Fight for existence: Independent publishers in Berlin before the end?

Fight for existence: Independent publishers in Berlin before the end?

Bebelplatz, Berlin, Deutschland - The situation for independent publishers in Germany is becoming increasingly precarious. On June 28, 2025, the book festival will take place at Bebelplatz in Berlin, where publishers have the opportunity to draw attention to themselves and generate urgently needed sales. Under the pressure of falling sales and increasing costs, many small publishers are fighting for their existence. Britta Jürgs, publisher of Aviva Verlag, reports of a terrifying drop in sales of 50% compared to the previous year. This crisis mainly affects smaller publishers that have to assert themselves in an environment that is characterized by market concentration and decreasing visibility.

The problems are complex. Rising production costs for paper, energy and pressure contribute to the challenging location. According to information from [WOXX.LU] (https://www.woxx.lu/deutsche-buchbranche-in-krise-die-downendendendes- Unabhaengiger-verlage/), sales have been falling significantly since 2022. Smaller publishers in particular have drastic declines and are increasingly threatened in their existence. The number of publishers subject to VAT has dropped by 14% since 2010, and the number of small publishers with annual sales of up to 100,000 euros has fallen by about 22%.

The challenges of the industry

The book industry has been loaded by a wide variety of factors since corona apandemia. During the pandemic, sales rose at short notice, but since 2022 they have decreased drastically, which is reinforced by the persistent inflation and stagnating reading interests. According to a current study, a sales decline of 17.3% recorded in 2022 compared to the previous year. This goes hand in hand with a noticeable decline in book buyers by 3.6 million compared to 2019.

The visibility of books from independent publishers decreases. Many publishers save in production, which endangers not only the quality, but also the diversity of the offer. Interest in literature has also decreased in the media landscape, which in turn affects the sales figures. Committed bookstores, which often do not find any successors, also suffer from this pressure. More and more bookstores close, which further reduces the sales opportunities for small publishers.

strategies for visibility

The book festival on Bebelplatz will be an important source of income for the publishers involved, such as the criminal publisher. Jörg Sundermeier expects a high number of visitors and hopes that the festival will help the independent publishers to put more awareness again. Jürgs remains skeptical, but would like to continue with her publisher to get the diverse publishing landscape in Germany.

The current challenges are proof of the need to initiate structural changes in publishing. In this context, the Börsenverein announces an economic press conference that will present important figures for the book market on July 10, 2025. This data could give further insights into the current situation in the industry and show a way how independent publishers can be supported in the future.