Generous Words

How a modest book drive evolved into one of the most successful – and charitable – booksellers in Texas

by Michael Castellon

Editor’s Note: The following article appeared in the November/December 2008 issue of Texas Rising.

It started in a converted laundromat in Dallas, when, in 1972, Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson put about 2,000 books from their personal collection up for sale. Today, Half Price Books, with more than 100 stores in 15 states, continues to demonstrate remarkable growth. The company has tapped a viable market of consumers who seek an eclectic inventory of new and used books, music, movies and software, usually offered at half the publisher’s price or less.

But Kathy Doyle Thomas was a little confused when she first showed up for work at Half Price Books 20 years ago.

“When I looked at it on paper, the company seemed more like a nonprofit than it did a business whose role was to turn a profit,” says Thomas, who now serves as the Dallas-based company’s executive vice president. “It was odd to see a company that was so involved in the community.”

The company’s philosophy now, as it was then, is if they can’t sell it, they’ll give it away.

Half Price Books has provided more than 2 million books to children through Half Pint Libraries, a literacy and book sharing program for hospitals, special needs schools and community centers. Following Hurricane Ike, the company hosted a food and bottled water drive to benefit storm victims throughout Houston. Likewise, the company has supported Feed the Children for several years and has donated more than 3 million books alongside food and school supplies to the organization.

Where some entrepreneurs see profitability at odds with charity, Half Price Books uses community involvement and giving as a means of generating revenue. Its customers, many of whom are rabid about their passion for the company (one man is making it a mission to visit every Half Price Books location), are attracted to the company for its dedication to fund-raising and literacy.

“When you look at solid community involvement and profitability, it’s apparent to us that the two can coexist,” Thomas says. “It’s something our customers and employees expect of us, and it’s something we’re proud to be able to do.”

Half Price Books’ success in community involvement is a cultural phenomenon found throughout the company. The goal is to get customers and employees to participate in the betterment of communities. That means giving employees time off to plant trees or read to children at schools and encouraging customers to participate in book drives.

New businesses often struggle to balance profitability and community involvement. Thin profit margins and a lack of human resources often leave new entrepreneurs struggling to find ways to get involved.

“That struggle is even more profound during a bad economy,” Thomas says. “But my best advice for new entrepreneurs is to start small. Small things make a difference and create big momentum. Host a food and water drive. Let employees give time. Every action, no matter how small, counts. That’s the foundation we’ve been built on.”