Daedalus Books: Home Office Closure

Daedalus Books & Music, one of the oldest remainder companies in the United States, has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the closure of its wholesale business and the sale of its retail operations. Founded in 1980, Daedalus specialised in selling remaindered books, as well as new titles, music, and video. The company was initially a wholesale endeavour but expanded into retail, which ultimately contributed to around 60% of its annual revenue. In 2018, following the retirement of its founder, Robert (Robin) Moody, Daedalus closed its wholesale division and sold its online business and retail catalog to Universal Screen Arts, a company based in Hudson, Ohio. The closure of the wholesale division and the sale of the retail arm marked a substantial shift for the long-standing company.

Daedalus Books' wholesale business has closed

Daedalus Books & Music, one of the oldest remainder companies in the United States, has closed its wholesale business. The Columbia, Maryland-based company, which was founded in 1980, specialised in selling remaindered books—unsold copies, mostly hardcovers, unloaded by publishers at highly discounted prices. In addition to its core remainder wholesaling business, Daedalus also sold new titles, music, and video. It was quick to adapt to changes in the industry, launching its website for wholesale sales in 1995 and later adding a direct-mail consumer site, which grew to become 60% of its business by 2013.

In 2018, upon the retirement of Daedalus' founder, Robert (Robin) Moody, the company shut down its wholesale division and sold its retail catalog and online operations to Universal Screen Arts, a company based in Hudson, Ohio. The decision was announced on social media, with Daedalus' chief operating officer, Helaine Harris, stating that the Columbia store at 9645 Gerwig Lane would hold a final store-closing "garage sale" before shuttering for good. The wholesale site offered 60% off retail prices during the closure.

The closure of Daedalus' wholesale business marks a significant change for the company and the end of another brick-and-mortar bookseller in the Baltimore region as customers increasingly turn to the internet for purchases.

The company's retail operations were sold to a Hudson, Ohio-based company

Daedalus Books & Music, one of the oldest remainder companies in the United States, has gone through substantial changes in recent years. The company, founded in 1980, initially focused on wholesale but eventually grew a retail division that brought in around 60% of annual revenue.

In 2018, following the retirement of founder Robert (Robin) Moody, Daedalus closed its wholesale division and sold its retail operations. The company's retail arm, including its retail catalog and online operations, was purchased by Universal Screen Arts, a company based in Hudson, Ohio, with warehouse and distribution operations in Twinsburg, Ohio.

Universal Screen Arts, founded in 1983, has a diverse range of brands and products. They specialize in internet and online shopping, offering items such as apparel, jewelry, outdoor living, entertainment, gifts, personal care, pet care, kids' products, home furnishings, and media.

The acquisition of Daedalus Books & Music by Universal Screen Arts marked a shift in the industry as customers increasingly turned to the internet for their book purchases. The closure of Daedalus's wholesale division and the sale of its retail operations brought about significant changes to the long-standing business, reflecting the evolving landscape of book selling and purchasing.

Daedalus Books was founded in 1980

Daedalus Books is a seller of books, music, and video. While it also sells new titles, the company specialises in remaindered books. Its philosophy is to keep bestsellers, classics, and overlooked gems available to the public. It sells its products via catalogues and a website.

The company was quick to adapt to changes in the industry, launching its website for wholesale sales in 1995. It later added its direct-mail consumer site, which grew to become 60% of its business by 2013.

Daedalus Books also ventured into bricks-and-mortar bookstores, opening a retail store in Columbia in 2005, followed by a Baltimore location in 2006. The Baltimore store closed in 2011, along with the outlet store at the front of its 120,000-square-foot warehouse in Columbia, Maryland.

In 2018, upon the retirement of its founder, Robert (Robin) Moody, the wholesale division of the company shut down. The company sold its retail catalogue and online operations to Universal Screen Arts, a company based in Hudson, Ohio.

Daedalus Books has been described as "the best used-book store south of the Strand in Greenwich Village" by the Washington Post. It has been a beloved part of the Charlottesville community for almost 50 years and has been under new ownership since late 2023, when author Jackson Landers purchased the store.

The Columbia, Maryland store closed in 2018

Daedalus Books & Music, one of the oldest remainder companies in the United States, closed its Columbia, Maryland store in 2018. The Columbia store was located at the front of its 120,000-square-foot warehouse. The company had ventured into brick-and-mortar bookstores in 2005 with the opening of the Columbia location, followed by a Baltimore store in 2006.

The closure of the Columbia store was announced on social media, with no official closing date set. The store's chief operating officer, Helaine Harris, stated that the store would hold a final store-closing "garage sale" over the weekend, selling any remaining books, as well as office furniture and supplies. The Columbia store's closure marked the end of another physical bookstore in the Baltimore region, as customers increasingly turned to online shopping.

In addition to the outlet store, Daedalus Books & Music also operated a wholesale business, selling books, movies, and CDs. The company's wholesale operations were also shut down in 2018, with its online business sold to Universal Screen Arts, an Ohio-based company.

Daedalus Books & Music was founded in 1980 as a direct-mail remainder wholesaler and quickly adapted to industry changes, launching a website for wholesale sales in 1995 and a direct-mail consumer site in 2003. By 2013, the company's retail division, including its physical stores and direct-mail consumer site, accounted for approximately 60% of its annual revenue.

The Baltimore store closed in 2011

Daedalus Books & Music, a seller of books, music, and video, was founded in 1980. The company, which was based in Columbia, Maryland, initially focused on wholesale before expanding into retail. In 2006, Daedalus Books opened a store in Belvedere Square, Baltimore. However, this branch closed in 2011, just five years after it opened.

The Baltimore store's closure in 2011 marked an early step in the company's gradual shift away from brick-and-mortar stores. The company had ventured into physical stores relatively recently, opening its first retail bookstore in Columbia in 2005, followed by the Baltimore location in 2006.

The Baltimore store's closure in 2011 was an early indication of the challenges faced by brick-and-mortar booksellers in the face of increasing online competition. As customers turned to the internet to purchase books and other products, physical bookstores struggled to maintain their foothold. The Baltimore store's closure was one of the first signs of the changing landscape of the book industry, with online retailers and e-books gaining prominence.

The closure of the Baltimore store in 2011 was part of a broader evolution of Daedalus Books & Music's business strategy. The company had initially built its success on wholesale operations, specialising in selling remaindered books. However, by 2013, its direct-mail consumer site had grown to account for 60% of its business. This shift towards direct-to-consumer sales marked a significant transformation for the company, moving away from its traditional wholesale focus.

The Baltimore store's closure in 2011 was an early milestone in the company's journey, reflecting the evolving nature of the book industry and the increasing dominance of online retailers.

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