1. Flipbacks
– Book Innovation in a Digital Age
JN4110 Fundamentals of Business for Media Entrepreneurs Tanya Bamber
2. What is a Flipback?
An entirely new and innovative book format.
What makes it different?
Six times smaller than average book size, compact enough to fit in pocket
Flexible spine so can be read one-handed, great for multi-taskers
Read from top to bottom, open vertically
Thin paper
History, Background?
Jongbloed Bv, a publisher in the Netherlands launched the ‘dwarsligger’ in Sept 2009, followed
by the ‘librinos’ Spain and ‘point2’ in France. Hodder & Stoughton introduced them to the UK in
June 2011. There are 18 titles in this form at the moment, mostly classics and recent film
adaptations.
3. Business Perspective
How does it create value?
- Preserving the book format, rather than encouraging digital e-readers.
- Collectable aspect.
- Priced at £9.99
- Compact and portable.
- They make a great gift for someone.
- Bookstores can display a lot of merchandise in a small amount of floor space
- Thin, strong, bright pages.
- Environmentally friendly due to
petiteness and being printed on paper
that is Forest Stewardship Council
certified.
4. Brief Breakdown of Models
Different Levels of a Company:
Enterprise
Organisational – Hodder & Stoughton
Business
Functional
Operational
You
•Hodder fits into the above model as an organisation.
•Within the 4 P’s model the Flipback is a ‘Product.
•It is incremental rather than radical.
5. Product Reception/Market Research
Audience?
-Already book-lovers, reading enthusiasts
-Multi-taskers
-People that use public transport often
• In research, 98% of readers who see and feel the flipback think it’s distinctive
• 83% of regular readers would love to buy a flipback
• 90% of people say the appeals to them
“Since its debut, demand for the handy pocket-sized books has skyrocketed. As
of mid-April, Arthur (van Keulen, the international marketing manager of
Jongbloed BV) said, more than 1.5 million dwarsliggers, featuring 130 fiction and
non-fiction titles, have been printed.” (Laura Stanfill Blog)
http://laurastanfill.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/flipback-book-1/
Competitors? Same as before, none emerging.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tXnfQS9cWgg
