kev67
04-17-2013, 09:33 AM
I am fascinated by how the book trade is responding to the internet age. Over here, the only bookshops around are Waterstones, with the odd branch of Blackwell and stationers, W.H. Smiths. The only independent bookshops still around seem to be 2nd hand bookshops and charity shops. Waterstones seems to have acquired many of the largest and most famous bookshops in London. I am not sure Waterstones is actually profitable. The company is owned by one of those Russian oligarchs, in this case Alexander Mamut. It's strange about those Russian billionaires who invest their money in high profile, but loss-making businesses. There's Roman Abramovich with Chelsea FC, and The Independent newspaper owned by Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny.
Anyway, aside from that, it is interesting observing Waterstones' tactics. They seem to have a deal with Costa Coffee, by which they rent out a section of their shop. Although popular, I can't help thinking many of those coffee drinkers are not avid book readers, at least not in the Reading branch. Another of their strategies that I like is that they seem to get their staff to write little appraisals of their favourite books. I used to think they also encouraged their staff to talk books with their customers, but I am not sure any more.
The publishers of paper books seem to be adopting a set of different strategies too. There seem to be more attractive book covers on paper backs, especially by the likes of Penguin and Virago. There seem to be more attractive hardbacks on sale too. I particularly like Penguin's clothbound classics. The Collectors Library publish physically small, but quite attractive looking hardbacks. Not only are they cheaper than most hardbacks, but they take up less space on your shelf. Other publishers, such as the Folio Society or Barnes & Noble publish very attractively bound and illustrated classics. In a way that makes sense, because if you can save money and space by downloading e-books to your e-reader, you have more money and space left to dedicate to special books. Another tactic I have noticed is the publishing of very cheap classics with very simple covers. I recently bought a copy of Far From the Madding Crowd for £2.50, which is what I would expect to pay for a 2nd hand book from a charity shop.
I do like Amazon. You can find books you would never locate at a bookshop, but apart from (presumably) lower staff and property rental costs, they have certain unfair advantages. In particular, being a multinational, they can arrange their accounts so that they barely pay any tax. They are also lobbying to remove the main economic advantage of paper books over e-books in that e-books are charged VAT (value added tax) while paper books are not. TBH, I think books being VAT exempted is an anomaly, and I suspect all the likes of Amazon would do is persuade the government charge VAT on paper books rather than remove VAT on e-books. Personally, with my experience of iTune and iPod, I am reluctant to get an e-reader.
Anyway, aside from that, it is interesting observing Waterstones' tactics. They seem to have a deal with Costa Coffee, by which they rent out a section of their shop. Although popular, I can't help thinking many of those coffee drinkers are not avid book readers, at least not in the Reading branch. Another of their strategies that I like is that they seem to get their staff to write little appraisals of their favourite books. I used to think they also encouraged their staff to talk books with their customers, but I am not sure any more.
The publishers of paper books seem to be adopting a set of different strategies too. There seem to be more attractive book covers on paper backs, especially by the likes of Penguin and Virago. There seem to be more attractive hardbacks on sale too. I particularly like Penguin's clothbound classics. The Collectors Library publish physically small, but quite attractive looking hardbacks. Not only are they cheaper than most hardbacks, but they take up less space on your shelf. Other publishers, such as the Folio Society or Barnes & Noble publish very attractively bound and illustrated classics. In a way that makes sense, because if you can save money and space by downloading e-books to your e-reader, you have more money and space left to dedicate to special books. Another tactic I have noticed is the publishing of very cheap classics with very simple covers. I recently bought a copy of Far From the Madding Crowd for £2.50, which is what I would expect to pay for a 2nd hand book from a charity shop.
I do like Amazon. You can find books you would never locate at a bookshop, but apart from (presumably) lower staff and property rental costs, they have certain unfair advantages. In particular, being a multinational, they can arrange their accounts so that they barely pay any tax. They are also lobbying to remove the main economic advantage of paper books over e-books in that e-books are charged VAT (value added tax) while paper books are not. TBH, I think books being VAT exempted is an anomaly, and I suspect all the likes of Amazon would do is persuade the government charge VAT on paper books rather than remove VAT on e-books. Personally, with my experience of iTune and iPod, I am reluctant to get an e-reader.