-
Off and Running
Despite the odds—the growth of e-books, rising rent, and online discounting—bookstores continue to open and succeed. Speaking at the American Booksellers Association Forum in Medford, Mass., last month, ABA CEO Oren Teicher affirmed that membership in the organization has “stabilized,” and the number of bookstores is up slightly. PW contacted new bookseller/owners who have joined ABA over the past 18 months. Many are filling a void created by the collapse of Borders. Rebecca Glenn and Pete Ledesma, owners of the Book Frog, both worked for Borders stores. Some like Jennifer Cook, owner of Little Joe’s Books, are dipping their toes into the business for the first time and others have previously owned bookstores. A key for all, though, seems to be to think small, 400 to 2,700 sq. ft.
-
Max Sound to Launch Online Audiobook Store
Max Sound Corp., a provider of high-definition audio solutions, is preparing to launch the MAXD Store, an online audiobook marketplace.
-
Bookmasters Titles to Be Available on EBM
Bookmasters is making its distribution clients’ more than 50,000 POD titles available through the EBM “digital-to-print at retail” sales channel.
-
McGraw-Hill Launches E-books Project with Univ. of Minn.
As part of a two-year partnership, McGraw-Hill Education is making its e-books available to students at the University of Minnesota at a discounted rate.
-
The Changing Online Mix
According to the newest figures from Bowker Market Research, online retailers accounted for 39% of all book sales in 2011, up from 30% in 2010. The increase gave the online channel, led by Amazon and BN.com, a commanding lead over bookstore chains as the largest outlet for sales. The chains, weakened by the loss of Borders in the year, accounted for only 26% of sales, down from 29% in 2010. Data from Bowker, and other sources, suggest that the gains posted by the e-tailers are being driven mostly by e-book sales. Furthermore, the online channel, much like its bricks-and-mortar competitors, is seeing, if not a decline in print book sales, at least slowing growth.
-
The Paper Store
Paper stores were originally news agents selling newspapers, magazines, and cigars. But no more, at least for the Paper Store, headquartered in Acton, Mass. Ever since Bob Anderson, fresh out of college, purchased the original 700 sq. ft. Paper Store in Maynard, Mass., in 1964, he has tinkered with size, format, and product mix to turn it into one of the largest regional chains—and one of the fastest growing retailers—in New England. The company now has more than 1,000 employees and continues to hire as it expands.
-
On the Road: Politics & Prose
Washington, D.C.’s Politics & Prose is offering overseas tours with curated reading lists and book discussions to Ireland, France, India, and Israel.
-
BAM Forms Committee As Offer Comes Under Attack
Books-A-Million’s board of directors has formed a two-person special committee to examine the proposal made by the Anderson family last week to acquire all the outstanding shares of the book retailer for $3.05 per share. The announcement comes as the offer comes under attack as undervalued from a number of different quarters.
-
Revenue Up at Monsoon
Monsoon Commerce, which facilitates the sale of used and new products through its online marketplace, reported a 73% increase in first quarter merchant sales of general merchandise. Sales of media products, including books, rose 9% in the period.
-
Ingram Launches iPage Upgrade
Ingram Content Group has launched a new and comprehensively redesigned version of iPage, its online search, order, and account management site.
-
News Briefs: Week of May 7, 2012
Amazon Starts Strong and more
-
Used-Book Stores in the Digital Age
Even though they’re a niche business, used-book stores have not been immune to the twin threats of the Kindle and the recession, which forced a number of stores to close. Like their new-book colleagues, used-book sellers are looking to new products and business models to survive and thrive. Many have turned to online selling through Abe, Amazon, and eBay. In areas where the recession is starting to recede, some are expanding their physical footprint. Others with relatively flat sales like Half Price Books, the largest independent bookstore chain in the country, continue to re-evaluate their business.
-
Points of Sale: Pages of Promise
Lemuria Books in Jackson, Miss., has found a way to connect with the community and promote literacy by partnering with the United Way for its Pages of Promise Book Drive to give every student in grades K-12 in the Jackson school system—where 80% of the kids live on or below the poverty line—a book for summer reading.
-
HMH Partners with B&N on Digital Bundles for Schools
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will provide age-appropriate digital content for grades K-12 that has been pre-loaded for classrooms on NOOK Readers.
-
Curiosity House Bookstore Closing
At the end of May, Curiosity House Books and Gallery in Creemore, Ontario will close following 17 years of business. Partners Catherine Randall, Miriam Vince, Rowlie Fleming, and Tom Vandewater made the decision following six months of trying to find a new location and new owners, but have decided to end their search.
-
Gibson’s to More Than Double in Size
With high double-digit sales since Borders closed, Michael Herrmann, owner of Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, N.H., will expand his store to 10,000 sq. ft. next spring.
-
Anderson Family Makes Offer to Buy Books-A-Million
Lost in the Barnes & Noble-Microsoft deal Monday morning was the news that the Anderson family, the controlling shareholders in Books-A-Million, have made a proposal to take the company private by acquiring all outstanding shares for $3.05 a share.
-
Mystery Lovers Bookshop Has New Owner
Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pa., has a new owner, former bookseller and librarian Laurie Miller Stephens of Dallas, Tex.
Browse archive by date:
