CPSC Extends Stay
CPSC Extends Stay.
Washington, D.C. – February 2, 2011. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted to extend the stay of enforcement of testing and certification of lead content in children’s products (except for metal components of children’s metal jewelry) until December 31, 2011. After December 31, manufacturers and importers of children’s products (to include books) that are subject to lead content limit must have the appropriate certificates that indicate that their products have been tested by a CPSC-approved third party laboratory, in order to qualify to be sold in the U.S.
Between now and December 31, manufacturers, importers of children’s products must continue to comply with the federal restrictions for total lead content. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) requires that all children’s products have no more than 300 parts per million (ppm) of lead content. That limit will drop to 100 ppm on August 14, 2011.
Digital Bookmaking Open House
DIGITAL BOOKMAKING AND DISTRIBUTION OPEN HOUSE Elizabethton, TN. February 7, 2011. Dickinson Press, Snowfall Press and STL Distribution (The Alliance) are holding an open house for a state of art digital bookmaking facility in Elizabethton, Tennessee on Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The event will be from 12:00-3:00 pm and lunch will be provided. The event will also include an opportunity to tour the STL Distribution facility.
The print-to-order facility will be housed in STL Distribution’s facility, which is the world’s largest dedicated Christian book distribution center. Thousands of titles will be digitally stored, virtually always in stock, and continuously ready for immediate printing – one at a time if desired. The bookmaking system will enable complete automation from the uploading of files, to pre-flighting, to printing, binding and shipping
The alliance will provide significant benefits to publishers and retailers. STL’s ability to virtually carry all inventories (not just best-selling titles) will open up the opportunity for incremental revenue, and end “out-of-stock” books by immediately printing whatever is ordered. It will also allow niche titles and out of print books to be readily available with quick turn-around from files to book shipment. The opportunity has never been greater for publishers, considering the services provided by this state of the art bookmaking facility.
Book Unit Sales Fell in 2010
BOOK UNIT SALES FELL IN 2010
January 19, 2011. The total number of books sold in 2010 fell by 4.5% according to a report by Nielsen BookScan. Some of the decline in printed book sales was offset by a large increase in e-books. However, it is doubtful the e-book increase was enough to offset the decline of print. The largest decline was in adult fiction, which is apparently the best segment for e-books. The BookScan report also noticed a large decrease in audio books of 9.8%. This is another category that has migrated to e-books. Mass market paperbacks such as romance and mystery, also were hurt by the growth of e-books.
Book Sales Trends
BOOK SALES TRENDS
December 28, 2010. E-books continue to grow in numbers of books sold and in share of market. In a recent analysis of consumer book buying behavior by Bowker’s Pub Track Consumer Service, e-books were found to have 4.2% market share. This compares to just 1.7% near the end of 2009. Most of the market share came at the expense of the mass market segment. Trade paperbacks, however, seem to have held up well with the competitive e-books. The trade paperbacks maintained their 36.2% market share.
The U.S. Census Bureau also tracks book sales. They found bookstore sales were down in October by 2.5%. Year to date, the Census Bureau is reporting bookstore sales down 2.5%. Retail sales in general rose 5.7% in October.
New Study On Book Industry Released
NEW STUDY ON BOOK INDUSTRY RELEASED.
Charlottesville, VA – December 15, 2010. A new study on book making has been released for 2010. High Growth Segments of Digital Book Printing: Market Analysis and Forecast has been released by INTERQUEST, Ltd. Actually, this study is an update of one conducted in 2007. The study has found the book market is under a lot of pressure. The recession has stressed publishing professionals by not only tightening consumer wallets, but also growth of e-books. While the economy will eventually improve, structural changes in how books are made, sold and distributed will chart a new course for the market in the future. No doubt e-books have benefited from these changes. Digital bookmaking has also been a beneficiary of these changes in the supply chain.
INTERQUEST projects that the volume of books made in North America will decrease approximately 2% annually between 2010 and 2015. The decline is a result of changes in reading habits, competition from electronic media, and efficiencies in the total distribution system and reduction in unsold books. Conventionally printed books will decline at a rate of 4.6% per year, while digitally produced books will grow nearly 30% annually. Digital bookmaking currently accounts for 4% of all books made and will increase to 15% by 2015.
Book Sells Still Weak
BOOK SALES STILL WEAK!
New York, NY – December 8, 2010. The weak economy still has an influence on the sale of books. The American Association of Publishers reported book sales for October were down 0.9% for the month when compared to October 2009. Year to date, book sales are up 3.4% but losing ground. October sales were weak in all trade categories except for children/YA hardcover. Higher Ed was also a growth category. E-books sales growth continued to show slowed-growth even at 112% increase over last year. The religious category decreased 4.1% for the month and is down 0.7% year to date.
E-Books Buyers
E-BOOK BUYERS BUYING MORE AND SPENDING LESS
New York, NY, November 17, 2010. Buyers of e-books are buying more books overall, but fewer in print, according to a new study by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG). Consumers are saying they are decreasing their total dollars spent on books. These findings come from the first installment of BISG’s study Consumer Attitudes Towards E-Book Reading.
The BISG study has been tracking the habits of print book buyers who say they have acquired an e-book reader. The study confirms e-book readers say affordability as their key reason for choosing an e-book over a printed book. The study also looked at the impact of the iPad versus a dedicated reader such as the NOOK or Kindle. Interestingly, heavy to moderate e-book buyers prefer a dedicated reader that does not have “distractions bundled” with the device.
General fiction and mystery fiction are the fastest growing segments for e-books. Most often, people receive their e-reader as a gift. The number of e-readers is expected to increase significantly over the coming holiday period. When consumers purchase an e-reader for themselves, they say they are more often motivated by a suggestion from a friend or family member.
September Book Sales
New York, NY, November 2010. – Book sales as measured by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) for the month of September decreased 12.1% when compared to September of 2009. Year to date, book sales are down 3.8%. The biggest category losers are Children’s/YA, both hardcover and paperback, Adult hardcovers and paperback, and Adult Mass Market. E-book sales continued to grow rapidly at 158.1% for the month. Year to date, e-book sales are up 188.4%. The Religious book segment continued to show weakness with sales down 2.5% in September, and down 0.3% year to date..
Book Sales Growth Slows
The pace of growth for book sales slowed some in August. Overall sales for books increased 3.4% compared to August of 2009. Year-to-date growth is 6.9%
Areas showing growth were University Press Hardcover and Paperback, as well as Higher Education. Sales of Professional books also grew. Children’s books and young adult books saw decreases. Also, decreasing were Adult Hardcover and Paperback along with Adult Mass Market. Religious books decreased 0.4% for the month and were down 0.3% for the year.
E-books continued their growth at a very aggressive pace with 172.4% growth in August versus the same month in 2009. Year-to-date, e-books are showing growth of 193%. E-books now make up more 9% of the entire book market, compared to last year at this time when they made up 3.3%.
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