Kobo CEO faces uphill e-book battle

RZetlin · 02-22-2016, 10:09 AM

I recently found this article on Kobo posted on the Globe and Mail a few days ago.

Some facts from the article:

Kobo has 26 million users.
Presence in 190 countries.
A library of 4.7 million e-books and magazines.
In third place behind Apple and Amazon.
2011, Kobo was sold to Rakuten for $315-million.
2007, 25 people worked at Kobo, now it is 360 employees.
Average customer is more likely to be 50 years old than 20.

I always thought that Kobo was in second place, but not third people Apple.

I am perplexed why older people would be drawn the Kobo brand.

Ken Maltby · 02-22-2016, 01:30 PM

We older types tend to be more likely to include reading as a form of entertainment, than you young whippersnappers.

Luck;
Ken

MGlitch · 02-22-2016, 04:45 PM

Younger folks, in their teens and twenties, tend to prefer the printed book to an ebook. There are a few studies out there about this, though I take them with a grain of salt since from what I can recall offhand they don't specify between eink and tablets, yet list complaints that would only apply to tablets.

ekbell · 02-22-2016, 10:11 PM

I can think of one reason why the age of the average reader is so high

My parents gave my elderly grandfather an kobo ereader not that long ago.

It's a not too heavy device which he can hold easily with adjustable font size so he can read and there is no shortage of books available. Much better for his hands (and limited storage space) then large print books.

He and those like him would certainly pull up averages.

CherryChieri · 02-23-2016, 12:15 AM

I'm 22 and have a Kobo. However, most of the people I see with e-readers are older (50+). They also seem to be doing more commuting - I guess young people are more likely to (in my area at least) drive or bike to wherever.

My mum (59) was thinking of getting one as books are too heavy for her (arthritis). Younger people tend to want 'stuff' while older people downsize, making an e-reader more tidy and space efficient.

Additionally, I don't think there are actual e-readers to buy in book shops in my area? I got mine from an electronics shop (not everyone would think to look there, or be put off as electronics shops aren't specialists in book related items), so the lack of being able to play in store may deter people. I guess some older people may be house bound or spend more time at home (retired, ill, looking after grand kids, work from home) compared to younger people who are out and about and therefore are more likely to buy a physical book (grab it when they see it) instead of leisurely browse online.

DrChiper · 02-23-2016, 07:39 AM

I think elderly people just jumped on e-readers because they have waited so long for it to get real after seeing futuristic promises in for instance Star Trek TOC in the '60. Think on the loads and loads of books they transported all those years and years to and from libraries / holidays.

Now they can relax in peace at their leasure

Heaven is finally here ...

eenk · 02-23-2016, 11:20 AM

I love those "facts"... what kind of 3rd we're talking about? Those as in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or as in 1st, 2nd .................... 3rd? And what is the custormer structure for those 1st and 2nd? And can we dafely deduce at the same time that the average ebook customer is statistically mostly dead already, more so than the average paper book reader?

Conan46 · 02-23-2016, 05:08 PM

Younger People = Apple.

JSWolf · 02-23-2016, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan46

Younger People = Apple.

I have to say, it's the uninformed people who buy eBooks from Apple. Nobody should ever buy a single eBook from Apple even if it's free.

Conan46 · 02-23-2016, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have to say, it's the uninformed people who buy eBooks from Apple. Nobody should ever buy a single eBook from Apple even if it's free.

They all seem to have iPhones and probably are not as prone to want to own multiple devices like older people. So Apple becomes easier for them.

JSWolf · 02-23-2016, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan46

They all seem to have iPhones and probably are not as prone to want to own multiple devices like older people. So Apple becomes easier for them.

Doesn't matter. Apple has helped change things for the worse and deserves to have their eBook division go down in flames.

AnemicOak · 02-23-2016, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have to say, it's the uninformed people who buy eBooks from Apple. Nobody should ever buy a single eBook from Apple even if it's free.

I don't know. I've gotten some nice freebies from Apple, and then read them on my Kobo.

JSWolf · 02-23-2016, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I don't know. I've gotten some nice freebies from Apple, and then read them on my Kobo.

You overpaid.

Nate the great · 02-23-2016, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eenk

I love those "facts"... what kind of 3rd we're talking about? Those as in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or as in 1st, 2nd .................... 3rd? And what is the custormer structure for those 1st and 2nd? And can we dafely deduce at the same time that the average ebook customer is statistically mostly dead already, more so than the average paper book reader?

Kobo might even be fourth, depending on whether they paid out more than Kindle Unlimited last year.

And then there's Google Play Books, which may sell more ebooks than Kobo (no one knows).

Larken · 02-23-2016, 06:13 PM

Most young people I know that "bother" to read do so on tablets instead of a dedicated reader. Those who have taken the time to sit and look at my Kobo like it and have bought one. Before I showed them mine, they didn't seem to know that e-ink technology existed, and they were amazed at the battery life compared with their tablets. So maybe they just aren't being marketed correctly.

02-22-2016, 10:09 AM	#1
RZetlin Addict Posts: 383 Karma: 3461302 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura HD (RIP)	Kobo CEO faces uphill e-book battle I recently found this article on Kobo posted on the Globe and Mail a few days ago. Some facts from the article: Kobo has 26 million users. Presence in 190 countries. A library of 4.7 million e-books and magazines. In third place behind Apple and Amazon. 2011, Kobo was sold to Rakuten for $315-million. 2007, 25 people worked at Kobo, now it is 360 employees. Average customer is more likely to be 50 years old than 20. I always thought that Kobo was in second place, but not third people Apple. I am perplexed why older people would be drawn the Kobo brand.

02-23-2016, 11:20 AM	#7
eenk carrier lost Posts: 62 Karma: 14000 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: 2001:db8:e:b00c::f00d Device: Kobo Forma, H2O v1, Aura HD	I love those "facts"... what kind of 3rd we're talking about? Those as in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or as in 1st, 2nd .................... 3rd? And what is the custormer structure for those 1st and 2nd? And can we dafely deduce at the same time that the average ebook customer is statistically mostly dead already, more so than the average paper book reader? Last edited by eenk; 02-23-2016 at 12:04 PM.

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02-22-2016, 01:30 PM	#2
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,466 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	We older types tend to be more likely to include reading as a form of entertainment, than you young whippersnappers. Luck; Ken

02-22-2016, 04:45 PM	#3
MGlitch Wizard Posts: 2,855 Karma: 22003124 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2	Younger folks, in their teens and twenties, tend to prefer the printed book to an ebook. There are a few studies out there about this, though I take them with a grain of salt since from what I can recall offhand they don't specify between eink and tablets, yet list complaints that would only apply to tablets.

02-22-2016, 10:11 PM	#4
ekbell Guru Posts: 627 Karma: 12345678 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Canada Device: none	I can think of one reason why the age of the average reader is so high My parents gave my elderly grandfather an kobo ereader not that long ago. It's a not too heavy device which he can hold easily with adjustable font size so he can read and there is no shortage of books available. Much better for his hands (and limited storage space) then large print books. He and those like him would certainly pull up averages.

02-23-2016, 12:15 AM	#5
CherryChieri Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13382 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H20	I'm 22 and have a Kobo. However, most of the people I see with e-readers are older (50+). They also seem to be doing more commuting - I guess young people are more likely to (in my area at least) drive or bike to wherever. My mum (59) was thinking of getting one as books are too heavy for her (arthritis). Younger people tend to want 'stuff' while older people downsize, making an e-reader more tidy and space efficient. Additionally, I don't think there are actual e-readers to buy in book shops in my area? I got mine from an electronics shop (not everyone would think to look there, or be put off as electronics shops aren't specialists in book related items), so the lack of being able to play in store may deter people. I guess some older people may be house bound or spend more time at home (retired, ill, looking after grand kids, work from home) compared to younger people who are out and about and therefore are more likely to buy a physical book (grab it when they see it) instead of leisurely browse online.

02-23-2016, 07:39 AM	#6
DrChiper Bookish Posts: 1,017 Karma: 2003162 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: PC, t1, t2, t3, Clara BW, Clara HD, Libra 2, Libra Color, Nxtpaper 11	I think elderly people just jumped on e-readers because they have waited so long for it to get real after seeing futuristic promises in for instance Star Trek TOC in the '60. Think on the loads and loads of books they transported all those years and years to and from libraries / holidays. Now they can relax in peace at their leasure Heaven is finally here ...

02-23-2016, 05:08 PM	#8
Conan46 Fanatic Posts: 575 Karma: 3400000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Paperwhite 3	Younger People = Apple.

02-23-2016, 06:13 PM	#15
Larken Where's the backlight?? Posts: 52 Karma: 2089116 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Kobo Glo HD	Most young people I know that "bother" to read do so on tablets instead of a dedicated reader. Those who have taken the time to sit and look at my Kobo like it and have bought one. Before I showed them mine, they didn't seem to know that e-ink technology existed, and they were amazed at the battery life compared with their tablets. So maybe they just aren't being marketed correctly.

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