Research & Analysis

Learning to Be Truly B2C

We all know that publishing must become increasingly consumer-centric, but few of us really know how to make that happen. B2C marketing has become a priority for publishers but there is a lot more to becoming a consumer-centric business. While publishers have traditionally considered themselves taste-makers, if not gate-keepers, that dynamic needs to change as consumers are becoming an increasingly active participant in the retail environment. Consumers have a more powerful voice and the expectation to be heard. This is influencing many industries, and a market-driven approach is proving to be critical to the success of companies across industries. This is why, this year, I’ve focused the Technology Forum programming on B2C thinking. This is a vague term that covers a lot of ground as you can see from the programming confirmed so far.

Canadian Book Buyers and Their Relationship to Libraries

Voracious readers will often beg or borrow their books from anywhere possible—buy books in person or online, borrow from the library or steal from friends. As part of The Canadian Book Consumer we have the opportunity to drill down into topical questions and we’re interested in understanding more about how book buyers use the library.

So Long, Farewell, and Thanks for All the Data

When I first stepped into the BookNet office, it felt a little like I had the soft-footed and sneaky steps of a technology fugitive (albeit a sweaty one). Oh sure I’d been through publishing school, where I had the opportunity to dive into the world of tech and books galore, but that was … well, school. I wasn’t one of those tech and data people in real life, was I?

I Leave You with This Graph

Day 241: The End.

I started my internship with an interview, sweating in a blazer in Noah’s office with 35-degree weather outside. Must. Look. Professional. Must. Stop. Sweating. Noah was reclining comfortably, dressed in a blue polo shirt asking me about my history. They’d heard talk of my battles with the demon king. They’d read stories and heard from references about my competency with swords and magicka in defeating and conquering this beast known as… Excel.