Osiander is moving: bigger, more colorful and ready for Christmas!

Osiander is moving: bigger, more colorful and ready for Christmas!

There's a lot going on in bookstores in Schwäbisch Gmünd! The traditional bookstore Osiander will be moving from Marktplatz 19-21 to the new address Marktplatz 32 in mid or late November 2023. With the move, the sales area will increase from 220 to almost 380 square meters, which not only provides more space, but also more diverse offers and a better atmosphere for customers.

Christian Riethmüller, the managing director of Osiander, emphasizes how important this step is: “It is necessary if we want to continue to inspire and serve our customers in Schwäbisch Gmünd.” The current location only opened in 2019 when Osiander moved there from the former Herwig bookstore on Postgasse. However, this move did not prevent trading conditions from changing significantly since then: fewer customers in city centers and rising costs mean that adjustments are necessary Remzeitung reports.

New concept and generous investments

With an investment of 400,000 euros in the new store at Marktplatz 32, Osiander will not only expand the sales area, but also offer a new, bright shopping experience. The current range expansion now also includes more toys, games and gift items. There is also an attractive, large games department and a youth world - two aspects that are particularly popular with young customers, as the Börsenblatt notes.

The landlords are also keeping an eye on the new location: they plan to renovate the facade of the building, which will further add to the attractiveness of the location. To ensure that Osiander's customers do not experience any interruptions, the old bookstore at Marktplatz 19-21 will only close after the new location opens. The search for a new tenant for the existing space begins together with the landlord.

Book trade in transition

Osiander, founded in Tübingen in 1596, is the second oldest bookstore in Germany and currently operates 61 branches in southern Germany. Despite the challenges in the book trade brought about by ever-increasing e-commerce, brick-and-mortar book sales remain an important pillar in Germany. Net sales in book retail in 2022 were around 3.7 billion euros. The fiction product group in particular represents the largest share of sales, followed by children's and young adult books and guides, as Statista knows.

Internet retail is constantly growing and influencing the brick-and-mortar bookselling landscape. Nevertheless, managing director Riethmüller and his team believe that personal advice and a lovingly designed store still have their place in the hearts of readers - and they want to prove that with the new location and the expanded range.

The new Osiander is worth a visit when it opens in November at the latest - one more reason to spend more time between the book shelves!