Comps Down at Other Chains; Bigger Loss for Borders Borders’ first quarter loss was twice as bad as this time last year at $0.61 per share or $35.9 million, and it was 13 cents more than analysts were expecting as well. Sales held up better, at $876.8 million, though same-store sales at the superstores were down 1.9 percent, comprising $615 million. Walden comps were down 1 percent, at $108 million, and comps at the international stores fell 2.5 percent. The company closed 11 Waldens in the quarter. Gross margin fell to 22.4 percent, “due primarily to increased promotional discounts, de-leveraging […]

Press Begins on Clinton Books The Washington Post broke the embargo on both Clinton books last Friday, saying that they “include a number of assertions and anecdotes that could confront her campaign with unwelcome questions” and “depict a tortured relationship with her husband and her past and challenge the image she has presented on the campaign trail.” The paper calls Carl Bernstein’s book “the more extensive biography” and says “while not unsympathetic, [it] includes some damning observations from people once close to the senator.” Bernstein reports that “Clinton as first lady was terrified she would be prosecuted” for Whitewater and […]

Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut Director of the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio Stephen Lovely’s IRREPLACEABLE, the story […]

Alibris Wants to Make Everyone a Used Bookseller Alibris is pitching their new Basic service as a way to turn “book lovers, students, publishers, and collectors” into used booksellers. The program allows people to post up to 1,000 books for sale, and charges one dollar per book sold plus a commission, along with a minimum annual fee of $19.99. And they’ve even added the de rigeur environmental appeal, too: “Because reselling is recycling, Alibris Basic helps sellers earn money while contributing to a healthier environment.” Alibris page Also online, Book Sense went live with their e-books offerings earlier this week, […]

BN’s Quarter Strong frontlist releases helped Barnes & Noble to a 1.7 percent same-store sales increase at BN stores for the first quarter, with total revenue of $1.145 billion. The new titles helped BN.com in particular to an 8 percent gain over a year ago, to $93.8 million. But the company lost $1.7 million, or three cents a share — better than their previous guidance, but worse than what analysts were expecting (the consensus was a penny a share of profit). And BN says the loss was mitigated because another 3 cents per share of expenses related to store openings […]

Amazon Buys Brilliance Amazon has acquired audiobook publisher Brilliance Audio from owners Michael Snodgrass, Eileen Hutton and a private equity group, for undisclosed terms. Brilliance will continue to run as an independent unit based in Michigan, under Snodgrass’s leadership. Amazon vp of books Greg Greeley says the purchase is part of “a three-pronged approach” to “expand audio selection to customers.” Brilliance has a catalog of over 1,000 audio titles and new releases of 20 to 40 titles a month, and Greeley says Amazon will be “giving them the support to produce a lot more titles than they have historically.” As […]