Challenging the two major bookstore chains that dominate bookselling in Poland, six major Polish publishers have launched and are expanding a new bookstore chain in a joint venture with book distributor Super Siódemka and two local businesspeople, Publishing Perspectives reported. The new chain is called BookBook (using the English words) and was founded by publishing houses Prószyński, Helion, Publicat, Rebis, Zysk and Czarna Owca.
Their targets are Empik and Matras, which together have more than 400 locations and engage in quasi-monopolistic practices, according to the publishers. Empik is a multimedia retailer, carrying books, music, movies and video games in its 228 stores. Matras "aims to attract mostly avid readers," and some of its 180 bookstores are in smaller cities.
BookBook bought a majority interest in the formerly state-owned bookstore chain Dom Ksiazki (House of Books) and has rebranded them and now has more than 80 bookstores.
Maria Czarnocka, a promotion and marketing manager at BookBook, told Publishing Perspectives, "We aim to achieve a dynamic growth of our network through expanding to new locations.... In September, we'll open a new hybrid bookstore in Krakow with a coffee house and theater. We have a big goals and we think Poland is a place where there always will be people who love paper books and the unique atmosphere of our bookstores. Each of our new investments is related to a wide range of events and promotional activities."