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Fair play Easons.

2

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Easons lost the run of themselves during the Celtic Tiger with crazy expansion - like the Fred Hanna debacle - and are now in dire straits. To survive they will have to retrench big time. They lost €10 million in 2009 but only €4.4 million in 2010 and I wouldn't be surprised to see a raft of shop closures in the coming years. They may have a stranglehold on the wholesale and retail book business in Ireland but as another poster pointed out, the future of bookselling has moved off the high street but nobody has told Easons.

    More here from a recent edition of the Irish Times:
    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0617/1224299069100.html


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 821 ✭✭✭temply


    What a naive post...

    You think Easons would take a hit for the people of Ireland? Like fcuk they would. They'd shít all over you just to save a few euro.


    :D

    too right


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,864 ✭✭✭Daegerty


    Plug wrote: »
    The English, a great bunch of lads....

    Auwoight?!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭Toby Take a Bow


    ejmaztec wrote: »
    Don't Easons, along with News Brothers, control the prices of imported books, magazines and newspapers, so that we have to part with big bucks for the privilege of buying any of them here?

    They don't control the prices on books imported, but the conversion they give on books from the UK etc is far more than in other bookshops. A lot of independent bookshops use (or: have to use) Eason wholesale, and get thoroughly ripped off. In order to make a profit, they have to pass on the increased price, which gives the impression that your local independent is ripping you off (sometimes they are, but not always).
    Dman001 wrote: »
    They aren't doing this out of their loyalty of Ireland, they are doing it solely because it makes financial sense. Books are slowly dying, being replaced by eBooks but eBook Readers haven't fully taken off in Ireland. Easons should focus on eBook sales, or they'll soon find themselves in the same shoes as Xtravision.

    You're probably right on eBooks, although any of the sales figures for eBooks are completely skewed, as the traditional means of telling you what's selling and what's not selling, Nielsen, can't release figures for eBooks because Amazon have such a monopoly on sales. So, Amazon release their own figures, which many people claim are trying to give the impression that eBooks are far outselling paper books. They may be, but probably not at the rate they'd like you to believe (Amazon make much more profit from an eBook than from a cheap paperback, or an even cheaper second hand one).

    But you're definitely right about Eason not looking out for the Irish punter in any way. They've continually fcked over their workers, and would do it all again given half the chance:

    http://www.thebookseller.com/news/eason-booksellers-bonus-deferred-while-business-reviewed.html

    http://www.thebookseller.com/news/eason-trade-union-talks-begin.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,463 ✭✭✭Solnskaya


    Probably got more to do with the massive white elephant they built out by the airport complete with state-of-my-arse automated conveyor system that barely works. The massive over-investment in this distribution hub may have strangled them financially. Much like a lot of people are selling up their holiday homes abroad "to concentrate on their Irish properties"(translation-try to avoid going broke.)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,042 ✭✭✭stevejr


    So let me get this straight, a company that has employed thousands of Irish people down the years decide, regardless of the reasons, to invest in Ireland yet again, this time to the tune of €20million. And there are people on here bashing them.

    If we could magically turn Begrudgery and Mean-spiritedness into a product that foreigners would buy because of it's unique Irishness, our recession would have been over before it started....

    The mind boggles.

    What's the reason for being reasonable?

    Is that an unreasonable question?



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    hinault wrote: »
    I make it my business to buy my books in Irish owned shops.

    i prefer to buy wherever can offer me the best price


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,598 ✭✭✭aligator_am


    I doubt it's for charitable reasons, I'd say they can overcharge the Irish more and get away with it, while abroad they have more competition.

    I agree, have Waterstones and Hoggis Figgis left Ireland now? if so then Easons' main competition would be REEDS OF NASSAU STREET (sorry that radio ad did my head in lol), as others have said, this may not be quite a philanthropic move on their part.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭Toby Take a Bow


    I agree, have Waterstones and Hoggis Figgis left Ireland now? if so then Easons' main competition would be REEDS OF NASSAU STREET (sorry that radio ad did my head in lol), as others have said, this may not be quite a philanthropic move on their part.

    Eason own Reeds. They bought out Fred Hanna, destroyed the shop on Nassau Street, tried to compete with Reeds (and Waterstone's, and Hodges) failed miserably, bought up Reeds and solved the problem that way. Thanks Eason! Hodges Figgis is still there, it was just the Waterstone's shops that left Dublin (there are still Waterstone's in Cork, Drogheda and Northern Ireland). Eason's main competition (in Dublin), with the Jervis Waterstone's gone, would be Chapters.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭Toby Take a Bow


    stevejr wrote: »
    So let me get this straight, a company that has employed thousands of Irish people down the years decide, regardless of the reasons, to invest in Ireland yet again, this time to the tune of €20million. And there are people on here bashing them.

    The bashing is more due to the attempt to put a spin on the announcement that it's to 'invest in Ireland'. It's not: it's to 'shore up' profits (ie, try and prevent the company collapsing). If they didn't try and put a spin on it, I don't think people would have a problem with Eason. Apart from them overcharging on books, offering a cr*p selection and treating their workers like dogs.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Chapters may appear independent but they are closely aligned to Eason as they only buy through their Wholesale division - try approaching them to take a book not handled by Eason. Eason demand 50%+ discount from publishers and that was in 1980 (!) before they had the market to themselves.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 821 ✭✭✭temply


    Helix wrote: »
    i prefer to buy wherever can offer me the best price


    me too


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,702 ✭✭✭squod


    The bashing is more due to the attempt to put a spin on the announcement that it's to 'invest in Ireland'. It's not: it's to 'shore up' profits (ie, try and prevent the company collapsing).

    All of your points might be true. I started this thread to point out that a company like Easons are going to invest €20m in this country when they could well have sold off the UK side and put that money in a bank in Switzerland.

    I'm not going to defend them from your allegations but point out that companies are fuhking off left right and centre over here. Either squeezing the tax payer through their political mates or riding out the recession in places like Spain.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭Toby Take a Bow


    Chapters may appear independent but they are closely aligned to Eason as they only buy through their Wholesale division - try approaching them to take a book not handled by Eason. Eason demand 50%+ discount from publishers and that was in 1980 (!) before they had the market to themselves.

    I was under the impression they bought a lot of their stock from 'remaindered' companies (which is why a lot of their stock is being sold for half price or less). Also, we used to occasionally get stock meant for Chapters where I used to work, and it was stock bought directly from UK suppliers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,995 ✭✭✭take everything


    That could just be a cover story.

    Leaf it out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,451 ✭✭✭Delancey


    Hate to piss on anyones chips lads but the reason Easons are divesting themselves of overseas assets is that they are in a very serious financial position and my guess is their bankers are forcing these asset disposals.

    Like so many others they overspent in the boom times on overpriced sites for shops and got themselves saddled with upward only rent reviews - these decisions are coming back to haunt them.

    Miracle they haven't sold out to the likes of WH Smith.....yet.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,031 ✭✭✭jahalpin


    Eason own Reeds. They bought out Fred Hanna, destroyed the shop on Nassau Street, tried to compete with Reeds (and Waterstone's, and Hodges) failed miserably, bought up Reeds and solved the problem that way. Thanks Eason! Hodges Figgis is still there, it was just the Waterstone's shops that left Dublin (there are still Waterstone's in Cork, Drogheda and Northern Ireland). Eason's main competition (in Dublin), with the Jervis Waterstone's gone, would be Chapters.

    The old Fred Hanna shop was a dump before Easons bought it. The new shop on the corner was very nice and had a good selection of books.

    The Reads shop in Nassau Street was also a dump before Eason bought it. The new extended and refurbished shop is very nice and has a much better selection of books than it did when it was run by the old owners. The book prices there are also very competative. The stationery department is also a lot nicer and better stocked now.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    jahalpin wrote: »
    The old Fred Hanna shop was a dump before Easons bought it. The new shop on the corner was very nice and had a good selection of books.

    The Reads shop in Nassau Street was also a dump before Eason bought it. The new extended and refurbished shop is very nice and has a much better selection of books than it did when it was run by the old owners. The book prices there are also very competative. The stationery department is also a lot nicer and better stocked now.

    What a load of tosh! Fred Hanna's was a Dublin institution and had a far more comprehensive stock than Eason's could ever aspire to. As for Reads, am I the only one to notice that their prices have risen since the takeover? There may be more books but the discounts aren't a patch on what they were previously.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    Couple of nice looking girls working in my local Easons :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,451 ✭✭✭Delancey


    OPENROAD wrote: »
    Couple of nice looking girls working in my local Easons :)

    Good for you , the ones in my local Easons have faces like scrapyard alsatians . You wouldn't use them for practice.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,689 ✭✭✭✭OutlawPete


    Fcuk Easons, they closed an hour earlier that advertised on Christmas Eve.

    I'll never forgive them, ever!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭Toby Take a Bow


    jahalpin wrote: »
    The old Fred Hanna shop was a dump before Easons bought it. The new shop on the corner was very nice and had a good selection of books.

    The Reads shop in Nassau Street was also a dump before Eason bought it. The new extended and refurbished shop is very nice and has a much better selection of books than it did when it was run by the old owners. The book prices there are also very competative. The stationery department is also a lot nicer and better stocked now.

    I'd disagree. Fred Hanna's may have looked like a dump, but it had a fantastic selection of books you wouldn't normally see elsewhere. Also, as I've queried previously, Reads selling everything at ten percent off isn't much of a saving when their prices are ten percent more than Hodges.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,571 ✭✭✭7sr2z3fely84g5


    sad news today,obvious people are spending more on books online-
    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/embattled-eason-threatens-to-cut-90-jobs-and-slash-salaries-2856054.html
    AT least 90 jobs at book group Eason are under threat with all employees facing a 10pc reduction in pay.
    Up to nine stores are facing closure under proposals currently being considered by management, with three bookshops set to be affected by the middle of next week.
    Management has told unions and staff that it is seeking a total of €8.5m in costs savings, of which €5m is expected to be facilitated through redundancies.
    The company, which employs 1,000 staff across 63 stores, has proposed using compulsory redundancies on a store-by-store basis in order to achieve these savings.
    A spokesman for Eason confirmed that savings of in excess of €8m are being sought by the company, as part of an overall restructuring programme, which will see the company inject some €20m into the upgrading of stores and IT systems.
    "These discussions are ongoing," the spokesman said, adding that "everything is on the table" and if the unions could propose an alternative method of achieving similar savings, that would be considered.
    Talks on redundancies and pay reductions are due to take place between management and the two unions, SIPTU and Mandate, at the Labour Relations Commission on Tuesday.
    Announcing the restructuring plan in March, managing director Conor Whelan said: "The retail environment in Ireland remains extremely challenging. The books industry alone has seen the closure of many of our competitors."
    Refresh
    However, he added: "We are excited about our new retail strategy which will reinvigorate our brand and refresh our core product offerings."
    Last year, Eason recorded year-end losses of €10m, down from €21m the previous year. The company, which has been in operation for 125 years, has a turnover in excess of €200m.
    Staff, some of whom have up to 25 years' service, have expressed concern at the proposed redundancy package which consists of two weeks' statutory pay plus two weeks' pay for every year worked and is to be capped at €50,000.
    The company is also asking all employees, including senior managers, to agree to a 10pc reduction in salary, a pay freeze and increased flexibility in relation to rostering.
    After an apparent breakdown in negotiations between management and unions, the company wrote to the unions outlining an alternative plan which would see a "store closure programme" beginning next Thursday, September 1.
    This would hit three stores immediately, with losses of about 40 staff. A further six stores would face possible closure from October 1.
    Other elements of the proposed plan include the freezing of annual leave entitlements, the termination of the existing sick pay scheme and the reduction of pay and conditions for new employees to minimum levels. The company is also seeking to reduce the number of managers and line supervisors by 15pc.
    The amount of retail space in multi-floor stores, such as Eason on O'Connell Street, Dublin, is also expected to be reduced.
    The company has told SIPTU and Mandate officials that it "remains open to exploring all alternative options".


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 43,009 Mod ✭✭✭✭Lord TSC


    I never buy books in stores anymore. They tend to be half the price ordering online :/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,571 ✭✭✭7sr2z3fely84g5


    I never buy books in stores anymore. They tend to be half the price ordering online :/
    Yes,i even think if we did cut the min wage they still wouldn't be competitive.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day



    See my post #32 - the house of cards has come tumbling down even quicker than I predicted.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,298 ✭✭✭cosmicfart


    NTMK wrote: »
    I bet you wont be saying that when english stores start pulling out of ireland


    Tescos can fúck the right off IMO


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,189 ✭✭✭drdeadlift


    Go on Easons, giz a job. Go on. I can do that!

    Boys from the black stuff?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,540 ✭✭✭joseph brand


    I've always viewed Easons as a typical rip-off Irish company.

    Like Dunnes Stores in the days before foreign competitors graced these shores.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    I've always viewed Easons as a typical rip-off Irish company.

    Like Dunnes Stores in the days before foreign competitors graced these shores.

    You mean Dunnes Stores has improved since the arrival of foreign competition - what was it like before. :confused:


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