Book Retailers in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
London, United Kingdom
Last Updated: August 2024
SIC G47.610Revenue
£982.9m
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
£XX.Xm
Employees
9,557
Businesses
1,037
Wages
£XXX.Xm
Book Retailers in the UK industry analysis
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.
Trends and Insights
- Online retailers exploit price competition, leaving traditional bookstores struggling. The inability to enact vertical price fixing means that traditional bookstores are consistently undercut by e-commerce retailers. Modern consumers have to decide between price and experience.
- Adult non-fiction trade titles remain a dominant force in the book market. From cookbooks to biographies, these titles cater to a wide range of interests, maintaining relevancy and providing stable sales for book retailers.
- London is a hotspot for book business growth. Capitalising on London's high disposable income, robust academic presence and densely populated market could significantly boost sales for book retailers.
- Competition drives strategy in the book retail sector. Big retailers use exclusive offerings and buyouts to edge ahead, while indies build loyal customers through distinct, local experiences.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £982.9m in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Online retail giants versus traditional bookstores: The battle over price and culture
- Large online book retailers like Amazon offer more competitive prices and convenient delivery options. Online sales events like Amazon Prime Days continue to intensify price competition and reduce industry profitability. According to the Booksellers Association, Amazon is responsible for over 50% of the books sold in the UK.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
What's driving the industry outlook? Innovation and diversification boost UK bookstore appeal and competitivity
- Innovation within bookstores can create unique settings that differentiate traditional bookshops from online alternatives, helping maintain sales. Retailers are exploring new ways to remain a part of their community and provide customers with reasons to visit beyond just purchasing books.
Biggest companies in the Book Retailers in the UK
| 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.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
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.
Trends and Insights
Adult non-fiction genres boost book sales and retail appeal
- Adult non-fiction trade titles include popular genres like biographies, cookbooks and travel books. Food, science, religious texts, self-help and biographies are among the top genres.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Supermarkets in the UK
- Second-Hand Goods Stores in the UK
- Online Book Retailers in the UK
Complementors
- Book Publishing in the UK
International industries
- Book Stores in the US
- Book Stores in Canada
- Book Stores in Australia
- Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand
- Book Retailers in Germany
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
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.
What's included in this industry?
Non-fiction booksFiction booksChildren's booksEducational booksCompanies
WH Smith plcWaterstones Booksellers LtdThe Works Stores LtdPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
E-BOOKHARDBOARD BOOKE-READERBOOKTOKIndustry Code
SIC 47.61 - Book Retailers in the UK
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
Online retailers exploit price competition, leaving traditional bookstores struggling. The inability to enact vertical price fixing means that traditional bookstores are cons...
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
Adult non-fiction trade titles remain a dominant force in the book market. From cookbooks to biographies, these titles cater to a wide range of interests, maintaining relevan...
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
London is a hotspot for book business growth. Capitalising on London's high disposable income, robust academic presence and densely populated market could significantly boost...
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 drives strategy in the book retail sector. Big retailers use exclusive offerings and buyouts to edge ahead, while indies build loyal customers through distinct, l...
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
Book retailers are diversifying their in-store experiences. To combat online competition and improve customer retention, they are introducing special features like dedicated ...
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 WH Smith plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Waterstones Booksellers Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of The Works Stores Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for WH Smith plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Waterstones Booksellers Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for The Works Stores Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Booksellers Association (BA) unveils a £100,000 grant to aid bookstores with sustainability efforts. The fund was set up to support booksellers in making tangible changes...
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 profitability of book retailers is under increasing pressure. This is mainly due to competition from online giants like Amazon, which offer lower prices, as well as econo...
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
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- 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 the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
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 Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £982.9m in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Book Retailers in the UK industry 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.
Has the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
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.
What is the forecast growth of the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Book Retailers in the UK market in United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Book Retailers market in United Kingdom are WH Smith plc, Waterstones Booksellers Ltd and The Works Stores Ltd
What does the Book Retailers in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Non-fiction books and Fiction books are part of the Book Retailers in the UK industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Book Retailers in the UK in United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is WH Smith plc.
How competitive is the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
