Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Writing on the Wall?

According to the New York Times, Amazon announced Tuesday that it has signed popular self-help author Timothy Ferriss. One more bit of news from Amazon to upset the publishing world. Amazon is rattling nerves in the offices of traditional publishers. Apparently, they are not convinced that Amazon's successes are going to help the rest of the industry as Amazon claims. According to the article in the Times, "Some independent bookstores have already said they do not intend to carry an(y) books from the retailer, not wanting to give a dollar to a company they feel is putting them out of business." I doubt Amazon is too worried about that threat.

Are those bookstores crazy? They're setting themselves up for the same fate that Borders just met. Why would they want to deliberately cost themselves sales just when they need them most? I understand principles, but this is self defeating. I think their attitude just hurries the process along. Rather than fighting the future, as Borders did, and aiding in their own demise, they need to get ready for it. It's going to arrive whether they like it or not. If they aren't adapting, they're going to be as extinct as --  well -- Borders. They could learn a thing or two from Barnes and Noble. They get it. Or maybe independents need to envision a different kind of bookshop in the future, perhaps small store fronts where customers browse on computer screens, place their orders, and then have the choice of receiving certain print books in the mail or picking them up at the stores when they arrive. 

I think booksellers and traditional publishers might need to adapt to the POD (print on demand) or PTO (print to order) model. Its economic feasibility alone should drive that. Why continue to solely do business as usual when it is losing money and there is a better economic model? Some publishers, such as Harlequin, already get that -- as attested by Carina Press. More of them need to model Amazon if they want to survive. And maybe they could take a page or two out of Ellora's playbook as well. They don't need to change completely. Just adapt more than they currently appear to be.

I don't like these trends, but that doesn't change them. I love print books and always want them to be available. I don't really like e-books or e-readers, but they're here, and they're not going away. Publishers and booksellers need to develop strategies to save print books while adapting to the changing industry.

Do you think publishers and bookstores are going to adapt in time to save their industries? As a writer and a reader, I sure hope so. What models do you think they should adopt to survive? Do you worry all major bookstores will eventually close? 

32 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

It's sad to see the bookshops closing here and the US, I do buy from Amazon from time to time and I sell from Amazon but on the selling side it's hard to get a straight answer to a straight question.

Yvonne.

Laila Knight said...

I will revisit your blog later. Just wanted to let you know I left you a Liebster award on mine. :)

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Thanks Yvonne. I buy from Amazon too, and my book is available through them. And it is sad seeing all these bookstores close. I want publishing to thrive, not turn into a monopoly controlled by any one player. But that might happen if the industry doesn't wake up and adapt while they still can.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi Laila, thanks. I got one the other day and completely forgot about it... yikes. I need to go hunt that down and check what I was supposed to do.

George Beremov [Nebular] said...

I think books are both timeless and priceless, and there's no chance major bookstores to bankrupt.

Doralynn said...

Hi Nebular. Borders just did. I doubt Barnes and Noble will. They're adapting to the changes. Thanks for visiting. Always nice to hear from you.

Luanne G. Smith said...

I haven't got a clue how to predict the future. I know it feels like we're on a certain trajectory, but humans are funny. Sometimes they rebel and like the opposite of what people are telling them they have to like. Could be a sentimental swing back to paper books in the future. I hope anyway. Glad I'm not a bookstore owner right now, though.

Jeff Beesler said...

I read the other day an article on how publishing is actually doing well in sales despite the economy. Part of that is definitely e-books for sure. So as in nature, the secret to survival seems to be adaptability.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi L.G., it is hard to predict the future, but I'm afraid they're are going to be a lot more e-books in it. That's good in many ways. But, I'm old fashioned. I don't like e-books. I want print! Plus e-books hurt my eyes and I can't cuddle up with an e-reader.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi Jeffrey, I want publishing to do well, and I'm glad for any good news out of that industry. But the bankruptcy of Borders isn't a good sign. It does seem the secret to survival is adaptability. Nice to meet you, by the way.

Unknown said...

"I doubt Amazon is too worried about that threat." I agree. They are the leaders in book sales. What do they care about a small book store?

"kind of bookshop in the future, perhaps small store fronts where customers browse on computer screens," I was thinking about that myself. They could have e-readers placed on the tables with various best sellers and they could have people come in and read with coffee.

If publishers think that they have years to change, they're wrong. They have to make the change now or lose out.

DEZMOND said...

as someone who works in the publishing industry I'm sooo afraid for the future of regular books and regular book stores. Sooner or later, probably sooner, everything around us will be computerized and we shall basically live and breathe and eat on the Internet :(
My country is still safe from this, since Amazon doesn't send books here and we don't even have Kindle and e-book sales, but I'm still afraid. The Borg will assimilate us :(

J.L. Campbell said...

In Jamaica, I know we'll definitely have books around for a long time. Not enough of us are reading though, and many of us have no idea what an e-reader is supposed to be. I definitely wouldn't want to see the end of paper and ink books or see any more major businesses closing. But yes, publishers and booksellers do need to go where the market is leading to stay above the water.

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

There is lots buzz about this topic and you do a wonderful job putting it all together here. I think bookstores and publishers always have to adapt to what the market demands, but what that means, I'm not sure. I don't want to see bookstores close for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that so many people lose jobs. Much remains to be seen in these ever-changing times.

Isis Rushdan said...

Good post. The powerhouse sellers aren't in danger. They can do what they want and still make a great profit.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi Clarissa, they are the leaders indeed. I buy almost all my books there now. I would rather shop at bookstores, but right now I don't have time. My job is on the computer, so a lot of my shopping is done on the computer.

I like you plan for future bookstores. (Coffee is always a big draw with you, I know!) :-)

I agree, I don't think publishers have years to change, either. They need to make the changes now or I'm afraid they'll lose out.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi DEZMOND, I'm glad your country is still safe from this, even though it's still scary. And I'm really happy I'm not in the publishing industry. I'm afraid for the future of regular books and bookstores, too. And I don't like the Orwellian idea of everything being computerized and basically living on the Internet. Yikes. I do that already! :( I HAVE been assimilated by The Borg!

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi J.L., it's interesting how different this is in various countries. It's good you'll have books around for a long time. But, as a writer in Jamaica, it's problematic for you that much of your targeted audience is not into reading. Publishers and booksellers do need to go where the market is leading. I do think they're in the water still, but they're in danger of going under.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi Cynthia, this is a hot topic right now. Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you thought I put this together well. I don't think publishers are sure what that means either, but I hope they figure it out soon. I'd hate to be a CEO with that decision facing me. I hope we don't see anymore bookstores close, too. Things are changing too fast, and I don't like where they seem to be heading.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi Isis, I don't think B&N is in danger. They get it. But Borders used to think they could do what they wanted and still make a great profit, and now they're going out of business. Nice to 'see' you again.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Makes sense to me. I heard B&N won't carry books made through Createspace for the same reason. Doubt Amazon is worried about that, either.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi Alex, nice to see you here! I think B&N is going more toe to toe with Amazon. I suppose they don't want to sell Createspace titles since that's in direct competition with their Nook books. But I don't think Borders ever really went toe to toe in this fight. I think they kinda stuck their head in the sand and pretended they weren't in a fight.

MorningAJ said...

I think it's time that readers and writers stopped supporting Amazon until THEY stop the kind of restrictive practices they are involved in (like making their ereader Kindle unable to read anything but their file type)

I support Waterstone's and will continue to.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi MorningAJ, I haven't heard of Waterstone's before. I'll go check that out. Amazon is involved in so many things beyond books, but books is big business with them. I don't own a Kindle or an ereader. Maybe someday -- if somebody comes up with one that looks and smells just like a print book and doesn't hurt my eyes. :-)

J.L. Campbell said...

Doralynn,

What's worse is that the world is headed in the direction of e-books and we are lagging behind on that. Would you believe it if I told you I don't know anyone else here with an e-reader? Not to say that people don't own them, they're just not in my immediate circle.

Here, book sellers are lucky. They've basically cornered the small market there is and there are not that many bookstores here. The only problem they would have here is people not having the disposable income for books.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi J.L., that must be a little scary for you. But I don't know too many people in my immediate (non-virtual) circle who own them, either. And there's a lot less disposable income in America nowadays. I know it's far worse in Jamaica. However, a cashier that I see occasionally at a local restaurant owns a Nook, and I was surprised and pleased to find out she was reading Sleeping With Skeletons. Small world.

Unknown said...

Hey, Doralynn, I have a question for you. Are you still with TNBW?

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi Clarissa. No. Perhaps in the future. :-)

David P. King said...

Can I just say I'm quite impressed with your posts? Nah. I'll say it anyway. I'm quite impressed with your posts!

Great questions you raise here, and I love hearing about the business side of writing, something some of us authors only think about when our precious book is ready to shop.

Thanks for your helpful insight!

Doralynn Kennedy said...

David, you just put a great big smile on my face. Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the posts and that you find them useful. Doralynn

M Pax said...

I just bought a Nook. I love it. I still love my books, too. I even bought one of those today. But, the handwriting is on the wall. It's the way things are going.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

Hi again M Pax. I've been meeting a lot of people with Nooks lately. Maybe someday I'll adapt... before I go extinct.