Lack of hit books hits Books-A-Million

Birmingham, Ala. – Books-A-Million needs more best-sellers.



A lack of hit books hit fiscal results of Books-A-Million Inc. during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net loss grew to $5.8 million from $3 million the same quarter a year earlier, with costs and expenses rising or staying flat in the face of slipping revenues.



Net sales dipped to $107.9 million, from $108.3 million. Same-store sales dropped 0.3%.



“While we benefitted late in the quarter from the phenomenal success of Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman and E.L. James’ Grey, we were not able to fully offset the significant prior year media driven sales of John Green's Fault In Our Stars, Veronica Roth’s Divergent series and Todd Burpo’s Heaven Is For Real,” said Terrance G. Finley, president and CEO. “Again, this quarter we saw strong performances in our cafés and in our general merchandise departments.”