All expects decline in sales revenues this year in Romania

2010-07-20

All, one of the largest bookstore chains in Romania, saw its sales revenues decline by 4-5% in H1 2010 compared to the same period last year. In 2010 All expects to have sales revenues of €2m, down from some €2.3m in 2008. In 2008 All netted €400,000 and last year posted a net profit of only €13,000, according to the company.
About 20% of All’s sales come from educational books, which registered the steepest decrease of 82%, since the beginning of the year. In February, March and April of this year, All’s sales went up by 10-15%, but in May and June 2010, once the July 1 increase of the VAT was announced, the company’s sales dropped by 30%.
The Romanian book market is estimated at €80-100m, according to the main players on the market including Polirom, Corint, Humanitas and Curtea Veche.