Book retailers should be prepared for a rise in sales: ARA

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) believes books are high on the wish list this Christmas in Australia, with the ARA and market research company Roy Morgan Research predicting Australians to spend over AU$7 million (US$5 million) on ‘Other retailing’ during the Christmas trading period from November 15 to December 24, 2017.

The ARA forecasts physical and online books will be a big driver in the ‘Other retailing’ category with ARA and Roy Morgan Research projecting a 3.96% increase in sales for this category during the festive period.

The ARA’s Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman said book retailers should be prepared for a rise in sales as bookstore chain Dymocks’ recent Omnipoll has revealed almost three quarters (73%) of Australians love reading a good book, and a further 60% love receiving books as gifts.

Zimmerman said Dymocks’ latest survey revealing 57% of adults -- roughly 10.4 million people -- are "thinking of placing a book or two under the Christmas tree this year."

The survey also revealed that parents love to give the gift of reading, as two thirds (65%) of Australians will be wrapping up a book for their child or family friend this Christmas, he added.

Sophie Higgins, head of Marketing and Merchandise at Dymocks, said there has been a seasonal surge in non-fiction titles this year with non-fiction books accounting for 50% of Dymocks sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

“Cookbooks and biographies are the most popular of the non-fiction category, with cookbook sales usually doubling during the festive season,” Higgins said.