Eason has unveiled a revamped flagship store in Cork as the book retailer pins its hopes for revenue growth on a revitalised instore experience and an improved online presence.
A key feature of the €1.1 million Cork refurbishment is a new e-store where customers can download digital books.
“It is almost like a department within our book departments,” said David Field, Eason’s head of marketing and retail development. “People can come in, buy an e-reader, go online and download books there and then.”
Eason now has e-stores in seven of its 38 locations, with free wifi at its Cork, Belfast and O’Connell Street, Dublin, outlets.
Mr Field acknowledged e-books still represented a small percentage of overall sales. The company has said it wants to increase this sector to about 10 per cent of annual turnover. Mr Field said sales of e-books were increasing “almost 10-fold on a monthly basis”.
Last month Eason reported a €5.3 million loss for the year to January 2012 and a 10.7 per cent decline in revenues. The Cork investment is part of a €20 million investment programme over three years.
