I recently read an article about the popular Swedish store, Ikea and how they, noticing a shift in what consumers are storing on their bookshelves, have put a new spin on their ever popular furniture item: the Billy bookcase.
Ikea are due to release a new version of the classic Billy bookcase, one that’s focused less on storing books than storing…. well whatever you choose. Whether this is ornaments, photo frames or the odd coffee table book, Ikea have been quick to recognise and respond to the changing trend in what consumers are storing on their bookshelves. Their solution to these changes, have been to adapt their bookcases, altering the depth and height and adding decorative glass doors to them. In this way they can be seen to be more than just a bookcase.
Interestingly, and according to some, the demise of paperbacks is increasingly imminent with huge chain stores like Borders closing up shop. Other bookstores are managing to stave off the same fate by embracing e-books which seem increasingly popular. In this way it appears that many companies are attempting to understand and respond to customer’s changing habits.
I don’t possess an e-reader myself and have a life-long love of reading but was fascinated by the comments and experiences of other readers. After researching the subject in more depth, from people who are either vehemently opposed to the shift into the digital transition of books and how we read, to those who embrace the new technology, I was fascinated. It seems that many agree that we can enjoy both the traditional mode of picking up and opening a book as well as flipping open a Kindle or other popular e-reader.
There are many who feel that there is nothing to compare to the experience and pleasure of opening a book and turning the actual pages. Others recognise that for them, using an e-reader makes for a less cumbersome experience than for, say, carrying around lots of books at one time. With an e-reader you can store up to 200 books at any one time which is pretty amazing. And, where the cost of them seemed prohibitive at first the price does seem to be reducing all the time as competitors vie to out-price each other.
Members of my family have Kindles, even though they have been exposed to books from an early age and have built up quite extensive libraries of their favourites. I asked them what they thought of the new technology and whether they thought they could ever replace the traditional version.
The concensus was that there would always be a place for the pleasurable activity of curling up with an absorbing tome or two but that there is a place for e-readers, whilst travelling or with lack of space for example that makes them perfectly positioned to enhance what we all probably have anyway…that shelf full of beloved books, bought or received as a gift, kept in memory and waiting to be re-read and maybe passed on to others .
As a Design and Marketing agency we are constantly aware of changing trends and sensitive to the needs of our clients. We respond by offering solutions that work with and for the client. In this way we provide a more effective and complete set of services.
Debbie Lewis is a Customer Support Executive at Happy Creative, a full service marketing and creative agency based in Blackpool, Lancashire. To learn more or contact us please go to www.happy-creative.co.uk
