Something of a debate is underway in the Russian market, where some see online retail as a key to future sales growth, while major chains are also showing good numbers in physical stores. Editor’s note: Following our pre-Frankfurt interview with Eksmo CEO Evgney Kapyev, reports from Moscow are of strong sales in online bookselling. But brick-and-mortar proponents continue to forecast …
At Frankfurt’s ‘The Markets’ Conference: Pieter Swinkels of Rakuten Kobo
‘We allow other industries to cannibalize what used to be time devoted to books,’ says Rakuten Kobo’s Pieter Swinkels ahead of his appearance at Frankfurt’s The Markets conference.
Taking Stock of a Half-Century of Service: Singapore Book Council’s William Phuan
As the Singapore Book Council turns 50th, executive director William Phuan cheers its accomplishments and talks about promoting the country’s literature.
Interview: Bookseller Marina Kameneva’s Outlook on Russian Publishing
Marina Kameneva, head of Russia’s largest bookstore chain, Moscow Books, on the number of bookstores, book sales, and readers in Russia today.
Poland’s Online Bookseller Merlin.pl Acquires Profit M, Expanding Its Footprint in the Market
Talking, among other things, of developing an loyalty program for consumers based in blockchain tokens, a spokesman for Poland’s Merlin.pl talks about its latest move to gain dominance in the market.
Canada’s Rakuten Kobo Arrives in America at Walmart: Ebooks and Audiobooks
Touting 6 million ebooks and a $9.99 audiobook subscription, the new Walmart partnership with Rakuten Kobo gives the Canadian retailer what it hasn’t had in the US market: brand recognition.
Russian Independent Booksellers and Publishers Say Big Players’ Partnerships Hurt Business
Small publishers in Russia see a book market unfairly dominated by large publishing groups and their control over the country’s major bookselling chains.
China’s Book Market in the First Half of 2018: Slower Growth, Rising Prices
As book prices rise and children’s books show new energy, the number of new titles on China’s bestseller lists has decreased, with older hits lingering on sales charts.
After the Bookshop ‘Ambush’ in London, Supporters Rally, Worry
The Saturday intrusion at a London bookstore described by its rightist perpetrators as an ‘ambush,’ has sent shudders through the industry and leads the store’s manager to call for vigilence in a time of mounting violence.
Retail Pressures: Ukraine’s Open-Air Bookselling Marketplaces Appear Headed for Closure
As Ukraine’s bookselling prospects improve, the loss of the country’s open-air market book stalls may mean more challenges for the book business.