Case Study: Nosy Crow

Nosy Crow is a publisher that produces books and apps for children. They were chosen as their digital production model is an innovative development of a traditional publisher’s business model. Founded in 2010 by the managing director Kate Wilson, the publisher has gained rising success commercially, and within the publishing industry itself. This is evident in the industry recognition that they have received, having won numerous prizes for their apps and their innovation in publishing (Wilson, 2013).

The four Ps of innovation; paradigm, product, process, and position show that Nosy Crow creates a distinction that is unusual for a publisher, this is the distinction between a book and a ‘reading experience’. This then gives the publisher the opportunity to market another format of reading experiences, apps. The digitally focused view of the publisher could create opportunities for innovation in the company’s processes. As the apps are a new product; they are targeting a new market. Nosy Crow positions itself to the customer as a fresh, quirky indie publisher that is more modern and accessible than its much larger, older, and more established competitors. The value chain analysis corroborates this; there are two outputs, books and apps which enhance and increase Nosy Crow’s market.

To conclude, Nosy crow publishers are innovative as they have filled a gap in the market. Their innovative digital products have been well received by the industry, they are taking steps into an area that many publishers seem reluctant to go towards. They were not the first digital publishers; however, their products are interesting and innovative. Nosy Crow have framed themselves as not just a book business, but a content business.