Independent Bookstores With Book Sense Continue With Sales Increases

A substantial majority of independent bookstores participating in the Book Sense national marketing program saw sales increases in 2001 over 2000, according to a recent ABA survey. Among those stores in the Book Sense program responding to the survey, 63 percent reported sales increases for the year. Over half of the stores noted increases of more than five percent. For the 2001 holiday season, 66 percent of the bookstores reported increases over a strong 2000 holiday season.

Commenting on the survey results, Avin Mark Domnitz, ABA CEO, said, "We are delighted most of the stores participating in the Book Sense program had a good sales year, especially given the pronounced economic uncertainties of the holiday season. In fact, we see evidence that the independent bookstores participating in Book Sense had a strong fourth quarter. Earlier surveys showed 59 percent of the bookstores were reporting increases over 2000 as of September 1, 2001, and the last results show that 66 percent reported increases in this year’s holiday sales. Earlier surveys also indicate that the majority of bookstores suffered a decline immediately after September 11 but appear to have had a very strong finish through the 2001 holiday season."

Neal Coonerty, ABA president and owner of the Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California, stated, "The results of our bookstores reflect similar year-end results within the book industry. Over the years, industry studies have shown that book sales appear to run counter to economic trends, and in times of national tragedy consumers appear to have a greater need to read books for comfort, renewal, and for a search for important information."