The Independent Publishers Guild Spring Conference 2025 was subtitled “Going for Growth”, and it provided an opportunity for Independent and Academic Presses to discover new ways to innovate and to grow, despite the significant challenges facing the publishing industry.
After a fascinating insight into the use of data and statistics by Tim Harford, host of Radio 4’s brilliant More or Less, the conference moved on to a panel discussion on the lay of the land for independent publishers. Kate Wilson (Nosy Crow), Bella Lacey (Granta Books), and Karen Phillips (SAGE Publishing) gave a fascinating insight into what is at the forefront of all indie publishers’ minds, namely AI, increased National Insurance contributions, inflation, declining interest in reading among young people, post-Brexit trade regulations, and economic uncertainty with the U.S.
These were themes that were returned to over the course of the day, but for all the turbulence caused by these disruptions, the mood remained one of resilience and determination, looking for the positives and the opportunities available.
In this vein, Dan Mucha of World of Books shared insights on online book sales, emphasizing the importance of discoverability and reader engagement. Amongst the key takeaways was that reviews were very important for consumers, on which to base their purchasing decisions, and also to help with discoverability.
Discoverability was also covered in some detail by Michael Tamblyn, Rakuten Kobo CEO, in his session on the future of Book Subscription services. Data from Kobo’s digital subscription service, Kobo Plus, suggested that subscribers started six times more books per month than those who purchase individual titles. Furthermore, subscription sales did not appear to cannibalize traditional sales; rather, they expanded the readership.
Michael finished his session with a quick and highly informative look at AI for publishers. Ultimately, AI’s full impact remains uncertain. While it may disrupt traditional processes, it could also open new doors for creativity, efficiency, and innovation within publishing.
Closing the conference, Frank Cottrell Boyce raised an impassioned call to action regarding the decline in reading for pleasure among children. With 1 in 11 UK children growing up without a book at home, the industry must work together to find new ways to engage young readers. The publishing community, whether independent or not, has a unique opportunity to champion literacy, ensuring that future generations develop a lifelong love of reading.
With this in mind, we recently published a Community Spotlight on the Children’s & Middle Grade categories, so click to read more about activity for these books on NetGalley, and insight about UK NetGalley members’ engagement.
