The most important distribution channel for the publishing house is still traditional bookstores, although the online channel is making an increasing contribution.
“Online sales are growing, with almost 25% of total business generated through this channel. The physical book distribution market is underdeveloped, with few large players. On the other hand, we sell on online platforms that give big discounts,” Iren Arsene, general manager of Curtea Veche, told ZF.
She founded the publishing house in 1998, which is now one of the main players in the Romanian book market.
Curtea Veche publishes around 250 titles a year and has a portfolio of authors such as Dale Carnegie, Robert Kiyosaki, Daniel Goleman, Allan and Barbara Pease, Edward de Bono, whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide.
“The year 2022 began with major challenges for the book market, the price of paper has doubled, the cost of utilities has risen.”
“We haven’t yet decided what strategy we will have, there are two directions, either go for reprints or choose expansion, with online promotion.”
Public data shows that in 2020 Curtea Veche, which is owned by the Arsene family, posted RON16 million revenue, up from RON15.5 million the previous year, and RON4.3 million net profit, compared with RON2.5 million in 2019, data from the Finance Ministry show.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)