Russian Guild of Dealers Conference, Moscow, 2008
Bookselling in the 21st Century:A Canadian Perspective
Canadian Market, Technology and the Supply Chain
Doug Minett, Bookseller & Technology consultant, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Agenda
• Canadian (English) Retail market• Canadian (English) Retail Supply chain• Canadian (English) Supply chain technology• Booknet Canada• Bookselling in the 21st Century
Canadian Trade Retail Market
National Retail Chain and Internet Retailer(Indigo/Chapters)
Regional Retail Chains
Independent Retailers
Large Format General Retail
Other InternetRetailers
Canadian Retail Supply ChainBook Inventory Movement
Canadian Exclusive Distributor
Canadian Publisher
Canadian Wholesaler
RetailerInterne
t Retailer
Consumer
USA PublisherUK Publisher
USA Wholesaler
Canadian Supply Chain TechnologyBibliographic Metadata
What data is included?• ISBN, Title, Author, description of manifestation, etc• Special market issues in Canada
– Distribution rights, pricing, publication date, etc
How is the data made available?• 3rd party metadata Books-in-Print (ONIX)• Direct publisher/distributor/wholesaler provided file (ONIX)
Canadian Retail Supply ChainBibliographic Data Movement
Canadian Exclusive Distributor
Canadian Publisher
3rd Party Data Aggregator
RetailerInterne
t Retailer
Consumer
USA PublisherUK Publisher
USA Wholesaler
English Supply Chain TechnologyInventory status metadata
What data is included?• ISBN, source of supply, on hand status, on order status• Special market issue in Canada
– distribution rights, pricing
How is the data made available?• Direct publisher/distributor/wholesaler provided file• Direct internet services (standards issues - EDItEUR)• 3rd party internet services (standards - EDItEUR)
Canadian Retail Supply ChainInventory Status Data Movement
Canadian Exclusive Distributor3rd Party Data
Aggregator
RetailerInterne
t Retailer
Consumer
USA Wholesaler
English Supply Chain TechnologyEDI: Electronic Data Interchange
Order and Fulfillment – Stores and Internet
Essential supply chain documents:• Purchase Order• Purchase Order Acknowledgment• Advanced Shipment Notice• InvoicingInternet considerations:• Direct customer shipment by supplier• Integration with consumer administration
Canadian Retail Supply ChainOrder and Fulfillment Data Movement
Canadian Exclusive Distributor
Canadian Wholesaler
RetailerInterne
t Retailer
Consumer
USA Wholesaler
Value Added Network (BNC) ftp and web services
Booknet CanadaCanadian Public Policy Initiative
• Government of Canada recognized need for multi-faceted program to support existing government publishing initiatives.– Bibliographic standards development and certification program– EDI standards development and certification program– EDI value added network system
» Free to booksellers – Retail sales data tracking and reporting system
» Free to booksellers– Ongoing industry education (standards development, digital
revolution, etc)
Booknet CanadaStandards Experience
• Standards Development– Participate in International standards development where
possible» BIC/EDItEUR, London (ONIX, EDItx)» BISG/BISAC, New York (X12, ONIX)
– Engage industry leaders from all sectors– Develop clear specifications from standards that are
conducive to certification programs– Conduct certification programs with the support of industry
leaders
Bookselling in the 21st Century• Challenges for booksellers
• Non-book digital distraction– North Americans are reading less– North American families are spending less on books
• Increased competition with development of new book supply channels– Internet bookselling– eBook bookselling
• Disintermediation in the supply of books– Author– Publisher– Bookseller– Librarian
Bookselling in the 21st Century• Opportunities for booksellers
• Improve supply chain efficiencies– Develop and implement new technologies
• Become a leader in emerging supply channels– Internet bookselling– eBook and audio bookselling
• Develop 21st Century marketing strategies– Develop a marketing “voice” (point of view) that demands
attention (Can 21st century bookselling be a new mass media platform?)
– Consider the incorporation of trends like “social networking”
