Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €3.3bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Thalia extends its market leadership with the closure of Weltbild
- The bookseller Weltbild and several other subsidiaries of the Weltbild Group had to file for insolvency in June 2024. It was initially assumed that the company would continue as a going concern following reorganisation.
- 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
Due to digitalisation, readers are increasingly using books as a break from everyday digital life
- As digitalisation progresses, more and more consumers will be using the internet for everyday things in the future. Due to information overload, many consumers are looking for a break from their fast-paced everyday lives. In addition, an increasing proportion of the population spends all day in front of a computer screen, for which books can offer a welcome change.
Biggest companies in the Book Retailers in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (€m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
Thalia Bücher GmbH | 713.6 | |
Heinrich Hugendubel Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG | 312.9 | |
Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG | 43.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 6 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 Fiction, Children's and youth books and Counsellor. Fiction is the largest segment of the Book Retailers in Germany.
Trends and Insights
When it comes to fiction, readers often prefer well-known authors
- The genre of fiction comprises literary works that are primarily intended for entertainment and artistic expression.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This sector comprises the retail trade in new printed books of all genres. Industry players purchase their goods directly from book publishers or via wholesalers. The retail trade in used and antiquarian books and the online trade in books are not included in this sector.
What's included in this industry?
Retail trade with novelsRetail sale of children's and young adult booksRetail sale of non-fiction booksRetail trade with specialised booksRetail trade with dictionariesCompanies
Thalia Bücher GmbHHeinrich Hugendubel Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KGFriedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KGPurchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
COATES EXEMPLARSUBSCRIPTION PRICEQUANTITY PRICESERIAL PRICEIndustry Code
WZ 47.61 - Book Retailers in Germany
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
Bookshops are increasingly competing with alternative leisure offerings. The growing range of leisure activities and the increasing use of digital media are leaving consumers...
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
Retail booksellers generate the largest share of sales with fiction. In recent years, novel and crime series have enjoyed great popularity, as they offer a coherent story and...
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 distribution of book retail outlets is strongly orientated towards the population distribution. Most shops are located in the central region, as this is where most potent...
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 Europe, 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
Competition in the book retail sector is fierce. The industry players compete with each other on product range, customer service and the location of the stores.
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
Thalia Bücher GmbH is the largest retail bookseller in the German-speaking world. Over the past five years, the market leader has significantly expanded its market share thro...
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 Thalia Bücher GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Heinrich Hugendubel Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Thalia Bücher GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Heinrich Hugendubel Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
An increase in online consumer spending usually means that consumers spend less money in brick-and-mortar stores, including bookstores. As more and more purchases are made on...
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
The book retail trade has a low profit margin. The profitability of booksellers is influenced by factors such as the cost of purchasing goods, rents and customer demand.
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)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Book Retailers industry in Germany in 2024?
The market size of the Book Retailers industry in Germany is €3.3bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Book Retailers in Germany industry in 2024?
There are 3,674 businesses in the Book Retailers industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Book Retailers industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Book Retailers industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Book Retailers industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Book Retailers industry in Germany is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Book Retailers market in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Book Retailers market in Germany are Thalia Bücher GmbH, Heinrich Hugendubel Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG and Friedrich Pustet GmbH & Co. KG
What does the Book Retailers in Germany include?
Retail trade with novels and Retail sale of children's and young adult books are part of the Book Retailers industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Book Retailers in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in Germany is Thalia Bücher GmbH.
How competitive is the Book Retailers industry in Germany?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Book Retailers industry in Germany.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Newsagents & Stationary Stores in Germany
- E-Commerce & Online Auctions in Germany
- Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany
- Streaming Services in Germany
Complementors
- Paper Stationary Manufacturing in Germany
- Printing in Germany
- Book Publishing in Germany
International industries
- Book Stores in the US
- Book Stores in Canada
- Newsagents and Book Retailers in Australia
- Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand
- Book Retailers in the UK
View all industries in Germany
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 Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
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.
