The European Bookshop Business Model

Drawing on original primary data, this book offers a comparative account of the European bookshop business model, charting how it has evolved in the contemporary economy, how recent industry transformations have impacted it, and how bookshops have sought to adapt to new market conditions.

Covering the period from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 up until the present day, this book considers the evolution, both historic and economic, of European countries and book markets to arrive at a broad picture of the European bookshop model today. It draws on interviews with over 250 book industry players across 23 countries to critically consider the evolution of systems, legislative frameworks, reading habits, competition, and market structure, situating these changes within a broader set of current issues and cultural shifts. Alongside the ongoing challenges posed by disruption – from digitization to a hyper-abundance of books – the author also reflects on the key strategies that bookshops have deployed to overcome them, including via collective action and curation. Depicting an uncertain outlook for the industry, including the impact of AI, this text nonetheless offers hope for the future of the bookshop and bears testament to its enduring social and cultural significance.

The European Bookshop Business Model is recommended reading for advanced students and researchers in fields including Book Studies, Publishing Studies, Cultural Industries, and Retail.