The global pandemic has led to unforeseen challenges for the publishing industry, urging it to hit pause at a dramatic pace. Throughout the year, the publishing industry has been weathering the storm of COVID-19 with major shifts to online retailers, virtual touring, making curbside deliveries and getting accustomed to delays. While the evolution of the publishing industry has been slow and steady over the last few years, the global pandemic has enforced a radical disruption.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Publishing Industry 

Ever since the coronavirus catapulted the world into dread, people have been hesitant to step out of their homes. Kudos to content producers for ensuring an uninterrupted flow of news, information, entertainment through all digital and print channels in such times. Likewise, newspapers, books, and magazines played their part in providing enough intellectual, thought-provoking content. Book publishers have quickly responded to different types of content requirements and have supported them in every way.

The book industry is like an ecosystem that includes publishing houses, authors, production facilities, bookstores and readers. With the world under lockdown, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sales was instantaneous as brick and mortar bookstores are the main channels that drive revenue, and are one of the most used platforms by readers.

The disruption in publication plans is the new normal. The whole value chain is bombarded with challenges, from individuals and teams facing working-from-home difficulties to major adjustments in the supply chain, rights acquisitions, promotion and other operations. However, there are pros and cons to every situation! 

Have you realized you have consumed more content online in the past year than actually reading it on a printed paper? This indicates that the global pandemic has affected our content consumption pattern as much as our lives.

Take a look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted different areas of the publishing industry. From book orders to the readers themselves, it has caused an uproar for all involved. 

1. Book Publishers 

The ongoing pandemic has badly affected authors and publishers. Print books were on top, in terms of sales, before COVID-19. Unfortunately, book sales have declined over the past year while e-book sales have flourished. It has also affected bookstores that were directly dependent on the sale of print books. To mitigate the losses, many publishers have opted for online delivery of books. Although it does not drive the sales like traditional buying of books, it just might be the saviour of print books.

2. Online retailers 

Online retailers have been performing considerably better than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. It is reported that sales have exceeded over 400% for online retailers as compared to their parallel. Bookshop.org is a website that supports local and independent bookstores. Shoppers can find a specific shop to support, in which case that store will receive 100% of the profit. National book distribution companies have been shipping and fulfilling many of those orders. Apart from that, Amazon is the biggest marketplace, and most online retailers are turning to it. This has caused increased book sales for online retailers, despite the pandemic.

3. Academic Publishers 

Almost all schools have shifted towards the online mode of learning. With the resumption of schools still unclear, online learning and a hybrid model of teaching have become the new norm for children, parents and teacher. Many academic publishers have benefited from this new era. A large number of academic books have been sold by publishers. This is true for all those that are armed with strong online resources.

4. Book fairs 

Numerous worldwide events and book fairs have been cancelled due to the global pandemic. From the London Book Fair to the ALPSP and SSP annual meetings, the global pandemic has caused disappointment and change for everyone. However, with many events transformed into virtual form, it has made inclusivity possible and attracted more people for whom joining the physical equivalents were not possible.

How Did Austin Macauley Publishers Adapt With The Current Situation? 

One of the challenging setbacks of the existing disposition was the difficulty in organising public events. Book fairs could no longer take place, nor public readings, festivals and other participations that are significant for authors. Like everyone else, we also adapted ourselves to the changing demands of the world. We ensured Austin Macauley's representation through several important events like Nairobi International Virtual Book Fair, The Bookseller’s Children’s Conference, Beijing Virtual Rights Book Fair and Sharjah International Library Conference. 

In Nairobi International Virtual Book Fair, our International Publishing Director, Jade Robertson, joined female leaders in the publishing industry around the pandemic discussions. We also participated in the world's largest book fair, Frankfurt Virtual Book Fair, held from 14th - 18th October 2020.

Our team worked around the clock and followed all the necessary measures and protocols to ensure that we become part of the 11-day international book fair held annually, Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). The event was a huge success and a ray of hope and joy as it gave the entire AM family to do what we love the most. It gave authors the chance to interact with their fans and experience the real essence and adrenaline rush of being a part of the industry!  

Austin Macauley Publishers: A Responsible Publishing House 

As a publishing house, we have a responsibility to educate, entertain and give back to our readers. We value them and the loyalty they have shown this year. The coronavirus pandemic not only disrupted business operations but also imposed unprecedented hazards to mental health across the world. To help soothe the unrest caused by the pandemic, and to raise awareness regarding the precautionary measures that people can take to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, we published Prevention and Control: Coronavirus The Experts’ Guide.

The book provides insights into coronavirus disease, its diagnosis and treatment, along with all the necessary steps one can take to keep the virus at bay. Furthermore, to help our readers, we launched a #MindfulReading campaign to help them escape the daily stressors of life caused by the global pandemic through the wonderful world of reading. The campaign comprised of positive motivational messages through our social posts for our readers to lift them up, and spread smiles across their faces. We carefully picked our books, most of them from our health and wellbeing genre to encourage the conversation.

If you need further help and guidance, check out our ‘how to become an author’ manual. Submit your work now at Austin Macauley Publishers, the best book publishers in the UK, USA and UAE. You can make a quick submission by filling our online submission form also. To stay in touch with us, tune in to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Need any other information? Contact us now!