Ex Libris

Ex Libris is a Swiss media and specialty-retail brand associated with the Migros Group. Its business has historically combined physical retailing with mail-order and online commerce, focusing on books and a broad range of entertainment and consumer-media products. The brand operates primarily in Switzerland and has been particularly associated with the German-speaking part of the country. The modern Ex Libris organization developed from the former Buchclub Ex Libris. In 1949, Gottlieb and Adele Duttweiler, the founders of Migros, shared the organization with the Migros group, and it was integrated into Migros in 1956. In its earlier book-club and publishing-related activities, Ex Libris offered licensed editions from important German-language publishers at accessible prices. Its catalogue covered literature as well as subjects such as art, history, sociology, and children's books. The business also supported selected Swiss literary activity: a lower-risk publishing structure enabled editions by younger Swiss authors, while the “ch” series was intended to encourage cultural exchange among Switzerland's linguistic regions. From 1979 to 1983, Ex Libris published “Frühling der Gegenwart,” a 30-volume series of new editions of Swiss novels and short stories originally published between 1890 and 1950. Ex Libris expanded beyond books into recorded music in 1952. It initially sold classical vinyl records imported from the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, with sleeves designed by Swiss graphic artists. The range later broadened to selected dance, jazz, and pop recordings. Physical music retail eventually declined, and the remaining vinyl stock was sold through Ex Libris stores around 1990. The brand's later assortment has included printed books, films on DVD and Blu-ray, music, video games, consumer electronics, licensed digital downloads, and video-on-demand services. Ex Libris introduced video on demand in 2015. Its online shop has been positioned as a large Swiss marketplace for books, music, films, games, and electronics, while also offering a substantial digital-download catalogue. Mobile access and online ordering have become increasingly important as consumers have shifted from traditional stores toward digital and e-commerce channels. This shift created significant pressure on the physical branch network. On 10 January 2018, Ex Libris announced a major restructuring in response to changing retail conditions. The plan reduced the number of stores from 57 in 2017 to 14 and eliminated 114 full-time-equivalent positions. Online revenue had grown by 8 percent in 2017 and reached a record level, but this growth did not offset weaker physical retail performance. Stationery sales had fallen by roughly one-third over the preceding three years on both reported and like-for-like measures. The restructuring therefore represented a strategic move toward a more digitally focused, lower-cost operating model rather than an abandonment of the brand's core media categories. Ex Libris remains a Migros-owned Swiss retail brand whose identity combines affordable media products, a broad online assortment, and a legacy of book publishing and cultural distribution. Publicly available reference material supports its continuing operation, but does not establish a current store count, current executive roster, or detailed financial profile.

Ex Libris is a Swiss book and media retailer whose history is closely connected with Migros and with the development of affordable cultural distribution in Switzerland. The brand's predecessor was the Buchclub Ex Libris. In 1949, Migros founders Gottlieb and Adele Duttweiler shared the organization with Migros, and the business was integrated into the Migros group in 1956. This connection gave Ex Libris access to the resources of Switzerland's largest retail group while allowing it to develop a specialized identity around books and media. During its early period, Ex Libris concentrated on book-club and publishing activities. It supplied licensed editions of works from major German-language publishers, covering mainstream literature and specialist fields such as art, history, sociology, and children's literature. The value proposition was based on making important works available at relatively low prices. Its publishing structure also helped reduce the commercial risk of issuing books by younger Swiss authors. In addition, Ex Libris created the “ch” edition to support cultural exchange between Switzerland's four language regions. Between 1979 and 1983, the company published “Frühling der Gegenwart,” a 30-volume series presenting new editions of Swiss novels and short stories from the period 1890–1950. Ex Libris entered recorded music in 1952. The first records were classical releases imported from Britain, France, and the United States. Their packaging used covers created by Swiss graphic designers, giving the music business a distinct visual character. The catalogue subsequently expanded into selected dance, jazz, and pop recordings. As consumer behavior and music formats changed, physical record sales declined; the last vinyl stocks were sold in Ex Libris stores around 1990. Over time, Ex Libris became a broader media retailer. Its assortment came to include books, films, music, games, electronics, and stationery. The company operated stores in Switzerland while also developing mail-order and online channels. Digital distribution became increasingly important, with licensed downloads of books and music complementing physical products. In 2015, Ex Libris added video on demand, extending the brand into streamed film and television-style content. The decisive strategic challenge in the 2010s was the migration of media and general retail demand to the internet. Ex Libris promoted its webshop as a major Swiss online destination for books, music, films, games, and electronics, and described its digital catalogue as comprising millions of downloadable products. Mobile commerce also became part of the customer proposition. At the same time, the economics of maintaining a large branch network deteriorated. On 10 January 2018, Ex Libris announced a substantial restructuring. The number of stores was to fall from 57 in 2017 to 14, accompanied by a reduction of 114 full-time-equivalent jobs. The decision followed weak physical retail results: although online revenue rose by 8 percent in 2017 and reached a record, it did not compensate for losses in stationery, whose sales had declined by approximately one-third over the previous three years on both total and like-for-like comparisons. The restructuring signaled a clear prioritization of e-commerce and a more concentrated physical presence. Ex Libris is therefore best understood as a Migros-owned multichannel brand rather than solely as a traditional bookshop. Its heritage includes publishing, literary access, physical music retail, and regional cultural initiatives; its contemporary proposition centers on online retail and digital media alongside a reduced Swiss store network. The available reference material does not provide a verified current store count, named current executives, or current financial statements.

• 2018

  Physical-store restructuring announced

  [1]Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org

  The company announced a reduction from 57 stores in 2017 to 14 and a cut of 114 full-time-equivalent positions.

• 2015

  Video-on-demand service introduced

  [1]Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org

  Ex Libris expanded its digital-media proposition by offering video-on-demand content.

• 1990

  End of vinyl retailing

  [1]Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org

  The remaining vinyl record inventory was sold through Ex Libris stores around this period.

• 1979

  Launch of “Frühling der Gegenwart” series

  [1]Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org

  Ex Libris began publishing a series of reissued Swiss novels and short stories from 1890 to 1950; the 30-volume series continued through 1983.

• 1956

  Integration into Migros

  [1]Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org

  The Buchclub Ex Libris was integrated into the Migros group.

• 1952

  Entry into recorded music

  [1]Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org

  Ex Libris began selling vinyl records, initially focusing on classical music and later adding selected dance, jazz, and pop releases.

• 1949

  Association with Migros begins

  [1]Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org

  Migros founders Gottlieb and Adele Duttweiler shared the Buchclub Ex Libris with the Migros group, beginning the organizational relationship that shaped the modern brand.

A Swiss, value-oriented multichannel retailer for books and media, combining a broad online assortment with a legacy physical-store network and selected digital services.

• Books and publishing

  Books

  Books are the historical core of Ex Libris. The business has offered German-language literature and subject areas including art, history, sociology, and children's books. Its earlier publishing and book-club activities emphasized accessible pricing and included selected Swiss literary works, while the modern retail proposition includes printed books sold through stores and the online shop.

• Digital media

  Digital books and music

  Ex Libris offers licensed digital downloads alongside physical media. The digital assortment extends the company's traditional book and music categories and supports its online-first retail model. The reference material describes a large digital catalogue, but does not provide independently verified current product counts.

• Home entertainment

  Films

  The film assortment has included physical releases on DVD and Blu-ray as well as digitally delivered entertainment. Films form part of Ex Libris's broader media-retail proposition, which brings together books, recorded music, games, and audiovisual products.

• Interactive entertainment

  Video games

  Video games are included in the brand's online and media assortment. They sit within Ex Libris's broader strategy of serving customers seeking multiple forms of entertainment through one Swiss retail and e-commerce destination.

• Consumer electronics

  Consumer electronics

  Ex Libris sells selected consumer-electronics products through its online assortment. Electronics broaden the company beyond cultural media and support its positioning as a general multimedia specialist rather than a narrowly defined book retailer.

• Streaming media · 2015

  Video on demand

  Introduced in 2015, video on demand added a direct digital-access service to Ex Libris's catalogue of physical and downloadable media. It reflects the company's response to the movement from packaged entertainment products toward online consumption.

• 2018

  Restructure the physical-store networkStrategy

  Background

  Ex Libris faced structural change in retail. Online revenue increased by 8 percent in 2017, but the growth did not compensate for weaker physical performance, including a roughly one-third decline in stationery sales over the prior three years.

  Action taken

  The company announced that its store network would be reduced from 57 locations in 2017 to 14, with 114 full-time-equivalent positions removed.

  Aftermath

  The decision accelerated Ex Libris's shift toward online retail and a more limited physical presence. The available source does not document the final implementation details beyond the announced plan.

  Source

• 2015

  Add video on demandProduct launch

  Background

  The retailer was expanding from physical books and media into digital distribution as consumer entertainment habits changed.

  Action taken

  Ex Libris introduced a video-on-demand offering.

  Aftermath

  Video on demand became part of the brand's broader digital-media proposition.

  Source

1. 1Ex Libris (bookshop)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ex Libris official websiteexlibris.ch