Boosted by $34.8 million in sales from Publishers Group West, total revenues at Advanced Marketing Services jumped 33.4%, to $219.2 million, for the second quarter ended September 28. Net income in the period rose 19.8%, to $4.4 million.

AMS president Mike Nicita said that in addition to the contribution from PGW, sales benefited from strong gains from its core domestic customers as well as higher international sales. The gain in earnings was due in part to a decline in the return rate, from 24% to 22%, as well as increased sales from higher-margin product in the U.S. and abroad.

For the first half of fiscal 2003, net income inched up 0.4%, to $6.8 million, on a 32.1% revenue gain, to $411 million.