The book industry has traditionally been seen as virtually recession-proof.
But stores are closing and the prospect of increased competition from electronic books is looming on the horizon.
Closed stores, big discounts – the book trade looks to be in trouble.
But retailers say do not judge a book by its cover.
“People are hanging in there in pretty tough circumstances but are remaining good at heart,” says Lincoln Gould of Booksellers NZ.
Getting accurate figures is tricky.
But publisher Kevin Chapman crunched some numbers for 3 News and believes book sales could be up 5 percent on a year ago.
“It’s easy in a recession for people, and especially faced with technological change, for people to decide the sky is falling in,” says Hachette NZ Manging Director Kevin Chapman.
“In the book industry the sky is not falling in by any stretch.”
And after a big drop earlier this year, sales on book tokens are now bouncing back.
“It’s maybe one little indication that things are okay,” says Mr Gould.
And independent booksellers like Tom Beran are optimistic.
“We are going into the better half of the year of course, and it looks as though already there are some outstanding books coming through for September, October, and on to Christmas,” says Mr Beran.
“So I’d say we are all feeling reasonably confident.”
Dymocks Bookstores say its Wellington store suffered from intense competition along Lampton Quay, and the rent is too high to keep the Queen St shop open.
But Dymocks says it has plans for new stores.
A big question facing the book industry now is what effect this electronic books that can carry the equivalent of 160 paperback books will have.
Booksellers are hopeful the e-book will not kill off the real book.
“Having a book in your hand and smelling those pages is something I think is rather great,” says Mr Gould.
“They seem to want to be able to hold that book in their hands,” says Mr Beran.
“Have something tangible, they can turn the pages – it’s a nice thing to do in bed really isn’t it?”
New Zealanders may soon be able to decide for themselves with more than one book chain looking at selling e-books in this country.
3 News