Books Flat at BAM
-- Publishers Weekly, 6/22/2009
In its first-quarter filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Books-A-Million broke out sales by segment for the first time. Books and magazines accounted for just over 82% in the first quarter ended May 2, slightly less than in the comparable period of 2008. Sales of books and magazines were flat in the period at about $97 million. BAM, which had total revenue of $118.2 million, performed better in the first quarter compared to its larger rivals, Barnes & Noble and Borders, as BAM doesn’t sell music, which dragged down results at B&N and Borders.
BAM also breaks out sales through its stores and its Web site. BAM’s e-commerce arm typically generates modest sales, and in the first quarter, online sales fell 12%, to $5.5 million.
| Segment | 2009 | 2008 |
| Books and magazines | 82.2% | 83.7% |
| General merchandise | 7.7 | 7.1 |
| Café | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Other | 5.7 | 4.6 |
