Claudia Magauer & Stefanie Empl

“Once upon a time, long ago…” – that’s how the most wonderful stories often begin. Just like that of “Ellmauer Bookshop” – a story that dates back to 1983. “It had always been our father’s dream to run a bookshop,” says Claudia, recalling the time when her dad, together with his wife, devoted himself to building up the bookshop. She now runs the shop in Mittersill together with her sister Steffi, the youngest of the four siblings. Isabell looks after the branch in Zell am See. And their mum is happy to lend a hand. “Even though she’s certainly earned her retirement, we’re not letting her step back completely just yet,” smiles Claudia.

Apart from her family, her world revolves around new releases, bestsellers, special titles and – her customers’ wishes. “Over the past year in particular, we’ve seen just how valuable it is to be able to rely on our customers. In return, they can also rely on us at all times, and that suits us just fine.” The enforced closure was a major challenge for the family-run business – but perhaps precisely because of this, they pulled out all the stops to continue meeting their customers’ needs without compromise, even during this period. “You have to be resourceful if you want to survive as a business selling non-everyday goods,” says Claudia thoughtfully. “We’ve given it our all, and we’re incredibly proud of that now – especially of our staff, whom we can rely on 100 per cent,” adds Steffi with a smile.
“We’ve sent product photos via WhatsApp, given advice over the phone, and ordered and set aside goods.” Despite the current online hype, Claudia and Steffi feel that a shift in mindset has taken place. “Many of our customers have thanked us in person; regulars are coming back with beaming faces to browse and have a chat, and we’ve also managed to attract new customers.” They are delighted to see that people are increasingly making a conscious effort to go shopping and support the local economy. And there’s a wide variety on offer: alongside the extensive range of books, it’s above all the lovingly selected gift items, games, craft ideas and classic school and office supplies that delight their customers.