![Les librairies Gibert placées en redressement judiciaire par le tribunal des affaires économiques [Sébastien DUPUY AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/128843391/e098fa5194e8aab61149768a4d41ead63565efc1fc6aaf26571dd7ec66b7ea9b)
Overview
- Gibert, which the Paris economic court approved for protection Tuesday, received a six‑month observation period that lets all stores keep trading during the overhaul.
- Judicial restructuring in France freezes debts and secures wages while court officers and the company draft a recovery plan.
- The bookseller plans to lean into used books and aims to double secondhand revenue from about €30 million in 2025 to €60 million by 2029, after used titles made up 35% of its €86 million sales last year.
- The company blames a drop in new‑book sales and higher fixed costs like rent and energy for a squeeze on margins, with online rivals drawing shoppers away.
- About 500 jobs across 16 stores are now in limbo until the court‑appointed process sets remedies, and staff representatives warn they will oppose any store closures.