Ingram Publisher Services Adds Three

Ingram Publisher Services has added three new clients-- Australian Academic Press, Dark Coast Press, and Pineapple Press.

Barnes & Noble Sees Revenue of $9 Billion in Fiscal 2014

With digital sales leading the way, Barnes & Noble CFO Joe Lombardi said that by fiscal 2014 total revenue at the company will hit $8.9 billion from the $5.8 billion achieved in the just concluded fiscal year and the $7.1 billion forecast for fiscal 2011. EBITDA will grow to over $500 million from $281 million in fiscal 2010. In fiscal 2014, retail stores, both trade and college, will contribute 69% of revenue compared to 90% of revenue in 2010.

Barnes & Noble Bets on B&N.com

With Barnes & Noble.com having easily the best year in its history in the fiscal year ended May 1, the nation's largest book retailer is looking for even bigger gains in its online unit in the current fiscal year. Sales at B&N.com rose 24% in the year, to $573 million and the company projected that B&N.com could hit sales of $1 billion this year. Sales at B&N trade stores were $4.3 billion this year with comp sales down 4.8%.

Audio Has Mixed 2009

Unit sales of audiobooks rose 4.7% in 2009, but sales fell 12% as audiobook publishers cut prices on selected titles and the number of lower-priced digital downloads increased, the Audio Publishers Association reported this morning. Digital downloads represented 49% of units sold in 2009, but only 29% of revenue. CD sales represented 46% of units sold and 65% of revenue. Digital downloads made up 21% of revenue in 2008, while CDs accounted for 72%.

Investor Group to Acquire Alloy for $126 Million

Alloy Inc., whose products aimed at young adults and older include Gossip Girl and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, has agreed to be acquired by an investor group led by ZelnickMedia in a deal valued at $126.5 million. According to a statement, the new owners, which include members of Alloy’s senior management team, “aim to build Alloy into a leading entertainment and media brand for the millennial generation (ages 10-29).” The company had sales of $205 million in the fiscal year ended January 31 and an operating loss of $2.4 million.

Wiley Looks for More Gains After Solid Fiscal '10

AAP Annual Sales Report

Bottomline Improves at Nebraska Book Company

Revenue at the Nebraska Book Company slipped to $605.5 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 from $610.7 million in the previous year, but the company posted net income of $2.3 million compared to a loss of $110.5 million, a figure that included a write-down of $107 million. Adjusted EDITDA was $73.4 million in fiscal 2010, up from $71 million.

Sales, Earnings Up at Wiley in Fiscal 2010

With gains in all three of its operating divisions, John Wiley reported this morning that total revenue for the year ended April 30 rose 5% to $1.70 billion, while net income increased 12% to $143.5 million. Excluding currency fluctuations, revenue rose 4% in the year. In a statement, Wiley CEO Will Pesce said the company's fiscal 2010 performance "is a compelling story about the quality of our content and its value to our customers; effective execution of Wiley's digital strategy and business models; and the strength of our company's culture."

E-Book Sales Grew in April, But More Slowly

E-book sales in April rose 127.9%, to $27.4 million, at the 13 publishers who supply results to the AAP's monthly sales report. The increase was the slowest in the year, but for the four month period e-book sales from reporting publishers were up 217.3% to $117.8 million compared to the same period in 2010.

Nelson Gets New Owner; Friedman Named to Board

Kohlberg & Co. has acquired a majority interest in Thomas Nelson, in a deal the religion book publisher said will eliminate much of its long-term debt. Along with its investment, Kohlberg named several new board members, including Jane Friedman, who oversaw Nelson rival Zondervan when she headed HarperCollins. Kohlberg is a major investor in Friedman's new company, Open Road Integrated Media.

F+W Media Restructures Debt; Nussbaum Heads New Board

F+W Media, Inc. said Friday that it has restructured its debt, a process that cut its debt by 50% and led to the appointment of a new board that is now headed by F+W CEO David Nussbaum. As part of the financial restructuring, ABRY Partners is now no longer the lead shareholder for F+W, although it will retain a small share of the company. "I have worked with the ABRY team for many years--prior to and during my time at F+W," said Nussbaum. "While they will no longer represent our majority ownership, we are grateful for their leadership and their support of the business during the past five years, and will remain trusted colleagues."

First Quarter Results Off in Canada

Confirming reports of a slow first quarter in 2010 from numerous Canadian publishers and booksellers, BookNet Canada's figures show that both volume and value of book sales were down from the same quarter in 2009. The number of books sold in stores tracked by BookNet was down 2.8% and dollar value was down by 1.1%.

Profits Flat at Educational Development Corp.

Earnings held even at $1.9 million in the fiscal year ended February 28 at Educational Development Corp. Sales at the children’s publisher and distributor fell 2.4%, to $28.7 million. Sales at EDC's largest division, Usborne Books and More, fell 11%, to $19.2 million. In the publishing division, which sells EDC's list to retailers, sales rose 16%, to $9.5 million.

Reader's Digest Cuts Loss Despite Sales Decline

Reporting results for the first time since it emerged from bankruptcy protection in February, Reader's Digest had total revenue of $413.9 million in the first quarter ended March 31, down from $460.7 million in the comparable period a year ago. The operating loss was slashed to $27.1 million from $499.3 million.

Borders Strategy: Fewer Stores, More Digital

With total revenue an comp sales down again in the first quarter of 2010, Borders Group's two top executives discussed way to improve the chain's profitability (loss in the quarter was reduced to $64.1 million, from $86.0 million) and its digital strategy.

AAP, BISG Unite for New Statistics Program

The Association of American Publishers and the Book Industry Study Group are teaming up to develop new data-gathering models aimed at creating better statistics to measure sales for the entire book publishing industry as well as different market segments. For many years, the two organizations have developed their own statistics that tended to show different sales and growth rates. The new program will produce a unified sales estimate.

With Twilight Dimmer, Sales Fall at Largardere, Though Digital Jumps

First quarter revenue at Lagardere Publishing fell 6.5%, to 433 million euros, as Stephenie Meyer sales slowed in the U.S., France and U.K. Sales of e-books jumped, and accounted for 8% of revenue at Hachette Book Group USA in the quarter.

Worldcolor Shrinks Loss on Lower Sales

Revenue at Worldcolor fell 8.6% in the first quarter, but the giant printer said that its operating loss was cut to $11 million from $30 million. Worldcolor continued to streamline its operations ahead of its upcoming acquisition by Quad/Graphics, cutting its workforce by 7% in the first period.

Hastings By the Numbers

Hastings By the Numbers