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Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Kayla Wheeler Kayla Wheeler Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: December 2023 ANZSIC G4244NZ

Revenue

$309.7m

2023-24

$309.7m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xm

Employees

1,984

Businesses

281

Wages

$XX.Xm

Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand industry analysis

Newspaper and book retailers have faced difficult trading conditions in recent years. Greater use of information technology in daily activities has altered how consumers access, store and enjoy a range of print media, including newspapers, books and magazines. Growth in online shopping and increasing competition from external players have diminished sales for traditional newsagents and bookstores. The pandemic disrupted retail operations, as lockdown measures spurred a temporary slump in instore sales. Sales have remained limited even after restrictions eased owing to uncertain economic conditions and consumer pessimism, with consumers increasingly accessing digital media and shopping online. Revenue is forecast to fall at an annualised 5.9% over the five years through 2023-24, to $309.7 million. This trend includes an anticipated 4.6% dip in the current year, as cost-of-living pressures strain household discretionary income.  

Trends and Insights

  • Consumers have gravitated towards digital media, fast-tracked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has dampened sales for traditional newspaper and book retailers. Digital media's convenience, ease and long-term cost benefits have made it a popular substitute for print media.
  • Traditional bookshops face challenges but remain resilient. Despite the rise in popularity of ebooks and online retailers, physical bookstores continue to provide an appealing sensorial experience, though revenue has seen a modest decline.
  • The distribution of book and newspaper retailers follows population trends. Retailers located in highly populated areas have a better chance of attracting customers, which is why most reside in Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington.
  • The Newspaper and Book Retailing industry endures moderate competition, with price, product range, store location and customer service as key competitive factors. Digital platforms and online retailers pose significant external competition due to lower operating costs and competitive pricing.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $309.7m in 2023.

Trends and Insights

The pandemic has escalated ebook demand and caused post-pandemic inflation, upsetting industry demand

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant operational disruption, with lockdown measures leading to substantial declines in in-store revenue.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Digital competition will remain the main challenge for retailers

  • The COVID-19 pandemic and social media have renewed reading habits and boosted book sales, a trend set to persist in the coming years. Likewise, the nostalgic appeal of physical books will sustain their demand.

Biggest companies in the Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
James Pascoe
33.3
Paper Plus
29.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Books, Ebooks and Magazines. Books is the largest segment of the Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

Book sales remain resilient to online competition

  • Retailers offer various books in categories like fiction, non-fiction, children's literature, travel guides, educational materials and health and wellness texts.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry operators primarily retail newspapers, books and magazines. Industry players may operate as independent businesses, part of a retail chain or under a franchised model. Industry firms operate through bricks-and-mortar stores and may also make sales online. However, online-only businesses are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

BooksEbooksMagazinesNewspapersStationeryCards and gifts LotteryTechnology-related items (e.g., printers, print ink and shredders)Art and craft goodsGames, puzzles and toys

Companies

James PascoePaper Plus

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CIRCULATIONONLINE-ONLY RETAILERSREADERSHIP

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 4244 - Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand

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

Consumers have gravitated towards digital media, fast-tracked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has dampened sales for traditional newspaper and book retailers. Digital media's...

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 (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • 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

Traditional bookshops face challenges but remain resilient. Despite the rise in popularity of ebooks and online retailers, physical bookstores continue to provide an appealin...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

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 and newspaper retailers follows population trends. Retailers located in highly populated areas have a better chance of attracting customers, which is...

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 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

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

The Newspaper and Book Retailing industry endures moderate competition, with price, product range, store location and customer service as key competitive factors. Digital pla...

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 2018-2023
  • 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

Paper Plus and James Pascoe are industry leaders with robust reputations. Operating multiple establishments nationwide, they use their economies of scale to provide superior ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of James Pascoe's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Paper Plus's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for James Pascoe, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Paper Plus, 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

The Newspaper and Book Retailing industry is lightly regulated concerning trading hours and employment conditions. Key legislations include the Fair Trading Act 1986, The Sho...

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 (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

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 Newspaper and Book Retailing industry's cost structure varies between retailers, influenced mainly by company size. Large retailers often display higher depreciation expe...

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 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

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 (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand in 2024?

The market size of the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand is $309.7m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand industry in 2023?

There are 281 businesses in the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 5.9 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Newspaper and Book Retailing market in New Zealand?

The biggest companies operating in the Newspaper and Book Retailing market in New Zealand are James Pascoe and Paper Plus

What does the Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand include?

Books and Ebooks are part of the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand?

The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is James Pascoe.

How competitive is the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Newspaper and Book Retailing industry in New Zealand.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Stationery Goods Retailing in New Zealand
  • Online Shopping in New Zealand

Complementors

  • Newspaper Publishing in New Zealand
  • Paper Product Wholesaling in New Zealand
  • Magazine and Book Publishing in New Zealand
  • Stationery Goods Retailing in New Zealand

International industries

  • Book Stores in the US
  • Book Stores in Canada
  • Newsagents and Book Retailers in Australia
  • Book Retailers in the UK
  • Bookstores in China

View all industries in New Zealand

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 New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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.

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