ABA Unveils 2003 Revenue Survey Results

The results of ABA's semi-annual annual revenue survey of bookstore members indicate that almost 65 percent of the 243 reporting stores saw their sales increase, as compared to 2002. Meanwhile, 35 percent experienced a decline in sales in 2003, as compared to 2002.

Just over 26 percent of respondents saw sales increases of five percent or less, while 20.6 percent saw sales increases of more than five, but less than 10 percent, and 17.7 percent saw sales rise more than 10 percent over 2002.

Of those bookstores that reported a sales decline in 2003, 15.2 percent reported that sales declined by five percent or less; 10.3 saw sales declines of more than five, but less than 10 percent; and 9.5 percent reported that sales dropped by more than 10 percent.

For the 2003 holiday season, 61.7 percent of reporting bookstores noted that their sales increased, while 38.3 experienced a decline in revenue, as compared to the 2002 season.

Twenty-eight percent reported that sales rose by five percent or less during the holiday season; 14.4 percent said sales rose more than five, but less than 10 percent; and 18.5 percent said sales for the 2003 holiday season were up more than 10 percent over the same period in 2002.

Almost 19 percent reported that 2003 holiday sales declined by five percent or less; 9.5 percent noted a sales decline of more than five, but less than 10 percent; while 9.5 percent reported sales decreases of greater than 10 percent, compared to the 2002 holiday season.

For the second half of 2003 versus the second half of 2002, 61.7 percent of bookstores saw sales increases, while 34.1 saw their revenues decline.

Of the stores that saw revenues increase during that period, 24.3 percent said their revenues increased by five percent or less, 20.2 percent saw increases of more than five, but less than 10 percent; and 16.9 reported revenue increases of more than 10 percent.

Almost 18 percent of reporting bookstores said sales declined by five percent or less for second half 2003; 7.4 percent said that their sales decreased by more than five, but less than 10 percent; and nine percent reported sales declines greater than 10 percent.

The revenue survey was sent by e-mail to all ABA main bookstore members in April.