An 8.9x Return on a Data Science Partnership
After one year as a Labs Partner, BAM's new stores are performing at a different level — 14.1% higher sales per square foot. Their CFO ran the numbers himself and put the return at 8.9x.
Bookstore chain · 220+ locations · Birmingham, AL · booksamillion.com
Download PDFTotal return on investment
The Challenge
BAM was ready to accelerate expansion, but their real estate team lacked the data science capability to evaluate markets at scale. They didn't need another software tool — they needed a team that understood their brand, their data, and their growth strategy.
Results
Total return on investment
Increase in sales per square foot through smaller, optimized store footprints
New prime locations secured using the same number of people
Calculated uplift in revenue after removing SSS growth and inflation
How They Use It
The workflow
- 1
Exploratory data analysis
Mapped BAM's store performance data to identify which markets and demographic profiles drive revenue
- 2
Custom revenue forecasting model
Glass box model built on BAM's actual sales data. The team sees exactly how every variable contributes — no black box, no mystery
- 3
Direct data science team access
Weekly calls with dedicated analysts building the model. Not a support ticket. Not a customer success rep. The same team, every week
- 4
Quarterly model refreshes
New data, new findings, new discussion — every quarter. Not a static annual deliverable
Growth at a Glance
The numbers
| Sites evaluated | ~5-10/wk → 3,000+/yr |
| Analysis time | Weeks → Hours |
| Revenue forecasting | Trusted glass box |
| Sales performance | +14.1% per sq ft |
| Overall return | 8.9x confirmed |
Bottom Line
8.9x confirmed ROI — every dollar invested in the Labs Partner engagement returned $8.90 in measurable value through higher-performing locations and optimized store footprints.
“What sets GrowthFactor apart is they're not just handing us software — they're in the trenches with us every week. Our GrowthFactor team knows our brand, our markets, and our strategy. It's like adding a senior member to the real estate team without the headcount.”
Damian Doggett
CFO, Books-A-Million
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