The world of books is not spared from inflation. Due to rising paper and transportation costs as well as labor shortages, readers have to pay more for their books. In general, prices have increased by around 10% for titles printed in black and white and up to 30% for some color editions, according to industry sources.
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“The pandemic has accelerated inflation,” explains Serge Théroux, president and CEO of Éditions Somme tout. Inflation had started before, but the pandemic has come with additional problems like the cost of paper which is more expensive, shortage of paper causing delays, shortage of labor and higher transportation costs. »
He mentions an average increase in the cost of manufacturing books of 25%; i.e. around 20% on certain larger runs and nearly 30% for smaller runs, which are more expensive to produce. This forces him to increase the selling prices of the works.
The publisher speaks today of an average increase ranging from 10 to 12% of the price of the book. For example, a book that sold for $24.99 three years ago is now priced at $27.99.
Same story with the other Quebec publishers surveyed; all point to the cost of paper, which has increased by around 30% from the beginning of 2021 to today.
Breaking point
Judith Landry, General Manager, Publishing, Quebecor Book Sector, talks about an increase of $1 or $2 per book. She points out that the big loser remains the color book. “Before the pandemic, we made increases here and there, but there was no sense of urgency,” she says. For 20 years, the price of books has never increased, without even following the cost of living! We have reached a breaking point: we have to increase the price of books. »
“We must be more forward-looking, think even further in advance, add Renaud Roussel and Gilles Ostiguy, co-directors of Éditions du Boréal. Our selling prices are increasing, but at a minimum. For us, it’s not necessarily something that seems out of control, whereas in France, inflation and the problem are critical. »
In bookstores too “it is inevitable that the prices of books will increase, like any product in this period of inflation”, says the director, communications and marketing at Renaud-Bray, Floriane Claveau.
Some Publisher Strategies
- Use less expensive paper and choose Quebec and Canadian printers.
- Publish works by popular writers allowing higher circulations at lower costs. Also sometimes ask authors to write shorter books, which are therefore cheaper to print.
- Use caution, reduce risk and do even more in-depth market analysis for each publication.
- Make more economical manufacturing choices (less expensive materials and formats) and respond to the growing interest of readers in inexpensive books, such as paperbacks.