Andrew Koumi took his business skills from the classroom to the real world with the launch of his recession-based Web site, Bookbama.com.
In order to help out students in tough economic times, the site promises to sell students "Bargain Books at Bailout Prices."
Koumi, a UF senior, said he purchases excess books from publishers who print too many copies and sells them back for less than half the original cost.
He said a book normally priced at $15 can be as cheap as $2 when on his Web site, adding he offers a huge variety of books grouped into categories ranging from "Body, Mind & Spirit" to "Literary Criticism."
"I started off this idea after looking into opening a textbook store in Gainesville," he said.
Although he originally operated his business out of his apartment closet, he had to relocate his inventory to two warehouses in St. Petersburg, Fla., and New Jersey.
"(It) kept getting bigger and bigger," he said.
The inventory, which is updated each day, is now at more than 20,000 books.
Koumi said students looking for even cheaper books should check out bargain book bailouts, a weekly promotion in which he makes 25 random book titles free.
Customers just have to pay shipping and handling and can order up to 100 free books.
Koumi said this promotion has worked well because most customers order regularly priced books along with their free ones.
Customers are not simply purchasing one or two books as they do from major bookstores either.
"Most of my customers order around 15 titles," Koumi said.
