Intervisual Books managed to eke out a small profit for the third quarter ended September 30, as the company tries to rebound from a couple of disappointing years. Earnings in the quarter were $75,936, compared to a net loss of $293,821 in last year's third quarter. Sales in the period rose 83% to $6.6 million.
The company attributed the improved performance to results from Intervisual's Fast Forward Marketing unit, which it bought last May and which has had success selling Intervisual's self-published titles as well as videocassettes.
For the first nine months of the year, revenues were up 42% to $12.1 million, and the net loss was cut to $746,041 from $1.1 million in the same period in 1998.
Intervisual also announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with the World Wrestling Federation to create, produce and distribute Talking Collector Cards. Intervisual will initially distribute the cards, which are being manufactured by Micra Soundcards Inc. through the Bid.com Web site (www.bid.com). Retail distribution is set for spring 2000.
Each of the talking cards contains a sound chip that carries a message from the wrestler depicted on the card. The first three cards in the series will feature popular wrestlers Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and the Undertaker.
