The 2013 U.S. Book Consumer Demographics and Buying Behaviors Annual Review is now available from Bowker. Longtime publishing veteran Mark Gilroy comments on 7 select developments, from eBook sales to gender differences.

1. 7 Select
Updates from
the Book
Publishing
Industry

2. Mark
“M.K.”
Gilroy
BOOKVLOG

3. SOURCE
R.R. Bowker Market
Research
(Highlights from the 2012-2013 U.S.
Book Consumer Demographics &
Buying Behaviors Annual Review)

4. 1
44% OF U.S. BOOK
DOLLARS ARE NOW
SPENT ONLINE.
(Up from 39% in 2011.)

5. This is made up of
both physical and
eBook sales.

6. MARK’S COMMENT
“There would have been growth in
the share of business done online
anyway, but the demise of Borders
in 2011 was undoubtedly a
significant factor for the degree of
spike.”

7. 2
eBOOK SALES
 Accounted for 11% of dollars
spent in 2012
 Up from 7% in 2011

8. MARK’S COMMENT
“There is a wide range of estimates
on percentage of units sold as
eBooks—safe to assume 20% give
orthis take. When compared to
dollars, highlights price point
suppression on eBooks.”

9. 3
eBOOKS AND
FICTION
eBooks accounted for 20% of
spending in romance, mystery, and
science fiction in 2012.

10. MARK’S COMMENT
“Mass market paperback sales
have continued to erode; It is
very obvious that the eReader
continues to replace that format
for fiction readers.”

11. 4
FICTION
DOMINATES
eBOOK SALES
 51% of eBook revenues are
fiction
 61% of eBook units are fiction

12. MARK’S QUESTION
“Why do you think fiction readers
have adopted the eBook to such a
greater degree than non-fiction
readers?”

13. 5
BARNES AND
NOBLE
eBook sales for B&N dropped from
6% to 4% as a total of revenue
from 2011 and 2012.

14. MARK’S COMMENT
“After a great start in digital, Barnes and
Nobel spun off their NOOK business—
bruised by capital requirements. Apple
and Amazon are dominating the device
and digital content sales in the book
universe—they are part of a bigger
battle goes far beyond digital books.”

15. 6
CONSUMERS
SPENT LESS ON
ALL BOOK
FORMATS
(Though there was only slight
fluctuation in print formats.)

16. Average cost of an
eBook dropped from
$10.19 to $5.65 from
2009 to 2012.

17. Average cost of an
Audio book dropped
from $17.87 to
$11.50 since 2009.
(Due in large measure to digital
downloads.)

18. MARK’S COMMENT
“Publishers know that the real
value (and costs) of a book is
content, but for many
consumers, paper and ink is
still a valuable commodity.”

19. 7
GENDER
DIFFERENCE
 Women bought 58% of books in
2012
 Up from 55% in 2011

20. MARK’S COMMENT
“This number has stayed
relatively consistent through the
years—at one point women
were buying 60% of books.”

21. Complete Report
is available at
www.bookconsume
r.com
(for $999.00)

22. MARK GILROY is a
longtime writer, editor,
marketer, and
publisher.

23. INTENSE, EERIE, FUNNY - A
SURE-FIRE WINNER!
– USA TODAY
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THRILLER!
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25. A Sydney Lane
HomemadeProduction

26. © Mark Gilroy
Creative LLC