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ABC Shops are set to close throughout Australia and the Dymocks book chain will take over the sale of ABC Products.
ABC sources said yesterday the 43 stores would close once the decision was formally approved by the ABC board on May 20.
It will extend an existing arrangement under which 23 Dymocks stores around Australia already have sections dedicated to selling ABC products.
Dymocks cheif executive office Don Grover said: "We would like a greater prescence of the ABC in our stores. We have had a great long-term relationship with the ABC and we are just extending the relationship".
Last financial year ABC Stores, ABC Centres and online sales generated a $3.3 million net profit, with a gross revenue increase of 7.2 per cent on the previous year. All profits were reinvested into ABC programming.
Glenys Stradijot of the Friends of ABC said the group was not concerned with the commercial interests of the ABC. "We believe the ABC should be focused on producing and broadcasting quality programs and not on making money", she said.
The British public broadcaster BBC closed its shops in March last year in favour of online sales.
The Sun Herald May 11, 2008.
