In response to the rising popularity of DVD movie sales, Baker & Taylor is beginning to market its 200,000 DVD, VHS and music titles that are sold by its entertainment division to book customers. Under the program, current booksellers do not need to open a new account or receive a new line of credit. Moreover, the company is offering a $100 credit to current customers' book accounts if they purchase $1,000 worth of video product before November 15.
As the DVD format has been adopted by consumers, sales of movies and other titles in DVD have been a strong seller at a time when related products, such as music, are down. B&T Retail president Jim Ulsamer noted that booksellers have expressed "tremendous interest" in DVDs in recent months. Besides titles that should appeal to bookstore customers, such as the first installments of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, the company said it believes titles in other areas, including childcare and parenting, health and wellness, and documentary, will fit in well in bookstores.
