Eason, Ireland’s biggest bookseller, plans to cut 150 jobs and to put some other staff on a four-day week in June as it responds to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The company is hoping to reduce its costs by 30% in response to the financial hit to the economy as a result of Covid-19. Eason closed its shops on 24 March, and now plans to open four to six of its Eason branded shops on 10 June, with a view to opening the rest by August. It has also written to all of its landlords seeking rent reductions. In a letter to staff, Eason managing director, Liam Hanly, said the cost-cutting measures were necessary to ensure the business “remains sustainable in the context of what we believe will be a very different retail landscape in the future”. He stated that the Irish book market had declined by 20% since the lockdown in March, and that online sales now make up 80% of Eason’s total book revenues compared with the same period of last year. Eason’s plans, however, are contingent on the opening up of the economy proceeding as the government has outlined, as well as consumer demand
