Book Stores in Canada - Industry Market Research Report

Turning a Page: Changing Consumer Shopping Preferences Will Likely Lead to Further Drops in Revenue

The Book Stores industry in Canada has declined as it experiences high levels of external competition from online retailers and e-books, which offer alternative and more affordable channels through which consumers are able to purchase industry goods. Particularly threatening to industry revenue has been the rise of online retailers, which often offer a wider variety of items at competitive prices, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively affected the retail sector over 2020 and 2021. Book Stores industry revenue has been decreasing at a CAGR of 4.2% to $2.6 billion over the five years to 2023, including an estimated 2.7% drop in 2023 alone, when profit is set to drop to 4.8%.

Industry operators retail a broad range of book and newspaper merchandise, including trade books, textbooks, magazines, mass market paperbacks and religious books. These goods are purchased from domestic, and in some cases international, manufacturers and wholesalers. Operators then retail these goods through their stores to the general public. This industry excludes retailers that operate primarily as used merchandise stores or electronic shopping and mail-order houses.

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.