Wi2026: Understanding Publisher Economics

The economics of the publishing industry have a direct impact on bookstore profitability, as publisher decision-making affects everything from the retail price printed on a book to the marketing budgets available for bookstores. In this session, we'll explore the financial intricacies of the publishing industry and, using a book's P&L Statement (Profit & Loss Statement), unpack the various factors that influence publisher decision-making such as production costs, distribution channels, and revenue expectations.   Recorded February 24, 2026 at Winter Institute 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA.   Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.   Theme song by Constant Companion