“We chose to sell given that the book market has continued to decline, by as much as 40%. We believe this partnership could support the business. The first quarter this year was also weaker. Libri Bookline had been testing the market since last year, and we accepted its offer,” Iren Arsene, the publishing house’s founder, told ZF. She established the publishing house in 1998, and the company is one of the main actors in Romania’s book market.
Public data from the Finance Ministry website (mfinante.ro) show that in 2024, Curtea Veche Publishing posted RON16.1 million and a loss, compared with RON19.3 million revenue the previous year and RON826,000 net profit.
Curtea Veche Publishing prints approximately 250 titles and has in its portfolio books by well-known authors such as Dale Carnegie, Robert Kiyosaki, Daniel Goleman, Allan and Barbara Pease, and Edward de Bono, which have sold millions of copies worldwide. The company generates 25% of its sales through online platforms, including its own website, according to the latest data.
Book distribution is underdeveloped in Romania; there are only a few players with physical stores, and many publishers rely on online platforms.
Libri-Bookline operates both online and brick and mortar bookstores, and its revenue stands at EUR20 million.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)