
Traditional Sales

The hidden cost of college textbooks can be a surprise for many students in higher education. The cost may soon be a worry of the past if the Affordable College Textbook Act passes. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and Minnesota Senator Al Franken have worked together to create the Affordable College Textbook Act, hoping to provide…
In the wake of the positive response to its direct purchase of Haruki Murakami’s latest book, asiaone.com reports that the Japanese bookstore chain Kinokuniya “plans to increase direct purchases of books from publishers – as opposed to the conventional practice of buying them through wholesale booksellers.” As we reported last month, Kinokuniya purchased 90,000 copies…
Technology and innovation probably aren’t the words that come to mind when you think about your local grocery store. Bar code scanners in the 1970s were probably the last recent advancement in the grocery store industry. As you’ll see in this article, however, at least one grocery chain is leveraging a new form of technology…
Might consumers see e-book refunds from Apple in time for the holidays?
B&N said they are considering smaller stores, but what they're actually doing is shuttering stores right and left. And that is the real story here, not that a "book retailer considers new store prototype". Actions speak louder than words, which is why you should look at what someone is doing rather than what they are…
Book sales of traditionally published books in the US fell by almost 6% in the first five months of this year, compared to the same period the year before. Overall sales for trade fiction and non-fiction, children, higher education, professional and university presses were down 5.8% from January to May 2015 to $4bn, compared to…
Kinokuniya, the largest bookstore chain in Japan, has announced that it will snap up 90% of initial print run of Haruki Murakami’s latest title to sell at brick-and-mortar stores and make sure that customers who want to purchase the book will have to go to an actual physical bookstore. It is a move largely seen as…
How much more likely are you to pick a book off a shelf or table if it is beautiful? If the cover appeals to you? Or better yet, if the whole physical package grabs your attention? The jacket may feature a spot gloss title on a matte finish or have no jacket or even a…
This weekend's damning 'New York Times' article painting Amazon as a "bruising workplace" continues to draw attention, this time from the government. According to the AP, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has assured the public that the company will be complying with various labor standards.
Hummingbird Digital Media is the latest company to try to develop a system that will allow booksellers to sell e-books and digital audio directly to consumers.