ng the reach of these companies to the estimated $75 billion international book market. Consumers who are interested in the price savings associated with buying on-line are also likely to be target consumers for Internet book retailing, as are those consumers who are simply too busy to take the time to purchase books at conventional outlets.
The following chart illustrates the dramatic drop-off in sales at mall locations compared to superstores during the mid 1990s. The drop has been seen among the four largest retailers (including Barnes and Noble, Borers, Crown and Books A Million), although Books a Million has seen the least amount of decline in its mall stores. All of the four main competitors in the industry now generate more sales from their superstores than from their mall locations.
Another key factor in the retail book industry is the number of stores that are operated and where they are located. While each of the major competitors in the industry have opened new locations (primarily of the superstore variety)
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