January is often a time of recaps and predictions, and the book industry is no exception to this trend. We've already shared in our December issue the big ideas we think will impact the publishing industry in 2015, so it seems only fitting that we take a look backwards as well. Book Business brings you the top 5 most popular articles of 2014.
Michael Norris
The highly anticipated Digital Book Printing Conference is fast approaching. Next week, November 19th, Book Business will be at the New York Marriott Marquis, discussing the challenges and opportunities that come with the rise of digital book printing. The day will be filled with education and networking opportunities for book publishers, manufacturers, and retailers, making it the only event of its kind to bring together such diverse members of the industry.
A few years ago, when I was reading several annual SEC reports from the soon-to-be defunct Borders Group, I came across a sentence that not only defined the dysfunction of one retailer, but the dangerous mindset that has been crippling the book industry for decades.
Although it's too early to say if book consumers have come out in force this holiday season, and my personal situations no clear indicator, we can take a look at recent purchasing trends to see if publishers and booksellers will have something to celebrate this holiday season.
Simba Information, a media and market research firm which created The iPad and Its Owner, Trade Electronic Book Publishing and other intelligence products, has released a new report: The Rise and Impact of Self Publishing, which details the journey self publishing has taken over the last few years-and shows compelling data on who is actually buying self published books and in what format.
According to Simba Information's The iPad and Its Owner 2014, only half of iPad owners read ebooks on their devices. Tablet users are not necessarily ebook readers.