diff --git a/src/core/excelreader.cpp b/src/core/excelreader.cpp
index 37e2d80..c388d3e 100644
--- a/src/core/excelreader.cpp
+++ b/src/core/excelreader.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "excelreader.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 #include <xlnt/xlnt.hpp>
 #include <fstream>
@@ -40,8 +41,10 @@ void ExcelReader::readSellersFromFile(const fs::path& filePath, Marketplace* mar
         seller->createUuid();
         seller->setSellerNo(row[0].value<int>());
         seller->setNumArticlesOffered(row[1].value<int>());
-        seller->setFirstName(row[2].value<std::string>());
-        seller->setLastName(row[3].value<std::string>());
+        std::string firstName = row[2].value<std::string>();
+        seller->setFirstName(trim(firstName));
+        std::string lastName = row[3].value<std::string>();
+        seller->setLastName(trim(lastName));
         market->getSellers().push_back(std::move(seller));
         rowCount++;
     }
diff --git a/src/core/utils.cpp b/src/core/utils.cpp
index b983423..ccb0d34 100644
--- a/src/core/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/utils.cpp
@@ -44,3 +44,20 @@ std::optional<PrinterDevice> convertToPosPrinterDevice(const std::string& device
 
     return printerDevice;
 }
+
+std::string& ltrim(std::string& str, const std::string& chars)
+{
+    str.erase(0, str.find_first_not_of(chars));
+    return str;
+}
+ 
+std::string& rtrim(std::string& str, const std::string& chars)
+{
+    str.erase(str.find_last_not_of(chars) + 1);
+    return str;
+}
+ 
+std::string& trim(std::string& str, const std::string& chars)
+{
+    return ltrim(rtrim(str, chars), chars);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/utils.h b/src/core/utils.h
index ff15359..f227da4 100644
--- a/src/core/utils.h
+++ b/src/core/utils.h
@@ -10,5 +10,8 @@
 std::string formatCentAsEuroString(const int cent, int width = 10);
 std::optional<PrinterDevice> convertToPosPrinterDevice(const std::string& vendor,
                                                        const std::string& endpoint);
+std::string& ltrim(std::string& str, const std::string& chars = "\t\n\v\f\r ");
+std::string& rtrim(std::string& str, const std::string& chars = "\t\n\v\f\r ");
+std::string& trim(std::string& str, const std::string& chars = "\t\n\v\f\r ");
 
 #endif