The Bookseller.com

6th October 2008

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Irish book market outshines China

06.03.08 Eoin Purcell

The Irish book market grew by 16.7% by value last year, just a little more in value terms than the book market in China, according to Nielsen Book commercial director Ann Betts.

Betts, speaking at the Booksellers Association Irish Branch Conference last weekend in Galway, said that the Irish consumer book market grew 16.7% by value in 2007 and 16.5% by volume. She told delegates that although the Chinese market had a bigger increase in volume terms, the strength of the Euro meant that Ireland did better in value terms.

Betts also revealed that the average selling price of an Irish book rose to €12.60 (£9.67) in 2007, up from €12.57 (£9.65) in 2006. Last year was particularly strong for children’s books, she said, with the sector up 37.5% including Harry Potter and up 27% without it. She also told delegates that internet sales in Ireland were growing twice as fast as sales in the supermarket sector, which themselves were growing 50% more than high street sales.

Later in the conference, Nic Bottomley of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath offered booksellers advice on building communities and using the internet. He suggested turning to local teenagers as a source of computing advice, and said the purpose of a website should be to reflect and promote the shop, extend the shop, and sell books—in that order.

Tom Dixon from the Old Hall Bookshop in Brackley also spoke about the need for booksellers to build community, pointing to his own move to get his fellow retailers in Brackley together to build footfall, liaise with landlords, deal with the council and talk to shoppers to get them back into the town.

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