"Our focus is on costs and margins," said New Leaf Distributing Company president and CEO Alim Thomson, who rejoined the company last November, shortly before it was purchased by Shakti LLC. "New Leaf lost a lot of money last year," he continued. "We've got things much more stabilized. I'm really pleased with the progress we've made." Now New Leaf, which specializes in New Age books, recorded media and sidelines, has begun to concentrate on upgrading its computers systems and on marketing to the West Coast, where uncertainty over Bookpeople's future has created openings for other distributors. "We've always had people on the West Coast say they'd do more business with us if they could get books more quickly," said Thomson. To do so, the company upgraded its distribution center processes over the summer and signed an agreement with FedEx to ensure same-week delivery to California. Stores that place their orders by Monday at 11 a.m. Pacific time will get them filled by Friday. New Leaf already offers free freight to stores that order more than $3,500 a month.