£982.9m
£XX.Xm
9,557
1,037
£XXX.Xm
Over the five years through 2024-25, book retailer revenue is forecast to fall at a compound annual rate of 5.3% to £983 million. The performance of the Book Retailing industry in the UK has been mixed. Reading has fluctuated in popularity and the influence of social media has fuelled the growth of independent bookstores. The trend towards independent bookstores emphasises a societal shift to localism, favouring sustainable and community-focused retailers. Book retailers are developing strategies to stay competitive and support local shops.
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £982.9m in 2024.
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
---|---|---|
WH Smith plc | 471.9 | |
Waterstones Booksellers Ltd | 416.9 | |
The Works Stores Ltd | 61.1 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Adult non-fiction trade titles, Adult fiction trade titles and Children's and young adult titles. Adult non-fiction trade titles is the largest segment of the Book Retailers in the UK.
Adult non-fiction genres boost book sales and retail appeal
The industry comprises participants who are primarily engaged in the retail sale of new printed books across all genres. Book retailers purchase book titles from publishers or distributors for resale to the public, providing an array of literary works at the retail level.
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SIC 47.61 - Book Retailers in the UK
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Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in the UK include:
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:
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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.
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The market size of the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £982.9m in 2024.
There are 1,037 businesses in the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
The market size of the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 5.3 % between 2019 and 2024.
Over the next five years, the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
The biggest companies operating in the Book Retailers market in United Kingdom are WH Smith plc, Waterstones Booksellers Ltd and The Works Stores Ltd
Non-fiction books and Fiction books are part of the Book Retailers in the UK industry.
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is WH Smith plc.
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom.