Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £700.9m in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The resurgence of physical books boosts sales
- There has been a shift in consumer preferences towards physical books, away from e-books. According to a 2023 report from The Publisher Association, print books account for 80% of the total value of book sales in the UK, four times more than e-books and audiobooks.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The mobile movement is set to take over the book market
- The share of retail sales made via mobile commerce platforms in the UK is expected to rise from 40% in 2022 to 43% in 2026, according to Worldpay's 2023 Global Payments Report.
Biggest companies in the Online Book Retailers in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Amazon.com Inc | 237.4 | |
The Book Depository Ltd | N/A |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Adult fiction titles, Adult non-fiction titles and Children's books. Adult fiction titles is the largest segment of the Online Book Retailers in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Adult non-fiction titles are gaining momentum in online book retail
- Adult non-fiction titles include biographies, self-help, food and science books, and often contain images and photographs.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in the online book retail industry specialise in selling print books exclusively through digital platforms. These businesses have embraced e-commerce to reach a wider audience, offering various genres and titles to cater to diverse literary tastes.
What's included in this industry?
Adult fiction titlesAdult non-fiction titlesChildren's booksCompanies
Amazon.com IncThe Book Depository LtdPurchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
DISCRETIONARY SPENDINGAUDIOBOOKE-BOOKIndustry Code
SIC 47.91 - Online Book Retailers in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
A resurgence in physical books boosts sales. Amid a pivot away from e-books, physical books are riding a wave of popularity, accounting for 80% of book sales in the UK and he...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Traditional book formats struggle with digital competition. Traditional non-fiction and children's books are losing market interest due to consumers' growing preference for d...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Online retailers settle London to cater a thriving academic community. Capitalising on London's academic prowess, online retailers find consistent demand for books from the c...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Small online book retailers chip at market concentration. Small, niche-focused online book retailers are successfully cutting into the market shares of larger companies due t...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Former major player The Book Depository leaves the industry. The company ceased its operation in April 2023. The Book Depository faced losses because of significant investmen...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Amazon.com Inc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of The Book Depository Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Amazon.com Inc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for The Book Depository Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The IOBA promotes independent online bookselling. While public financial assistance is non-existent for the online book retail industry, private organisations like the Indepe...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Digital dominance boosts book retailer profit. Thanks to cost reduction plans and a strong online presence, retailers are poised to see healthy profit margin in the coming ye...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £700.9m in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 873 businesses in the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Online Book Retailers in the UK market in United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Online Book Retailers market in United Kingdom are Amazon.com Inc and The Book Depository Ltd
What does the Online Book Retailers in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Adult fiction titles and Adult non-fiction titles are part of the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Online Book Retailers in the UK in United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Amazon.com Inc.
How competitive is the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Online Book Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Supermarkets in the UK
- Book Retailers in the UK
- E-Commerce & Online Auctions in the UK
Complementors
- There are no industries to display.
International industries
- Book Stores in the US
- Online Book Sales in the US
- Online Book Sales in Australia
- Book Stores in Australia
- Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand
View all industries in United Kingdom
Methodology
How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?
Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?
Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
