Retail: Ex Libris closes 43 branches
The Ex Libris bookstore chain is restructuring its branch business. The company will close 43 of its 57 stores in total.
Ex Libris will reduce the number of its stationary sales outlets from 57 to 14 in the current year, the Migros subsidiary announced. The reason is the high losses in the stationary trade: In the last three years, sales here have fallen by around one third on a like-for-like basis. This contrasts with rising online sales. However, these could not compensate for the loss in the store business.
In the future, Ex Libris will be represented in Aarau, at Centralbahnplatz in Basel, at the Bern train station, at Glattzentrum (Wallisellen), at Lenzopark (Lenzburg), as well as in Lyss and at Pizolpark in Mels. In addition, the branches in Rapperswil, in Sursee, in the Illuster shopping center (Uster) and in Wil (SG) will remain. In Zurich, Ex Libris will in future have three locations: at Bahnhofplatz and Limmatplatz, and in Oerlikon.
The remaining stores will be modernized "to enhance the omni-channel shopping experience," Ex Libris shares.
