Half Price Books
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Half Price Books, Records, Magazines, Incorporated is a family-owned chain of bookstores in the United States. Half Price Books is the largest used bookstore chain in America; they stock new books as well, though nowhere near as many. The majority of books for sale at Half Price most locations were purchased from local residents that brought them in. The corporate office is located in Dallas, Texas. As of July 2007, Half Price Books includes more than 90 stores in 14 states. In 2005, the used bookstore chain expanded to the Chicago area. According to current company President/CEO Sharon Anderson-Wright, as quoted in a press release from November 14, 2005, Half Price Books plans to "open around 12 new stores by the end of 2007." This chain's old motto is that they "buy and sell anything printed or recorded (except yesterday's newspaper)."
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[edit] History
Founders Ken Gjemre and Patricia "Pat" Anderson started the first store with 2,000 books out of their personal libraries in a former laundromat in the Lakewood neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, USA, in 1972. The founders, products of the hippie generation, seem committed to their employees as well as pursuing profits. Employees and their families are offered free health, vision, dental, and psychological insurance, and are able to attend drug rehabilitation programs if they request. They are also given more than three weeks of paid vacation per year and a company-matched 401 (k) plan.
[edit] Philanthropy
In 2006, the chain launched an Environmental Education Initiative with campaign encouraging others to "B(eco)me Green." Along with a commitment to the environment, the family-owned company remains loyal to the cause of literacy and education. They offer a year-round 10% discount for teachers and librarians.
Annually, the chain donates millions of books to non-profit organizations such as Feed the Children, American Red Cross, Better World Books, and more. In addition, Half Price Books stores host a Half Pint Library book drive each year to collect donations of new or gently used children's books to build libraries at pediatric hospitals and special needs clinics in its communities.
[edit] Publishing
Half Price Books publishes some of the books it sells, inexpensively reprinting non-copyrighted titles or acquiring the U.S. or English language rights from another publisher. Half Price Books reprints these titles under its publishing arm, Hackberry Press.
Among other Hackberry Press titles is the children's book series entitled "Say Good Night to Illiteracy," which has 13 editions in print. Stories by amateur writers are compiled and published in an original children's book.All proceeds of the book benefit family literacy organizations, including beneficiaries like Reach Out and Read and the National Center for Family Literacy.
[edit] Wholesale
The wholesale division of Half Price Books is Texas Bookman, also headquartered in Dallas, Texas with customers and buyers from around the world. Texas Bookman sells trade and scholarly remainders at 50% off the sale price.
[edit] References
- Perez-Tobias, Suzanne "Another cure for Post-Potter Depression", Wichita Eagle, Kansas
