Orell Füssli Publishing

In contrast to earlier crisis years, the effects of the current economic situation left clear traces in sales and operating profit, especially in the picture book, schoolbook and special publications programmes. The Huber publishing house in Frauenfeld also failed to achieve its targets. Sales at Photoglob declined steeply in the first five months, and it was not until June that monthly sales figures regained the previous year’s levels.

Overall sales were 6.2% lower at CHF 21.1 million, resulting in a loss of CHF 0.2 million.

Events:

The outstanding feature of 2009 was René Zeyer’s book entitled “Bank-Banker-Bankrupt”, with sales of 40 000 copies, which earned him a place in the “Spiegel” bestseller list. This title appeared in January 2009, at the height of the financial crisis. This secured the author appearances on Swiss TV and on numerous German TV and radio stations. The subject matter of Amir Weitmann’s biography entitled “Madoff. Swindler of the Century” was similar. The book came out at the beginning of December 2009 and can probably still look forward to wider sales. Christoph von Marschall followed up his book on Barack Obama in 2007 with a volume on Michelle Obama, which has already sold very successfully in two editions. Other major sources of revenue were well-known long sellers in the schoolbook, picture book and legal sectors.

The second large Photochrom picture book entitled “Switzerland: 1886 to 1911” appeared promptly for Christmas and also met with a considerable media response.