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Eason is to open six new franchise stores in Ireland, creating 35 new jobs, the company has announced.
Three of the franchises will be former Hughes & Hughes stores in St Stephen’s Green and Santry in Dublin and in Ennis, Co Clare, which will operate as Eason branches from next month.
Derek Hughes of Hughes & Hughes said becoming an Eason franchise “made sense” for his business, after it had been hit by competition from online and an overall drop in the physical book market. “The Eason multi-category business offers a more robust commercial model in addition to a very strong brand and business organisation,” he said.
It leaves only the one store in the shopping centre in the Swords Pavillion Shopping Centre in Dublin still operating as a Hughes & Hughes shop. Eason’s tally of shops, however, has increased to 65, with 30 of them franchises.
Conor Whelan, Eason's m.d., said the Eason franchise model provided businesses with access to an established retail brand with the support of marketing and promotional campaigns. “Franchisees benefit from training and better buying power to establish their business as a strong, credible operator,” he said. “We are pleased to be able to add a significant number of new franchises this year.”