More booksellers than ever participated in the most recent ABACUS study, the annual survey of ABA members' finances.
This year's results, according to Bookselling This Week, in percentage terms "show a continued trend of rising gross margins that is offset by increased operating expenses, leading to a small decline in net income." Although the association is not sure whether in dollar terms operating expenses have risen or sales have fallen, it did note that a sampling of the 90 stores that have participated in ABACUS surveys each of the last three years shows that in dollar terms, "sales have remained relatively flat while operating expenses have increased."
Payroll and occupancy expenses continue to represent "the two most significant expenses for almost all stores." Some 30% of the stores reporting were highly profitable (with an average net income of 6.66% of total sales), 40% were in the middle ground (0.27% average net income), and 30% were in the lowest area (-9.41%).
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Arrivederci, Da Vinci. The New York Times notes that this Sunday, for the first time in 136 weeks, The Da Vinci Code will not be on its bestseller list. The tome ranked 16th on the 15-place tabulation. The movie based on the book should appear next spring.
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The Detroit News offers a long profile of a new business created by former Apple Book Center owner Sherry McGee--AppleKids--to promote reading and writing in more than 30 schools. AppleKids centers on a series of books McGee has written starring characters who like various academic subjects.
This year's results, according to Bookselling This Week, in percentage terms "show a continued trend of rising gross margins that is offset by increased operating expenses, leading to a small decline in net income." Although the association is not sure whether in dollar terms operating expenses have risen or sales have fallen, it did note that a sampling of the 90 stores that have participated in ABACUS surveys each of the last three years shows that in dollar terms, "sales have remained relatively flat while operating expenses have increased."
Payroll and occupancy expenses continue to represent "the two most significant expenses for almost all stores." Some 30% of the stores reporting were highly profitable (with an average net income of 6.66% of total sales), 40% were in the middle ground (0.27% average net income), and 30% were in the lowest area (-9.41%).
---
Arrivederci, Da Vinci. The New York Times notes that this Sunday, for the first time in 136 weeks, The Da Vinci Code will not be on its bestseller list. The tome ranked 16th on the 15-place tabulation. The movie based on the book should appear next spring.
---
The Detroit News offers a long profile of a new business created by former Apple Book Center owner Sherry McGee--AppleKids--to promote reading and writing in more than 30 schools. AppleKids centers on a series of books McGee has written starring characters who like various academic subjects.