After a string of weak monthly sales performances, Barnes & Noble announced that comparable-store sales at its superstores jumped 10.5% in June, driven by the phenomenal success of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Even without Phoenix, however, B&N's superstores had a strong month, with same-store sales ahead 4.9%. Besides Phoenix, other top sellers in June included Living History, Benjamin Franklin, Treason and two Oprah recommendations, East of Eden and The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child.
At B&N's Dalton division, same-store sales were up 9.7% in June, but would have been down 5% without Phoenix.
