Half Price Books, Records, Magazines, Incorporated is a chain of new and used bookstores in the United States. The company's original motto is "We buy and sell anything printed or recorded except yesterday's newspaper", and many of the used books, music, and movies for sale in each location are purchased from local residents. The corporate office is located in the flagship Northwest Highway location in Dallas, Texas. Half Price Books now operates more than 120 stores (including outlets) in 19 states.[1][2][3][4]
 "We buy anything printed or recorded except yesterday's newspaper". | |
Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Specialty) |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas |
Number of locations | 120 (2023) |
Key people | |
| Products | Books, Records, CDs, DVDs, Magazines, Video Games |
| Website | hpb |
History
edit
Founders Ken Gjemre (1921-2002) and Pat Anderson (1931-1995) opened the first store in 1972 in a former laundromat in Dallas, Texas, filling the shelves with 2,000 books out of their personal libraries.[5] Pat Anderson's daughter, Sharon Anderson Wright, is the company's current CEO, and Kathy Doyle Thomas is President.[6] In 2009, Sharon's sister Ellen O'Neal stepped up to the position of Chairperson of the Board to become more involved with the family business.
Philanthropy
editThe Half Price Books original mission statement includes the promise to "promote literacy and be kind to the environment."[7] Teachers and librarians, for example, are offered a year-round 10% discount on purchases.[7] Each year, every Half Price Books store holds a book drive to collect new or gently used children's books, building "Half Pint Libraries" at non-profit organizations and schools in the communities it serves.[8]
The company has promoted recycling and reusing, and the sound management of paper, energy and water resources. In 2008, Half Price Books launched a formal environmental education initiative called "B(eco)me Green" to help spread knowledge about the health of the environment.[9]
In addition, the chain donates millions of books and its overstock inventory to non-profit organizations around the world such as Feed the Children and American Red Cross. It also gives some of its books to Better World Books, a for-profit online bookseller.
Publishing
editHalf 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.[10]
Among Hackberry Press titles is the Half Price Books children's storybook series Say Good Night to Illiteracy, with 13 editions in print. All proceeds from the series benefit family literacy organizations such as Reach Out and Read and the National Center for Family Literacy project.
Wholesale
editFounded in 1983, the wholesale division of Half Price Books is Texas Bookman, also headquartered in Dallas.[11] Texas Bookman sells trade and scholarly remainders at discount prices to wholesale buyers around the world. In April 2020, Texas Bookman began selling directly to those with a customer application on file, and proof of tax exempt/resale status, on their new retail website.[12] They do not sell directly to consumers. In May 2022, Texas Bookman hosted its first annual trade book show, Texas Remainder Expo (TRex), in which exhibitors travel from across the US and UK to show their latest inventory available for wholesale purchasing at discounted prices.[13]
References
edit- ↑ Stafford, Leon (May 25, 2016). "Cobb Readers Rejoice – New Bookstore Coming". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ "Our Stores". Half Price Books. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ Marrow, Hunter (March 8, 2020). "After 38 years, Half Price Books closes Rice Village location". Community Impact Newspaper. Houston, Texas. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ↑ "Barnes & Noble plans four new Dallas-Fort Worth stores". Dallas News. June 28, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ↑ "Obituaries: Passings Ken Gjemre, 81; Left Corporate Career to Found Bookstore Chain". Los Angeles Times. June 1, 2002. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ "press". www.hpb.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- 1 2 Lasica, JD. "Where to Find Nonprofit, Independent & Progressive Booksellers". SocialBrite. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ "Half Pint Library". Half Price Books. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ↑ "Become Green". b(eco)me green. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ↑ "Hackberry Press – Trademark". Trademarkia. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ↑ "Texas Bookman". Manta. Archived from the original on May 18, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ↑ "Shop Texas Bookman". Texas Bookman. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Texas Remainder Expo". Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
External links
edit
- Official website
- BecomeGreen.org Archived February 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine – an environmental initiative by Half Price Books
- DeleteCensorship.org Archived October 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine – a Banned Books Awareness message sponsored by Half Price Books
- Official Facebook Page
- Texas Bookman Wholesale
- Texas Remainder Expo