3x More Stores. 14.1% Higher Sales Per Square Foot.
Books-A-Million, the #2 book retailer in the US, opened 19 new stores in 2025 against 6 in 2024 — with the same real estate team. The new stores didn't just arrive faster. They sold better: sales per square foot rose from $159 to $182.
Bookstore chain · 260 locations · Birmingham, AL · booksamillion.com
Download PDFNew stores opened in 2025 vs. 2024, using the same number of people
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. And tripling the opening pace couldn't come at the cost of site quality.
Results
New stores opened in 2025 vs. 2024, using the same number of people
Increase in sales per square foot in new stores, $159 to $182
Calculated uplift in revenue after removing SSS growth and inflation
Total return on the engagement, confirmed by BAM's CFO
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
| New stores opened per year | 6 (2024) → 19 (2025) |
| Sales per square foot, new stores | $159 → $182 |
| Sites evaluated | ~5-10/wk → 3,000+/yr |
| Analysis time | Weeks → Hours |
| Revenue forecasting | Trusted glass box |
| Overall return | 8.9x confirmed |
Bottom Line
Three times the stores, and better stores. BAM tripled its opening pace without adding headcount, and the locations it opened sold 14.1% more per square foot than the prior year's. Their CFO put the return on the engagement at 8.9x.
“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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