Eason & Son
Irish specialty retailer of books, newspapers, magazines, stationery, cards and gifts.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Eason & Son, commonly known as Eason or Easons, is an Irish retail company focused on books, newspapers, magazines, stationery, greeting cards, gifts and related products. The business traces its origins to 1886, when Charles Eason acquired the Irish operation of the British retailer W. H. Smith. It subsequently developed into one of Ireland's best-known high-street and travel-retail names, with a broad store network and an online operation serving consumers across the country. The company is headquartered in Swords, County Dublin, and operates through three principal business units: Eason Stores, Eason Online and Dubray. The Eason-branded estate combines general bookselling with stationery, periodicals, newspapers, cards, gifts and selected convenience-oriented products. Its network includes a prominent flagship location on Dublin's O'Connell Street and stores in major cities, towns, shopping centres, transport hubs and other retail locations. The company also has franchise-operated shops alongside locations directly controlled by the business. Eason has historically occupied an important position in the Irish distribution chain for newspapers and magazines as well as in consumer bookselling. Its activities have included wholesale distribution and specialist retail formats, although several non-core or former divisions have since been sold, closed or reorganised. The company sold its British Bookshops & Sussex Stationers business in 2009 and exited airport bookshops operated under the Hughes & Hughes name after losing the relevant operating tender in 2013. Its Irish newspaper and magazine distribution interests were combined with John Menzies in EM News Distribution; Menzies acquired Eason's interest in 2017. The business has also changed its property and operating structure. In 2018, shareholders approved a sale-and-leaseback programme involving company-owned retail properties, separating the trading company, Eason Retail PLC, from a property-holding entity, Eason Holdings. Eason Holdings entered voluntary liquidation in 2020 as part of the distribution of proceeds from property disposals to shareholders. These changes allowed the retail company to concentrate more directly on store operations, digital commerce and brand development. A major strategic development was the acquisition of rival bookseller Dubray Books in February 2020. Dubray retained its own identity and continued to specialise primarily in books, while Eason stores maintained a wider merchandise mix. In 2022, Eason added three Dubray locations in Dundrum, Cork and Dublin's Henry Street, bringing the Dubray estate to 11 shops. In September 2023, Dubray acquired the Gutter Bookshop business, including two locations in Dublin city centre and Dalkey, further broadening the group's presence in specialist bookselling. Eason's Northern Ireland operation was substantially reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its seven Northern Irish shops closed temporarily on 23 March 2020 in response to government restrictions, and the company announced on 15 July 2020 that those shops would not reopen. The remaining Irish business continued to develop its online channel, which recorded strong revenue and profitability in 2021. The company had approximately 600 employees and reported turnover of €104 million for the financial year ended January 2022, according to the cited reference material. Eason remains a privately owned Irish retailer, with Liam Hanly identified as managing director in the available reference material.
History
Eason & Son began in 1886 when Charles Eason, then a manager of W. H. Smith, acquired that company's Irish operation. The transaction established an Irish retail business that would eventually become a leading national seller of books, newspapers and magazines. W. H. Smith did not return to the Irish market with a branch until 2001. The company became part of Ireland's wider social and commercial history. During the 1913 Dublin Lockout, James Larkin published a pamphlet warning Eason against stocking newspapers associated with William Martin Murphy. The episode illustrates the visibility of the company as a distributor and bookseller during a period when retail channels and newspaper circulation had political significance. For much of its existence, Eason owned and operated its shops directly. From the mid-2000s, it began using franchising to expand into additional retail units. This produced a mixed estate of company-operated and independently operated shops trading under the Eason name. In 2019, the company purchased six shops that had previously operated under franchise arrangements, located in Kilkenny, Clonmel, Balbriggan, Maynooth and Arklow. It also added franchise locations in Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford. The resulting network included both directly managed stores and franchise partners. Eason's activities historically extended beyond storefront retail. Its former Eason News Distribution division was involved in newspaper and magazine distribution, with related operations in Dublin and the Munster region. Eason combined its Irish newspaper and magazine wholesale activities with John Menzies in EM News Distribution. In 2017, Menzies Distribution purchased Eason's share, ending Eason's direct participation in that joint distribution structure. The company also operated outside the core Irish Eason estate. Its British Bookshops & Sussex Stationers business, which operated outlets in south-east England, was sold to Endless PLC in May 2009. Eason Advertising Services, a niche advertising unit, closed in 2010. In the airport-retail segment, Eason acquired seven Hughes & Hughes airport shops after Hughes & Hughes entered administration in early 2010, but Eason later lost the tender to operate those bookshops in 2013. The Eason and Son Northern Ireland division operated a chain of shops, including outlets that had previously traded under the NPO UK stationery format. A structural reorganisation took place after shareholders approved a sale-and-leaseback of principally owned shops in 2018. The trading business was separated as Eason Retail PLC, while Eason Holdings became a property-focused entity holding shareholder-related assets. Eason Holdings entered voluntary liquidation in 2020 to facilitate a cash distribution to shareholders from property-sale proceeds generated since late 2018. The arrangement separated retail operations from a substantial part of the company's property ownership. Eason's most significant recent expansion has been in specialist bookselling. In February 2020, it acquired Dubray Books, a rival founded in 1973 with its first shop in Bray. Dubray remained a distinct customer-facing brand, with a narrower emphasis on books than the broader Eason format. Eason expanded Dubray in 2022 with shops in Dundrum, Cork and Dublin's Henry Street. In September 2023, Dubray acquired Gutter Bookshop and its two locations in Dublin city centre and Dalkey. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major contraction in Eason's Northern Irish presence. Seven shops closed on 23 March 2020 in line with government restrictions, and the company announced on 15 July that the stores would not reopen. In the Republic of Ireland, the business continued to operate its store network and online channel. Eason Online recorded record revenues and high profitability in 2021. The available reference material describes Eason as employing approximately 600 people, operating 54 main-brand Irish shops and recording turnover of €104 million in the year ended January 2022. It remains privately owned and headquartered in Swords, County Dublin.
- 2023
Dubray acquires Gutter Bookshop
[1]Dubray expanded its specialist bookselling presence through the acquisition of Gutter Bookshop and two Dublin-area shops.
- 2022
Dubray reaches 11 shops
[1]Three new Dubray shops opened in Dundrum, Cork and Dublin's Henry Street.
- 2020
Dubray Books joins Eason
[1]Eason acquired Dubray Books and retained the business as a separate specialist bookselling brand.
- 2019
Eason expands its directly acquired store estate
[1]Six shops previously operated under franchise agreements were purchased by Eason, while additional franchise locations were added.
- 2018
Shareholders approve a sale-and-leaseback structure
[1]The company separated its retail trading activities from property assets through a sale-and-leaseback and related corporate restructuring.
- 2017
Menzies acquires Eason's EM News interest
[1]Menzies Distribution purchased Eason's share in the combined newspaper and magazine distribution operation.
- 2009
British Bookshops & Sussex Stationers is sold
[1]Eason sold its south-east England book and stationery business to Endless PLC.
- 1913
Eason is mentioned during the Dublin Lockout
[1]James Larkin issued a pamphlet warning Eason about stocking newspapers linked to William Martin Murphy during the labour dispute.
- 1886
Charles Eason acquires the Irish W. H. Smith operation
[1]Charles Eason purchased W. H. Smith's Irish business, forming the foundation of Eason & Son.
Products and positioning
A nationwide Irish omnichannel retailer combining general bookselling with newspapers, magazines, stationery, cards, gifts and related everyday products, while operating Dubray as a more book-focused specialist brand.
General specialty retail
Eason Stores
The main Eason store format sells a broad mix of books, newspapers, magazines, stationery, greeting cards, gifts and related products. The estate includes high-street shops, shopping-centre units and transport-linked locations, including the flagship store on Dublin's O'Connell Street. Eason's proposition combines book retail with frequently purchased print, school, office and gifting products.
E-commerce
Eason Online
Eason's online business provides digital access to its retail assortment, particularly books and stationery, while extending the reach of the physical store network. The online operation became increasingly important during and after the pandemic and recorded strong revenue and profitability in 2021.
Specialist bookselling · 1973
Dubray Books
Dubray is Eason's separately branded specialist bookselling chain. Founded in 1973, it operates physical bookshops and an online business with a stronger focus on books than the broader Eason format. The brand expanded under Eason ownership and reached 11 shops in 2022 before acquiring Gutter Bookshop in 2023.
Wholesale distribution
Newspaper and magazine distribution
Eason historically operated newspaper and magazine wholesale distribution activities in Ireland, including operations associated with Dublin and the Munster region. These interests were combined with John Menzies in EM News Distribution, and Eason's stake was sold to Menzies in 2017.
Brand decisions
2020
Acquire Dubray BooksM&ABackground
Eason sought to expand its position in Irish bookselling through the purchase of rival chain Dubray Books.
Action taken
Eason acquired Dubray in February 2020 and continued operating it under its established name.
Aftermath
Dubray remained a book-focused brand and expanded to 11 shops in 2022 before acquiring Gutter Bookshop in 2023.
2020
Exit the Northern Ireland shop estateStrategyBackground
Eason temporarily closed seven Northern Irish shops on 23 March 2020 in response to COVID-19 restrictions.
Action taken
On 15 July 2020, the company announced that the Northern Irish shops would not reopen.
Aftermath
The decision reduced Eason's geographic retail footprint, leaving the Irish Republic as its principal operating market.
2018
Separate retail operations from property holdingsStrategyBackground
Eason's shareholders approved a sale-and-leaseback involving primarily company-owned shops, creating a trading company and a separate property-holding structure.
Action taken
Retail activities were conducted through Eason Retail PLC, while property assets were placed in Eason Holdings.
Aftermath
Eason Holdings entered voluntary liquidation in 2020 to support a cash distribution to shareholders from property-sale proceeds.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Eason launches Our Story in Books[3]
Eason launched Our Story in Books, a curated collection spotlighting literary, social and cultural movements that have shaped modern Ireland.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Eason acquires Dubray Books[4]
Eason bought the Dubray Books brand and its stores. Dubray was to remain a separate brand and operate as normal.
Sources4 sources
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