Books-A-Million

Founded in 1917 as a street corner newsstand in Florence, Alabama, Books-A-Million, Inc. has grown to become the premier book retailing chain in the Southeastern United States, and the second largest book retailer in the nation. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, the company currently operates more than 260 stores in 32 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to its primary retail component, the corporation includes a book wholesale and distribution subsidiary, American Wholesale Book Company, an e-commerce division operating as BOOKSAMILLION.COM, and an internet development and services company, NetCentral, in Nashville, Tennessee.

RETAIL STORES

Books-A-Million stores range from 4,000 to 30,000 square feet and provide an expansive selection of books, magazines, bargain books, collectible supplies, toys, technology and gift departments, as well as special category shops within the store. Our "Faithpoint" category, for instance, features the best of references and writings for the Christian market. Some Books-A-Million stores also feature the Joe Muggs® Cafè – a full line coffee and espresso bar offering a wide selection of gourmet coffees, teas, desserts and brewing supplies.

WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION

American Wholesale Book Company is based in Florence, Alabama, and provides complete book wholesale and distribution services for retailers across the Southeast. Additionally, the company has developed to provide Internet fulfillment services for book product sold by various e-commerce companies. The integration of complete wholesale and distribution services within the corporation provides significant economies and opportunities for cost savings for both the retail and e-commerce divisions of Books-A-Million, Inc.

Book$mart, Inc., also located in Florence, Alabama, is a full service bargain book distributor, servicing a large number of retail and wholesale clients throughout the country. Its 200,000 square foot distribution facility offers a tremendous assortment of value-priced books, from specially published packages to publisher remainders of previous bestsellers.

E-COMMERCE AND INTERNET SERVICES DEVELOPMENT

BOOKSAMILLION.COM, the company's e-commerce website, was successfully launched in 1998. Like our stores, the site is open, inviting and focused on the product. Since the site's launch, we have continued to enhance its design, product offerings, editorial content and customer service attributes, as well as maintain our position as a value leader in book e-tailing. Through our American Internet Services division, we continue to develop a suite of e-commerce solutions aimed to meet the needs of a variety of business clients. The acquisition of NetCentral continues to provide us with the development experience and systems resources needed to continue to innovate and compete effectively in the e-commerce arena.

NetCentral, an Internet development and services company, was acquired in January, 1999, and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to providing systems solutions and web development for all of the corporation's Internet and networking initiatives, NetCentral's Internet experience and its development of a comprehensive, integrated e-commerce platform continues to attract a growing number of outside clients as well.