Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Indies report "surprise" increase in festive sales

The Bookseller -03.01.12 | Daisy Wyatt

Indie booksellers have reported a “surprise” increase in sales over Christmas in comparison to last year.
Many reported seeing a revenue increase of 5-10% year-on-year through their responses to The Bookseller Christmas trading survey, which is open until up 3pm today (3rd January). Some said they experienced a decline in hardback sales and others saw a drop in fiction sales, which they blamed on the growing popularity of e-readers.
Other indie booksellers said better weather and a six-day trading period before Christmas Day helped them to rack up last minute gift purchases in comparison to last year.

Of the festive bestsellers, indies reported P D James’ Death Comes to Pemberley a popular choice with customers and Mark Forsyth’s The Etymologicon was also a last minute hit after it was featured on BBC Radio Four’s Book of the Week in the last week of Christmas trading.
According to Nielsen BookScan data, Forsyth’s title was the bestseller for independent retailers in the week running up to Christmas.

No comments: