Indigo Books and Music

Canadian book and gift retailer

This article is about the Canadian book and gift retailer. For the colour, see Indigo. For the Indian low-cost airline, see IndiGo. For other uses, see Indigo (disambiguation).

Indigo Books & Music Inc.

Company type| Private

Traded as

| TSX: IDG
Industry| Bookselling
Founded| 1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Founder| Heather Reisman
Headquarters|

Toronto, Ontario

Canada

Number of locations

| 61 (Indigo)
31 (Chapters)
63 (Coles)
17 (IndigoSpirit)

Key people

| Heather Reisman (CEO)
Hugues Simard  (CFO)
Revenue|  $1.079 billion CDN (2017)

Operating income

|  $25 million CDN (2017)

Net income

|  $21.8 million CDN (2017)
Total assets|  $633.6 million CDN (2017)
Owner| Gerry Schwartz(Controlling Shareholder)

Number of employees

| 7,000 (2017),[1]
Divisions| Chapters
Coles Books
!ndigoSpirit
!ndigokids
!ndigotech
Website| indigo.ca
Indigo Kids, Indigo Eaton Centre in December 2010 Indigo flagship store at Manulife Centre, Toronto Indigospirit, Royal Bank Plaza, Toronto IndigoTech at the Eaton Centre Indigo Store in April 2014

Indigo Books & Music Inc., known as "Indigo" and stylized "!ndigo", is Canada's only major English-language bookstore chain. It is Canada's largest book, gift, and specialty toy retailer, operating stores in all ten provinces and one territory, and through a website offering a selection of books, toys, home décor, stationery, and gifts. Most Chapters and Indigo stores include a Starbucks café inside. As of 2022, Indigo has started selling music (vinyl, CDs), and select audio equipment (headphones, turntables).

At the end of its fiscal year in March 2018, the company reported a record annual revenue surpassing CAD $1 billion. As of July 1, 2017, the company operated 86 superstores under the banners Chapters and Indigo and 123 small format stores, under the banners Coles, Indigospirit, and The Book Company.[2] Indigo is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and employed more than 7,000 people throughout Canada.[3]

After a series of mergers and acquisitions in the Canadian bookstore industry, Indigo stands as Canada's last remaining national bookstore chain. In late 2017, announcements were made to expand to the United States, starting with a location in The Mall at Short Hills in Millburn, New Jersey.[4][5]

## History

[edit]

The company was founded in 1996 by Heather Reisman, who is married to Gerry Schwartz, majority owner and CEO of Onex Corporation.

The company's first big-box bookstore initially called "Indigo Books, Music & More", was opened in Burlington, Ontario on September 4, 1997. With financing from Onex Corporation, Indigo bought Chapters, their largest Canadian competitor, in 2001 and continues to operate many stores under the Chapters banner. Indigo also gained the ownership of the Coles chain of small-format bookstores, which was also owned by Chapters.

Indigo closed three high-profile stores in Toronto in the spring of 2014, including the World's Biggest Bookstore, which it acquired when it bought Chapters. In June 2014, Reisman said the company was headed into a new phase, selling a much higher percentage of non-book items.[6]

In late 2017, it was announced that it would expand to the United States, with its first location opening in The Mall at Short Hills in October 2018.[7]

In September 2022, Reisman stepped down as CEO and became executive chair, with Peter Ruis being named CEO.[8]

In February 2023, Indigo was the victim of a ransomware attack that rendered them unable to process non-cash transactions, returns, and gift cards for approximately four days. They got back their card transactions through a wireless pinpad, but the rewards system was still down. Online shopping remained unavailable for almost two months.[9][10] While Indigo has assured the public that customer data was not compromised, they notified current and former employees that employee data had been. LockBit has claimed responsibility for the attack. Indigo made the decision not to pay the ransom due to the possibility that the money would be used to fund terrorism or organized crime.[11][12]

In June 2023, Reisman announced her retirement, effective August 22, 2023. This came after four out of ten board members stepped down, citing loss of confidence and mistreatment from the board leadership.[13]

In September 2023, founder Heather Reisman returned as chief executive officer, after Peter Ruis abruptly resigned earlier in the month.[14]

In November 2023, Indigo's flagship store in Toronto was vandalized by posters and painted slogans accusing Reisman of raising funds for the Israeli military. The arrest of the Indigo 11 resulted in four guilty pleas for mischief.[15][16]

In August 2024, Indigo served a cease and desist letter to the pro-Palestinian activist group Indigo Kills Kids.[17] Demands in the letter included that the group stop infringing intellectual property laws, remove "false and defamatory content," and stop interfering with the business and reputation of Indigo.[17] On September 17, 2024,[18][19] the Federal Court of Canada[20] granted interim emergency[21] approval to a lawsuit from Indigo requesting internet service providers take down the organization's website.[22][23]

## Operations

[edit]

The company sells books, magazines, gifts, and toys through its website and in its stores. Its banners currently include Indigo Books & Music, Chapters, Coles, SmithBooks, IndigoSpirit, and The Book Company (small format).

Indigo began a partnership with Apple and iUniverse publishing in the 2010s. Indigo also manufactures its own brand of products, called IndigoLife. In addition, the chain's Indigo Trusted Advisor Program offers book recommendations from experts in health, finance, and the environment, such as David Bach and David Suzuki.

## Charitable activities

[edit]

In 2004, Indigo started the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, a program that helps provide new books and learning materials to high-needs elementary schools. Indigo commits $1.5 million annually to schools across Canada.

The money is raised by Indigo itself, customers, staff, suppliers, and proceeds from Love of Reading fundraising products (i.e., gift card sleeves). Only 80% of customer donations have been granted to over 1800 schools[24][25][26] since the Love of Reading Foundation's inception, with Indigo covering all of the operating costs of the foundation. The funding given to the schools is split across a 90% credit to spend at Indigo and 10% cash to be spent anywhere, as long as it contributes to advancement of literacy.[27]

In addition to the regularly collected funds, the annual Adopt a School program has increased the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation's donations up to a total of CAD 26 million given to more than 3,000 school libraries[28] in Canada since 2004. During the month-long Adopt a School program, each retail store selects a local school to be the recipient of the donations the store collects during that time period.[29]

In 2007, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation produced a documentary chronicling the issue of funding for books in Canadian elementary schools. The documentary Writing on the Wall recounts the establishment of the foundation, while revealing the current conditions of school libraries and literacy in Canada.[30] A follow-up documentary was created in 2017[31] titled "Read Between the Lines".[32]

## Rakuten Kobo

[edit]

Rakuten Kobo, an e-reader platform and manufacturer, was founded and spun off of Indigo in November 2009.[33] By August 2011, the Kobo e-reading platform had become the dominant player in Canada, with research firm Ipsos Reid estimating that it represented 36% of the Canadian market as of that date.[34]

In November 2011, Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten purchased the company for US$315 million in cash.[35] Around 58% of Kobo was owned by Indigo at the time of the purchase.[36]

## Employee programs

[edit]

Indigo was listed as one of Canada's Top 20 Employer Brands in the 2018 survey by Randstad NV.[37] This is due in part to staff rewards program which includes benefits eligibility for both full-time and part-time employees. Indigo also offers a company-matched RRSP program and yearly employee scholarships.

## Criticism and controversies

[edit]

### Charity scandal

[edit]

CBC Marketplace showed that Indigo is doubly profiting from its own charity "Love of Reading Foundation": the charity forced schools to buy books only from Indigo at full retail price. Other vendors usually sell to charities at wholesale price.[1] Then, the charity used the profits to get charity tax refund for the donation to its own charity. Based on data provided by the CBC documentary, the profits obtained is almost equal to the charity it gives if the tax refunds is taken into account.

### Product removal

[edit]

In 2001, Indigo removed Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf from the shelves.[38] In 2006, Indigo decided not to sell the June issue of Harper's Magazine, which reprinted the controversial cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad that had led to violent demonstrations around the world.[39] Indigo also did not distribute the issue of Western Standard which reprinted and discussed those same cartoons.[40] The company has also reportedly refused to stock several titles by David Icke, and firearms magazines.[41]

### Competitive position

[edit]

The Indigo/Chapters chain has been criticized over what some perceive as a virtual monopoly over retail-based book sales in Canada. In 2002, the company strongly opposed the entry of Amazon into the Canadian marketplace with accusations the U.S.-based company was skirting regulations about foreign ownership of Canadian booksellers.[42]

Indigo's expansion has been blamed, among other factors, for the financial difficulties of some independent booksellers in Canada. In particular, its rise coincided with the bankruptcy of Lichtman's, once Canada's largest independent bookseller.[43]

## See also

[edit]

* Publishing

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Indigo - 2018 Annual Report, Retrieved August 17, 2018
2. ^ "2018 Annual Report" (PDF). indigo.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
3. ^ Won, Craig (7 July 2016). "Indigo plans massive store renovations". Toronto Star. p. B1.
4. ^ "Indigo Books says it's planning its first U.S. expansion next summer". Toronto Star. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
5. ^ Shaw, Hollie (2 November 2017). "As retail rivals retreat, Indigo Books plans five U.S. stores in next two years". Financial Post. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
6. ^ Carol Toller (December 1, 2014). "How Indigo plans to become the world's first "cultural department store"". Marketing Magazine.
7. ^ "First Look: Canada's Indigo Books and Music makes U.S debut |Chain Store Age". Chain Store Age. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
8. ^ Robertson, Susan Krashinsky (2022-09-06). "Indigo founder Heather Reisman becomes executive chair, Peter Ruis named new CEO". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
9. ^ "Indigo's 'cybersecurity incident' stretches into third day as website still offline". CBC News. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
10. ^ Ilascu, Ionut (2023-02-09). "Largest Canadian bookstore Indigo shuts down site after cyberattack". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
11. ^ Heydari, Anis (2023-03-01). "Indigo won't pay ransom for stolen employee data". CBC News. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
12. ^ Bundale, Brett (2023-03-02). "Indigo refuses to pay ransom, warns stolen employee data may be posted to dark web". CP24. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
13. ^ Alberga, Hannah (2023-06-07). "Indigo founder Heather Reisman retires, almost half of board steps down". CTV News. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
14. ^ "Indigo founder Heather Reisman returns as CEO". The Globe and Mail. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
15. ^ "Charges dropped against members of pro-Palestinian group 'Indigo 11'". 27 March 2025.
16. ^ Pagliaro, Jennifer (11 April 2025). "Last of Indigo 11 receive conditional discharges with probation for 12 months". Toronto Star.
17. ^ a b Alshami, Lama (2024-12-19). "Indigo Kills Kids: How arts communities are challenging power structures within Canada". CanCulture Magazine. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
18. ^ "Federal Court of Appeal sets hearings for tax and radio broadcasting cases". www.canadianlawyermag.com. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
19. ^ Rothman, Jonathan (2024-09-17). "Indigo wins temporary court order to block online boycott promotion that claims it kills kids". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
20. ^ Rothman, Jonathan (2024-10-28). "Judge orders websites accusing the Indigo bookstore chain of 'killing kids' to remain offline for two years". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
21. ^ DeForge, Michael (8 October 2024). "The Giller Prize and the 'Indigo 11'". Canadian Dimension. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
22. ^ King, Thoby (2024-12-05). "Indigo's Copyright Victory Opens A New Front In BDS Struggle". The Maple. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
23. ^ Raveendran, Rochelle (26 September 2024). "Pro-Palestinian advocates protest at Indigo stores in Toronto". CBC.
24. ^ "Love of reading pays off for Tillicum elementary". June 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
25. ^ "The Love of reading". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
26. ^ "Love of reading". Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
27. ^ "Indigo Love of Reading Foundation FAQ". Indigo Love of Reading. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
28. ^ "Love of Reading Foundation donates books to local school". 28 April 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
29. ^ "Indigo keeps the love of reading alive". 12 February 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
30. ^ "Writing on the Wall - Indigo Love of Reading Video". YouTube. 16 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
31. ^ "Indigo Love of Reading Foundation brings awareness to Canada's literacy crisis in new documentary, Read Between the Lines". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
32. ^ "Read Between the Lines video". YouTube. 17 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
33. ^ "Rakuten to Acquire Kobo". Kobo blog. November 8, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011.
34. ^ Barbour, Mary Beth (2011-11-08). "BlackBerry, Apple, Kobo Top Brands in Canada's Mobile Device Market". Ipsos Reid. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
35. ^ Will Connors (November 9, 2011). "Rakuten to Buy Maker of Kobo E-Reader". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
36. ^ J. O'Dell (November 8, 2011). "Kobo acquired: Japanese web retailer Rakuten paid $315M cash". VentureBeat. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
37. ^ "top 20 companies to work for in 2019". Randstad NV. September 26, 2019.
38. ^ "Goodreports News Archive 4". Goodreports.net. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
39. ^ James Adams (May 27, 2006). "Indigo pulls controversial Harper's off the shelves". The Globe and Mail.
40. ^ "A little more free speech, please". The Gazette. May 31, 2006. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006.
41. ^ Eastern Ontario Firearm Club "Boycott Chapters" page Archived 2008-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
42. ^ "CTV News | Top Stories - Breaking News - Top News Headlines". Ctv.ca. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
43. ^ "Lichtman's files for bankruptcy protection". CBC News. March 7, 2000.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indigo Books and Music.

* Official website
* Indigo Love of Reading Foundation website
* Canadian Encyclopedia: Chapters Bid
* Lockheed, Gordon (October 26, 2001). "Bookselling and Book Publishing in Canada, an emergency report | dooneyscafe.com". dooneyscafe.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
* Publishers Weekly: Heather Reisman: "Cautiously, Respectfully Bullish"

* v
* t
* e

Rakuten Kobo

eReaders and tablets|

| Current|

* Aura Edition 2
* Aura ONE
* Aura H2O Edition 2
* Clara HD
* Clara 2E
* Forma
* Libra H2O
* Libra 2
* Nia
* Elipsa
* Sage

|

No longer manufactured|

* Glo
* Glo HD
* Touch
* Touch 2.0
* Aura
* Aura HD
* Aura H2O

Discontinued|

* Wi Fi eReader
* Vox
* Arc
* Arc 7
* Arc 7HD
* Arc 10HD
* Mini

Key people|

* Michael Serbinis

Involved companies|

* Indigo
* Rakuten

* v
* t
* e

Major bookstore and book superstore chains

Asia|

| East|

* Librairie Avant-Garde (CN)
* Page One (CN)
* Kinokuniya (JP-based)
* Book Off (JP-based)
* Tsutaya (JP)
* Libro (JP)
* Eslite Bookstore (TW-based)

|

South|

* Oxford Bookstore (IN)

Southeast|

* Dokya (TH-based)
* Gramedia (ID)
* Gunung Agung (ID)
* Naiin (TH-based)
* Times Bookstore (SG)
* National Book Store (PH)

West|

* Borders (US-based)
* Jarir Bookstore (SA-based)
* Steimatzky (IL)
* Tzomet Sfarim (IL)

Europe|

| East|

* Empik (PL-based)

|

North|

* Blackwell (UK)
* Eason (EI)
* Suomalainen Kirjakauppa (FI)
* Waterstones (UK-based)
* WHSmith (UK-based)

West|

* Bruna (NL)
* Read Shop (NL)
* Thalia (DE-based)

North America|

* Barnes & Noble (US)
* Books-A-Million (US)
* Half Price Books (US)
* Indigo Books and Music (CA)

Oceania|

* Dymocks (AU)
* Angus & Robertson (AU)

Defunct|

* AKO (NL)
* Amazon Books (US)
* B. Dalton (US)
* Crown Books (US)
* Dillons (UK)
* Hastings (US)
* Ottakar's (UK)
* Waldenbooks (US)

See also|

* List of bookstore chains (including local entities)

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