Camera store founder saves Booktopia from financial collapse

Struggling book retailer Booktopia has been purchased by an electronics businessman after falling into voluntary administration earlier this year.

Beleaguered book seller Booktopia has been saved from collapse via a buyout from digiDirect founder Shant Kradjian.

The book chain went into voluntary administration in July.

A representative for Mr Kradjian said Kogan.com, Woolworths, Dymocks, and QBD Books were among the other entities bidding on the administrator’s tender.

DigiDirect founder Shant Kradjian has purchased Booktopia. Picture: Supplied

Booktopia was in financial strife as it struggled to find money for warehouse upgrades and pay redundancies for about 50 staff that were made in previous cost-cutting measures.

Share trading was frozen for two weeks before the administrators came in, as Booktopia slipped into insolvency. In its initial public offering in 2020, Booktopia issued shares at $2.30 and debuted on the ASX at $2.86. By mid-2024, shares had capitulated to $0.045.

Booktopia benefited hugely from a surge in book buying during the pandemic. Picture: Australia Post

Mr Kradjian finalised the purchase of all Booktopia assets on Friday.

“The transaction will result in the retention of all remaining employees … and continuity of supply for Booktopia’s trade creditors,” administrator Keith Crawford said.

About 100 new positions are expected to be created.

“We commend digiDirect’s owner Shant Kradjian and his team who moved quickly and professionally to complete due diligence and the transaction in collaboration with the administrators and Booktopia’s staff and key suppliers,” he said.

Mr Kradjian expects to create about 100 new positions at Booktopia and encouraged staff lost to redundancies to apply. Picture: Supplied

Mr Kradjian founded camera store digiDirect in 2006 at the age of 19, and today it has seven physical stores, a competitive online presence and 150 employees.

Booktopia itself was founded in Sydney in 2004.

Booktopia posted record profits during the Covid-19 pandemic and in 2021 it overtook Amazon in Australian market share for the book sector.

But building a robotic warehouse in Sydney became a big budget drainer, and as funds dried up, customers were left with unfilled orders.

Originally published as Camera store founder saves Booktopia from financial collapse