Report Coverage
This report focuses on the retail and wholesale trade of books and stationery in South Africa, including comprehensive information on the size and state of the sector, circulation, sales and trade data and influencing factors including the ongoing move to digital, competition, environmental concerns and the coronavirus pandemic. There are profiles of 56 companies including retailers such as CNA, PNA and Exclusive Books, publishers such as Caxton and CTP and Macmillan and online retailers such as Takealot and Virtual Bookshelf.
Introduction
The retail sector was severely affected when trade was prohibited during the coronavirus lockdown from March to June 2020. Booksellers and magazine and newspaper publishers were already under pressure prior to the lockdown due to the recession that constrained consumer spending. The growth in book sales is expected to be below 1% per annum over the next three years while sales of magazines and newspapers are expected to decline. An increase in book sales to state departments in 2019 was offset by a decline of 51% in sales by supermarkets and shops. The lockdown exacerbated an already precarious situation for some publications and resulted in the closure of at least 17 magazines and six newspapers, while others announced they would move to digital editions. Retail sales are expected to be affected by the reduction in the number of titles available. South Africa is a net importer of stationery. China was South Africa’s biggest trade partner, accounting for 49.4% of total stationery imports of R1.2bn in 2019.
Strengths
• A variety of magazines provide for the needs of different groups of readers.
• State and provincial spending on school books is driving sales.
• Various daily, weekly and weekend newspapers are published.
Weaknesses
• Decrease in export sales of books.
• Increases in municipal bills increase the input costs of retailers.
• Paper stationery is perceived as being wasteful and harmful to the environment.
• Stationery suppliers’ costs affect profit margins.
• Stationery traders compete with cheap imports.
• The volatile exchange rate impacts the price of imported goods and raw materials, pushing prices up.
Opportunities
• Booksellers expect online sales to boost their declining income from physical sales.
• Demand for African literature titles could result in increased sales if more titles become available.
Threats
• Consumer spending on reading material is expected to continue decreasing.
• Deteriorating economic conditions are expected to curb retail trade.
• Digital books, magazines and newspapers are taking market share.
• The decline in circulation of magazines and newspapers affect the income of retailers.
Outlook
Analysts said economic recovery from the impact of coronavirus will take a few years. Retail will continue to change as consumers embrace online shopping. Booksellers and stationery shops that are located in large shopping malls might not see sales returning to pre-coronavirus levels as some shoppers tend to visit smaller local centres where they feel less exposed to the virus. The trend toward working from home is expected to continue post-pandemic, reducing foot traffic in shopping centres and malls during weekdays. Exclusive Books CEO Grattan Kirk was encouraged by the fact that the public bought books during the lockdown and hoped that the demand for physical books on psychology, self-help, biographies and fiction will continue.Role players said online sales of stationery will continue to grow as products are readily available. Sales of luxury items, which are mostly imported and expensive, are not expected to recover soon in the very constrained economic environment. Retail traders are hopeful that consumers would have disposable income to spend on art and hobby stationery.Role players said the wholesale industry will feel the effects of the pandemic long after it is over as the warehousing and distribution sector adjusts to the new ways in which retail will be conducted via omnichannels.
The Wholesale and Retail Trade of Books and Stationery Industry in South Africa
2020
Full Report
R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $105.41 (USD)*
Industry Landscape
R 1 330.00(ZAR) estimated $ 73.79 (USD)*
Historical Reports
The Wholesale and Retail Trade of Books and Stationery Industry in South Africa 2018-08-29
R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $105.41 (USD)*
View Report Add to CartTable of Contents
[ Close ]| PAGE | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | INTRODUCTION | 1 |
| 2. | DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY | 1 |
| 2.1. | Industry Value Chain | 5 |
| 2.2. | Geographic Position | 6 |
| 3. | SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY | 6 |
| 4. | STATE OF THE INDUSTRY | 17 |
| 4.1. | Local | 17 |
| 4.1.1. | Trade | 20 |
| 4.1.2. | Corporate Actions | 22 |
| 4.1.3. | Regulations | 23 |
| 4.1.4. | Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development | 24 |
| 4.2. | Continental | 25 |
| 4.3. | International | 27 |
| 5. | INFLUENCING FACTORS | 29 |
| 5.1. | Coronavirus | 29 |
| 5.2. | Economic Environment | 31 |
| 5.3. | Rising Input Costs | 33 |
| 5.4. | Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation | 33 |
| 5.5. | Environmental Concerns | 34 |
| 5.6. | Labour | 36 |
| 6. | COMPETITION | 37 |
| 6.1. | Barriers to Entry | 38 |
| 7. | SWOT ANALYSIS | 38 |
| 8. | OUTLOOK | 39 |
| 9. | INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS | 40 |
| 10. | REFERENCES | 40 |
| 10.1. | Publications | 40 |
| 10.2. | Websites | 41 |
| APPENDIX 1 | 42 | |
| Summary of Notable players | 42 | |
| COMPANY PROFILES | 49 | |
| ADAMS BOOKSELLERS (PTY) LTD | 49 | |
| AMAZON.COM INC | 51 | |
| BIC (SOUTH AFRICA) (RF) (PTY) LTD | 55 | |
| BIDVEST BRANDED PRODUCTS HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD | 57 | |
| BK INK CC | 60 | |
| BOOK LOUNGE CC | 62 | |
| BOOKS MAGAZINES AND STATIONERY CC | 63 | |
| BOOKSITE (PTY) LTD | 68 | |
| BRIDGE BOOKS CC | 70 | |
| C ROELOFSE | 72 | |
| C THOMPSON | 73 | |
| CAXTON AND CTP PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS LTD | 74 | |
| CHRISTELIKE UITGEWERSMAATSKAPPY (PTY) LTD | 79 | |
| CIRCULAR OFFICE SUPPLIES AND PRINTERS CC | 82 | |
| CNA OPERATIONS (PTY) LTD | 84 | |
| ESTORIL BOOKS AND STATIONERS (FOURWAYS) (PTY) LTD | 86 | |
| EXCLUSIVE BOOKS GROUP (PTY) LTD | 88 | |
| EXECUTIVE INFORMATION SERVICES CC | 92 | |
| FLIP FILE (PTY) LTD | 94 | |
| FOGARTY\'S BOOKSHOP CC | 96 | |
| FORMS MEDIA INDEPENDENT (AFRICA) (PTY) LTD | 98 | |
| FRANK R THOROLD (PTY) LTD | 100 | |
| FREEDOM STATIONERY (PTY) LTD | 102 | |
| HARGRAVES LIBRARY SERVICE (PTY) LTD | 104 | |
| INTERSTAT STATIONERY (PTY) LTD | 106 | |
| JUTA AND COMPANY (PTY) LTD | 108 | |
| KND TRADE CC | 111 | |
| LOOT ONLINE (PTY) LTD | 112 | |
| LORMIK CC | 114 | |
| LOVE BOOKS (PTY) LTD | 116 | |
| MACMILLAN SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD | 117 | |
| MASSMART HOLDINGS LTD | 120 | |
| MEDIA24 (PTY) LTD | 126 | |
| MELBRO RETAIL (PTY) LTD | 134 | |
| MIND MATTERS EDUCATIONAL BOOK DISTRIBUTERS CC | 136 | |
| NATIONAL STATIONERY CC | 138 | |
| OFFICE NATIONAL AFRICA (PTY) LTD | 140 | |
| OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS SOUTHERN AFRICA (PTY) LTD | 142 | |
| PARCELNINJA (PTY) LTD | 145 | |
| PETERS PAPERS (PTY) LTD | 147 | |
| PICK N PAY STORES LTD | 149 | |
| PNA STATIONERS (PTY) LTD | 154 | |
| PRIMA TOY AND LEISURE TRADING (PTY) LTD | 158 | |
| PROCURE TRADE (PTY) LTD | 160 | |
| RNA RETAIL GROUP (PTY) LTD | 162 | |
| SHALMAY FAKIE GROUP CC | 163 | |
| SHOPRITE HOLDINGS LTD | 165 | |
| SPAR GROUP LTD (THE) | 170 | |
| TAKEALOT ONLINE (RF) (PTY) LTD | 176 | |
| TASMAYA WHOLESALERS CC | 181 | |
| TREFOIL MANUFACTURING (PTY) LTD | 183 | |
| VAN SCHAIK BOOKSTORE (PTY) LTD | 185 | |
| VAN\'S OFFICE SUPPLIES (EASTERN CAPE) CC | 189 | |
| VIRTUAL BOOKSHELF CC | 190 | |
| WEST PACK LIFE STYLE (PTY) LTD | 191 | |
| WORDSWORTH BOOKS CC | 193 |
