers and Libraries are linked at the hip in Canada. It is hard to imagine a scenario where one does well and the other fails precipitously. It’s worth studying the data.
All in all, Canadians continue to read from retailers and libraries.
Stephen