The impact of Internet trading on the UK antiquarian and second‐hand bookselling industry

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of the Internet upon the UK second‐hand and antiquarian book trade. Questionnaires were sent to all 681 UK members of the industry’s largest and most prominent association (PBFA) and 355 responses were received. To ensure depth as well as breadth of knowledge, in‐depth interviews were also conducted with ten companies. The results showed that, overall, e‐commerce presents an opportunity rather than a threat to this traditional retailing sector. Pre‐existing database management and distribution skills made the industry well suited to Internet trading. The number of companies trading on‐line was five times greater than the UK industry average and the booksellers were highly satisfied with the results. Not only did 90 per cent of survey respondents with Web sites consider that their aims in setting them up had been met in whole or in part, but 20 per cent of respondents derived more than 30 per cent of their sales from Internet trading. Moreover, 68 per cent of on‐line respondents stated that in their opinion their Web sites had resulted in overall business profits increasing. Predicted threats posed by the Internet such as reduced prices and margins, causing offence to existing customers and distribution system difficulties presented risks but could not outweigh the benefits of Internet trading.