BISG Annual Meeting 2005

• Press Coverage

• Presentations

• Used-Book Study Preview

• GDSN and the Book Industry

The Book Industry Study Group, Inc. celebrated a record-breaking year at its Annual Meeting of Members on September 28, 2005 and furthered its mission by providing two informative afternoon sessions on used books and the Global Data Synchronization Network (GSDN).

AGENDA:

• 10:00 a.m. -- Networking

• 11:00 a.m. -- Annual Meeting of Members

•   1:00 p.m. -- Members' Lunch

•   2:00 p.m. -- Used Book Study Preview: A New Approach to Understanding the Market

•   3:00 p.m. -- Networking

•   3:30 p.m. -- GDSN and the Book Industry: Taking the Initiative

BISG Annual Meeting of Members

Jeff Abraham, Executive Director, Book Industry Study Group, Inc.

View Presentation

Approximately 200 industry professionals joined BISG Executive Director Jeff Abraham for the morning presentation of the BISG Annual Report. The report detailed the accomplishments of BISG and its various committees for Fiscal Year 2005.

During the report, Jeff Abraham called upon some of the committee chairs to report on initiatives within their respective committees. Those reporting were:

• John Bohman, Random House
  Co-Chair of the EAN Transition Task Force

• Robert Bolick, McGraw-Hill
  Chair of the ISBN-13 Task Force

• Josh Wright, Random House
  Chair of the Manufacturing Executives Interest Group (MEIG)

• James Lichtenberg, LightSpeed
  Chair of the New Technology Interest Group (NTIG) and member of the RFID Working Group

• Wendell Lotz, Ingram Book Group
  Chair of the General BISAC Committee

Then, Jan Nathan, Chair of the Finance Committee, presented the financial statements and approved budget for Fiscal Year 2005. John McParland of McGladrey & Pullen LLP presented the audited financial statements.

Finally, Jeff Abraham presented the findings of the BISG Member Survey. Conducted in mid-August 2005, the Member Survey represents the first phase of the Strategic Planning Process initiated by the BISG Board of the Directors. Results from the survey were presented to members at the Annual Meeting so that they might provide feedback and suggestions about the value of membership, committees, and future initiatives.

Click here to read the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.'s Annual Report.

Click here to view the results of the BISG Member Survey.

Used Book Study Preview

A New Approach to Understanding the Market

Jeffrey Hayes, Research Director, InfoTrends
View a presentation summary | View bio

Over the past few years, anecdotal reports and studies have led to growing evidence that used books could represent a fast growing segment in the book market. Such a trend would imply major strategic challenges for all players in the industry. BISG's "Used Book Study Preview: A New Approach to Understanding the Market" provided an overview of:

• Size and growth of the used book market (2003 and 2004)

• Units and revenue in the different genres and categories

• Average sales price (including year/year changes)

• Split between primary channels (including online and offline)

• Profile of used book buyers and sellers

• Profile of used book stores (including online and offline)

The study reports that the used book business in the United States topped $2.2 billion in sales and over 111 million books in 2004. Used books sales now represent 8.4% of total consumer spending on books.

The study was based on analysis of sales data from the leading on-line book vendors and extensive primary research with over 500 booksellers and 2,000 consumers and students. Companies providing sales data for the project were Abebooks, Alibris, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Biblio.com, Bowker, eBay, MIR, and Powell’s.

The complete Used Book Study will be released in late-fall 2005.

Click here to read the press release.

GDSN and the Book Industry

Taking the Initiative