Not even Harper Lee could save BAM in Q2

Books-A-Million needs a lot 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’sGo Set A Watchmanand E.L. James’Grey,we were not able to fully offset the significant prior year media driven sales of John Green'sFault In Our Stars,Veronica Roth’sDivergentseries and Todd Burpo’sHeaven 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.”