Full Description

Books-A-Million, Inc., incorporated in 1964, is a book retailer in the southeastern United States. The Company operates both superstores and traditional bookstores. Superstores range in size from 8,000 to 36,000 square feet and operate under the names Books-A-Million and Books and Co. Traditional bookstores are smaller stores operated under the names Bookland and Books-A-Million. These stores range in size from 2,000 to 7,000 square feet and are located primarily in enclosed malls. All store formats offer a selection of best sellers and other hardcover and paperback books, magazines, and newspapers. In addition to the retail store formats, the Company offers its products over the Internet at Booksamillion.com. The Company's wholly owned subsidiaries include American Wholesale Book Company, Inc. (American Wholesale), Booksamillion.com, Inc. and BAM Card Services, LLC. The Company operates in two segments: retail trade and electronic commerce trade.

Retail Stores

In the retail trade segment, the Company is engaged in the retail sale of primarily book merchandise at its retail stores. The retail trade segment includes its distribution center operations, which supplies merchandise to its retail stores. The Company operated 200 superstores as of January 31, 2009. Each of its superstores offers a selection of books, magazines, general merchandise, including, gifts, cards, collectibles and similar products, including music and digital versatile disc’s (DVDs). Each superstore has a service center staffed with associates who are trained to answer customers' questions, assist customers in locating books within the store and place special orders. The majority of the superstores also include a Joe Muggs cafe, serving Joe Muggs coffee and assorted pastries. Traditional stores are located primarily in enclosed malls and include a selection of books, magazines and gift items. The Company had 20 traditional stores as of January 31, 2009.

Internet Operations

In the electronic commerce trade segment, the Company is engaged in the retail sale of book merchandise over the Internet. On Booksamillion.com, the Company sells a selection of books, magazines and general merchandise similar to those sold in the Books-A-Million superstores.

The Company's competes with Barnes & Noble, Inc., Borders Group, Inc. and Amazon.com, Inc.