Direct Group – First Choice for the Best Selection

Fernando Carro

Chief Executive Officer,
Direct Group

"DirectGroup combines international book expertise with unsurpassed direct-marketing know-how. For our more than 15 million customers, we are the first port of call when it comes to media products, entertainment and other exclusive offerings. We use every possible channel to deliver a carefully selected product range to our customers. DirectGroup and its employees stand for peak performance in the fields of publishing, direct marketing and multichannel sales."

Direct Group brings media to people – wherever customers want it. The range and quality of its clubs, online shops and book stores have attracted millions of members and millions of customers. Direct Group also uses its decades of direct-marketing expertise in the media business to market other products to members and new customer groups.

Media Clubs

In the 16 countries where Direct Group has operations, its media clubs have for decades served as a gateway to the media realm for millions of members, and as an inexhaustible trove of experiences for bibliophiles, film and music enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the world of media. Shops, catalogs and the Internet – we offer each customer the most convenient way to browse and buy media products.

Bookstores

Direct Group’s bookselling chains make it a leading player in many of its markets: In France, for instance, Direct Group is the country’s second-largest book retailer under its Chapitre.com brand, and in Portugal the historic Bertrand brand is the number-one book retailer. In Spain, the Librerías Bertrand bookselling chain is being built up along the lines of its sister company in Portugal, while in Eastern Europe the shops operated by Euromedia (Czech Republic, Slovakia) and, increasingly, Swiat Ksiazki (Poland) and Family Leisure Club (Ukraine) command strong positions.

Online Shops

The Internet is the world's largest marketplace. With its club businesses and online booksellers, Direct Group commands an outstanding position in this market. The group’s media stores are popular online shopping destinations, especially Chapitre.com in France, BOL.it in Italy and Bertrand in Portugal and Spain.

Publishers

Direct Group’s expertise in books is evident in the publishing sector as well, with the eastern European markets (Poland, Czech Republic/Slovakia and Ukraine/Russia) deserving special mention. In southern Europe, Direct Group Portugal is a leading publishing house, and the Spanish publisher Galaxia Gutenberg, a company affiliated with the Círculo de Lectores media club, enjoys an excellent reputation in the book community.

Direct Sales

Direct Group’s companies have known their customers, their areas of interest and their buying behavior for many decades. Building on this, the companies extend offers to their customers that match their preferences. In this way, sales of products and services such as travel and financial services have grown significantly in recent years – each year, several hundred thousand customers from several countries book their travel through Direct Group.

Facts & Figures

Management
Fernando Carro	(Chief Executive Officer)
Niklas Darijtschuk	(Chief Financial Officer)
Jörg Hagen	(Clubs French-speaking countries, Benelux)
Gerd Bührig	(Human Resources)
Key Facts
Market Position	Direct Group’s clubs are leaders in all regional markets.
Employees	10,087 (as of December 31, 2009)
Revenues	€ 1.3 billion (Fiscal Year 2009)