Book and Magazine Wholesaling in Australia - Industry Research Report

Hard Pressed: Printed Products Are Shelved in Favour of Digital Substitutes

Book and magazine wholesalers have faced tough trading conditions over the past five years. Continued shifts in the way reading material is consumed and distributed has negatively affected operators over the period. Consumers have increasingly used online resources to obtain information and entertainment, which has had dire consequences for an industry reliant on the physical movement of printed materials from publisher to end-user. Consumers have also become more comfortable purchasing from online international retailers, and have enthusiastically taken to ereaders and tablet devices. These developments, which negate the need for book and magazine middlemen, have all negatively affected book and magazine wholesalers. As a result, revenue is expected to decline at an average annual rate of1.9% over the five years through 2021-22, to $1.3 billion.

Operators in the industry wholesale books, newspapers and periodicals (including consumer magazines). Book and magazine wholesalers distribute publications to retailers and the professional sectors (book clubs, mail order companies, higher education institutions and libraries), generally with minimal or no further development and processing of the product. Industry revenue includes both the cover price and distribution fee of goods sold.

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.