Book Stores in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: May 2024
ANZSIC OD5496Revenue
$1.6bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XX.Xm
Employees
9,676
Businesses
1,670
Wages
$XXX.Xm
Book Stores in Australia industry analysis
It hasn't been a happy tale for book stores. Intensifying competition from online-only retailers, department and discount department stores has led to falling sales volumes and downward pressure on book prices. Higher rates of IT and telecommunication adoption along with a hike in internet connections have led more consumers to join the online revolution, supporting the surge in consumer habits towards online shopping. While greater investment in online platforms has helped book stores better compete with the online-only market, online-only retailers have been able to offer lower prices thanks to reduced overhead costs and beating book stores at their own game.
Trends and Insights
- External competition has continued to erode sales. Yet, COVID-19 lockdowns led to a spike in demand as consumers turned to books to pass the time.
- Print books account for most of the majority of book stores sales. Yet, ebooks and ereaders have changed how consumers buy and consume books.
- The population distribution of each state influences where book stores choose to locate. That’s why almost 80% of all stores operate in the eastern seaboard states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
- Price and product range are the main factors that set book stores apart. Promotional deals and customer service can also play a part in differentiating book stores from the pack.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.6bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
External competition has remained intense
- Book stores have come up against difficult trading conditions. Stores have been forced to contend with falling sales volumes and downward pricing pressures thanks to escalating competition from external retailers and online-only sites.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Price pressure to cut profitability
- Consumer spending on books is set to benefit from an upswing in discretionary income and a return to positive consumer sentiment over the coming years. Yet, just because consumers will have more money doesn't mean they will be happy to spend it.
Biggest companies in the Book Stores in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
QBD Books | 155.0 | |
Dymocks | 107.0 | |
Collins Booksellers | 54.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Books, Audio books, greeting cards, gifts and other merchandise and Ebooks and ereaders. Books is the largest segment of the Book Stores in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Competition has eroded book sales
- Physical or print books are the industry's largest product segment for book stores and are often categorised as either fiction or non-fiction before being divided based on genre.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Department Stores in Australia
- Newsagents and Book Retailers in Australia
Complementors
- Book Publishing in Australia
- Book and Magazine Wholesaling in Australia
International industries
- Book Stores in the US
- Book Stores in Canada
- Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand
- Book Retailers in the UK
- Bookstores in China
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Book stores primarily retail books along with audio books, ebooks and ereaders. These products are purchased from upstream domestic and international suppliers and wholesalers before being on-sold to downstream consumer markets across different age groups.
What's included in this industry?
BooksEbooks and ereadersAudio books, greeting cards, gifts and other merchandiseCompanies
QBD BooksDymocksCollins BooksellersPurchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
EREADEREBOOKPARALLEL IMPORT RESTRICTIONSIndustry Code
ANZSIC 4244 - Book Stores in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
External competition has continued to erode sales. Yet, COVID-19 lockdowns led to a spike in demand as consumers turned to books to pass the time.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Print books account for most of the majority of book stores sales. Yet, ebooks and ereaders have changed how consumers buy and consume books.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The population distribution of each state influences where book stores choose to locate. That’s why almost 80% of all stores operate in the eastern seaboard states of New Sou...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Price and product range are the main factors that set book stores apart. Promotional deals and customer service can also play a part in differentiating book stores from the p...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The book stores market is largely fragmented. Large retailers like QBD The Bookstop and Dymocks trade at one end of the spectrum, while many small independent stores operate ...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of QBD Books's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Dymocks's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Collins Booksellers's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for QBD Books, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Dymocks, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Collins Booksellers, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Parallel import restrictions (PIR) allow consumers to purchase books from international distributors if it is not supplied locally. Yet, proposed changes to PIRs could make l...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
A spike in demand for books in the wake of the COIVD-19 pandemic fuelled an upswing in purchase costs. Demand stemmed from home-bound consumers looking for ways to entertain ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Book Stores industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Book Stores industry in Australia is $1.6bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Book Stores in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 1,670 businesses in the Book Stores industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Book Stores industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Book Stores industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 6.3 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Book Stores industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Book Stores industry in Australia is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Book Stores market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Book Stores market in Australia are QBD Books, Dymocks and Collins Booksellers
What does the Book Stores in Australia include?
Books and Ebooks and ereaders are part of the Book Stores industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Book Stores in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is QBD Books.
How competitive is the Book Stores industry in Australia?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Book Stores industry in Australia.
