We know that Amazon has reinvented business in so many ways since its 1995 founding. Through its Kindle and easy ordering, the firm revolutionized the book industry. Yet, print books still outsell E-books. Wow! A case where low-tech is holding off high-tech. Even though, sales of other forms of print media – such as newspapers and magazines — have plummeted.
Believe It Or Not: Print Books Still Outsell E-Books
In a typical year, twice as many U.S. book readers buy print books than buy E-books.
As Felix Richter reports for Statista:
With smartphones, tablets, and E-readers reaching mass adoption over the past few years, many predicted that print books would soon become a thing of the past. And while it’s true that people use their electronic devices to read, they still rely heavily on ink and paper when it comes to reading books.
According to data from Statista’s Advertising & Media Outlook, E-book penetration still trails that of print books by a wide margin across the globe. In the United States for example, where E-books are very popular in comparison, 23 percent of the population are estimated to have purchased an E-book last year, compared to 45 percent who bought a print book.
These findings suggest that E-books will not be the final nail in the coffin of print books. But rather a complementary product that should ultimately benefit the publishing industry. People may grab an E-reader when they head to the beach or commute to work, but as far as actual books go, [for many] there’s nothing like the real thing.
