Buchgemeinschaft Donauland

Buchgemeinschaft Donauland, commonly known as Donauland, is a leading Austrian media provider headquartered in Vienna. Founded in 1950 by Rudolf Kremayr and Wilhelm Scheriau, it operates as a book club that offers books to members at reduced prices compared to regular bookstores. The club's model relies on a large membership base and purchase commitments from members. Over the decades, Donauland expanded its reach, forming partnerships and mergers, notably with Bertelsmann's book clubs. It grew to become the only major book club in Austria after the decline of Büchergilde Gutenberg. In the 1990s, it expanded into Hungary and the Czech Republic. In 2001, it became part of Bertelsmann's DirectGroup. However, due to declining membership and the rise of internet commerce, Donauland closed all its physical stores in 2010 and shifted to a mail-order and online business. In 2015, Martin Scheriau, son of co-founder Wilhelm Scheriau, bought back Bertelsmann's shares, returning the company to family ownership. Today, Donauland continues to serve its members through catalogs, mailings, and its website, often collaborating with popular artists.

Buchgemeinschaft Donauland was founded in 1950 by Rudolf Kremayr and Wilhelm Scheriau, with the associated publishing house Kremayr & Scheriau established in 1951. The founders emphasized personal customer service through company employees and payment in three monthly installments. The first title was 'Eva Faschaunerin', a novel by Carinthian author Maria Steurer. Initially, the company targeted rural-alpine audiences and authors with nationalist leanings. By 1954, the first bookstore opened in Vienna on Wipplingerstraße. Membership grew rapidly, reaching 310,000 members, 154 Vienna supervisors, and 700 local agencies with 840 supervisors. In 1956, Donauland achieved a sensational success with 158,000 copies sold of Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind'. The record community founded that year was merged with the book club in 1963. Facing difficulties in obtaining licenses for international bestsellers, Donauland cooperated with Bertelsmann's Europaring book club in 1966, which improved the quality of offerings. In 1969, Donauland merged with Bertelsmann Club and Europaring Salzburg. After growth in the 1970s, the Donauland Foundation was established in 1975 for the 25th anniversary, awarding the DANUBIUS Donauland non-fiction prize until 2016. In 1980, Donauland received the State Award and could use the federal coat of arms. In 1985, 'Österreich II' by Hugo Portisch achieved record sales of 320,000 copies. In 1989, it took over the Deutsche Buchgemeinschaft in Austria and South Tyrol, and in 1990 the Austrian branch of Deutscher Bücherbund. After the decline of Büchergilde Gutenberg, Donauland became the only major book club in Austria. In 1992, it founded Magyar Könyvklub in Hungary and Knižní Klub in the Czech Republic, each reaching about 500,000 members after two years. From January 1, 2001, Donauland belonged to Bertelsmann's DirectGroup, led by Fernando Caro. Due to declining membership worldwide, Bertelsmann CEO Hartmut Ostrowski decided in 2008 to withdraw from the music business (Sony BMG) and the book club business (DirectGroup). In 2010, Donauland announced the closure of all Austrian branches due to increasing internet business, continuing as a pure mail-order company with catalog and webshop. Member support was merged with the German Club Bertelsmann. The Donauland brand and independent catalog were retained. In 2011, the book clubs were dissolved as a separate business segment within Bertelsmann. In 2014, it was announced that Club Bertelsmann in Germany, including Donauland and NSB, would close by the end of 2015. Martin Scheriau, son of founder Wilhelm Scheriau, succeeded in buying back Bertelsmann's shares in the publishing house Kremayr & Scheriau in 2002 and in Buchgemeinschaft Donauland in 2015, returning them to family ownership. Member support moved back to Vienna, and Martin Scheriau took over management. He cooperated with S24D Shop24Direct GmbH in Vienna for support, logistics, marketing, and shipping. Since then, both companies have served members, regularly publishing special editions and cooperating with popular music artists such as Die Seer in 2019. Member support is provided through monthly mail-order catalogs in various formats, postal mailings, and email newsletters. The website is also maintained.

• 2016

  DANUBIUS prize discontinued

• 2015

  Martin Scheriau bought back Bertelsmann shares, returning to family ownership

• 2011

  Book clubs dissolved as separate business segment within Bertelsmann

• 2010

  Closed all physical stores, shifted to mail-order and online

• 2008

  Bertelsmann decided to withdraw from book club business

• 2001

  Became part of Bertelsmann's DirectGroup

• 1992

  Founded Magyar Könyvklub in Hungary and Knižní Klub in Czech Republic

• 1990

  Took over Austrian branch of Deutscher Bücherbund

• 1989

  Took over Deutsche Buchgemeinschaft in Austria and South Tyrol

• 1985

  Record sales of 'Österreich II' by Hugo Portisch (320,000 copies)

• 1980

  Received State Award, allowed to use federal coat of arms

• 1975

  Donauland Foundation established; DANUBIUS prize launched

• 1969

  Merger with Bertelsmann Club and Europaring Salzburg

• 1966

  Cooperation with Bertelsmann's Europaring book club

• 1963

  Record community merged with book club

• 1956

  Sensational success with 'Gone with the Wind' (158,000 copies sold)

• 1954

  First bookstore opened in Vienna

• 1951

  Publishing house Kremayr & Scheriau established

• 1950

  Founded by Rudolf Kremayr and Wilhelm Scheriau

Book club offering discounted books and media to members in Austria and beyond.

• Books

  Discounted books offered to members

• Music recordings

  Records and music media

• Special editions

  Special editions often in cooperation with artists

1. 1Buchgemeinschaft Donauland - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Buchgemeinschaft Donauland - Wikidatawikidata.org