british book retailer operates stores employs staff europe february established company named expanded rapidly sold bought company taken umbrella later merged brands company following poor sets results group chain sale announced owned russian bought chain appointed managing director brand company owns london irish shop average sized store sells range approximately individual books readers concession agreements stores introduced brand announced sold business june users access site history developments chain founded fired failed establish united_states taking set store ambition creating different breed techniques seen united_states literary authors store displays employed highly staff model proved successful chain set expanding store portfolio taken controlling stake chain took control million pursued international expansion opening store boston domestic expansion opening 100th store chapel reading chain eventual net book agreement following promotion rivals company decided pursue promotion selected titles agreement collapsed declared illegal following attempt buy entire group sold chain million joint venture emi included high street brands rival creating international entertainment retailer appointed chairman group stood citing concerns way company run replaced year later stores sold rival making brand defunct chain begun pulling overseas venture launched books quarterly magazine containing book reviews author interviews year online operation company expressing desire concentrate high street campus stores resulted loss jobs announced supporting chosen charity helping raise awareness understanding stepped position replaced managing director group ceo april following bids group attempted buy company million later withdrew offer conditions set accept strategic review september saw pull franchise agreement amazon launch online business independently chain began pilot loyalty programme wales scheme successful launching nationally card entire store portfolio piloted brand exercise selected stores beginning manchester november chain closed branch following consultation company supply chain overhauled implementation warehouse distribution centre located burton trent existing direct store deliveries suppliers replaced warehouse capable receiving merchandise estimated million books year staff redundant process september began selling sony reader agreement saw branches stores stock reader exclusively weeks release began supply format november moved second hand partnership setting online tool called marketplace january announced like like sales christmas period cent previous year culminated resignation managing director immediate effect replaced development director managing director british academic chain joined oversee integration chain response decline sales implemented year plan branches tailored local market alongside company brand increase range changes implemented new branding developed agency company moved support provides support children life threatening terminal illnesses families year announcement profits lower end analysts forecasts falling sales share price fall indicated intention close number branches january stores including dublin republic ireland united_kingdom occurred february branch completed end present announced sale fund controlled russian businessman million takeover welcomed publishers step forward establishing proper physical presence june sale completed approved vast majority shareholders emergency general meeting appointed founder managing director announced october including chairman september announced intended drop deal books decade place offer replaced offer based branches choosing structures available january company announced moving away branding developed agency original logo involved removal saying versatile practical spelling decision received media coverage company subject criticism said change plain wrong incorrect sparked outrage twitter involving debate incorrect expressed digital world email addresses versatile practical spelling blog added wants firm expressing possession meaning month confirmed plans open russian language branch intending stock titles shop entirely staffed russian speaking concession named opened march following decision scrap reading offer branch announced selling amazon estate launched new agreement amazon stating offering reading services offer digital devices company branches website intention experience better announcement received surprise book industry suggested developing partnership launch company developing device ultimately rejected avenues market implementation announced company begin refurbishment plan investing tens millions pounds fund refit planned stores end year plan saw introduction shops reorganisation shop sections space dedicated areas devices number brand coffee shops called brand branch expressed aim shops year period fitted café announcement noted introduction click collect service amazon officially launched branch october outdoor press advertising campaign promoting launch fire model going sale time older models tailored led complaints customers attempting return devices response company issued statement believed constitute advertising differs substantially advertising supported available market change consultation hope alter reading experience release coincided company brand month pushing message chain nation leading producing exclusive anthology help promote shops end estate stores commercial reasons given closure branches fleet street high staff possible stated future expansion considered based performance company partnered launch professional qualification programme staff chain began open new stores locations july company opened branch branding acquired group second largest arm emi retail division included following emi retail arm emi portfolio year spun investment venture private equity group venture included bought million combining international entertainment retailer stores following rebuffed takeover attempt smith deal following million deal completion chairman group ceo retaining overall control stores incorporated brand september began attempts buy rival book chain alarmed publishers authors hoped refer takeover bid march cleared takeover stating takeover result substantial competition likely affect book prices range titles offered quality service extensive research found contrary widespread perception like operates book buying system mixes central local input stock selection announced successfully negotiated takeover chief executive said combined business create exciting quality able respond better increasingly competitive pressures retail market chairman said year book market undergone significant change new levels competition online retailers specialist particular insufficient scale compete equal terms following takeover announced branch july conversion programme initiated months store seen loss jobs books etc august defunct borders chain agreed sell books etc stores undisclosed sum takeover represented retail space incurred staff losses increased presence london nearly stores areas represented stores located fleet street london wall merged chain september ethical standards tax critical tax avoidance british press amazon received sustained scrutiny overall sales reported subsidiary comparison processed offshore avoid tax financial year amazon paid million tax sales billion received million grants government period revealed paid million tax despite operating loss million sales million report tax avoidance book industry magazine argued parent company located bermuda likely tax avoidance purposes response issued website reading registered business tax obligations include payment reporting necessary taxes set tax legislation financial period year reported sales million operating loss million environmental impact worked consider environmental impact including factors carbon council awarded possible stars environmental impact awards maintains supports literary awards including guardian book award company received industry consumer awards retail awards run trade magazine company lauded success loyalty card writer year promotion online growth selling training headline company year high street retailer year nielsen book marketing campaign year company took away awards high street praise liverpool branch manager applauded judges outstanding work launching new shop high street retailer year manager year recognised accomplishments branch sue young year recognised expertise children children year customer satisfaction beginning awarded silver badge best books website category survey british chains january scored customer satisfaction survey products price staff shopping environment recommend shop friend placing chain joint position survey commissioned customer satisfaction high street brands showed maintained position shops score placing seventh position fared online survey conducted consumer secret channel hosted high street brands emerged early maintained position won inaugural sports book retailer year category children book prize continued brand attempted uncover hidden talent children writing awarding authors previously published books adult children fiction pirates door hearts great massacre thirteen treasures ways live forever diamond lane julia cry stuart hill main sponsor previously sponsored role saw position carry branding company stating activity supporting role stores online different ways year set created promote debut literary fiction new authors published year ahead books chosen list submitted publishers announced january store online support media campaign final inaugural included orange prize winner tiger wife nominee winner god rabbit list announced january scrapped january locations academic high street stores europe including united_kingdom republic ireland store previously stores dublin netherlands belgium including amsterdam brussels branches company located buildings architectural historical interest flagship flagship store simpsons department store notable 1930s modernist architecture largest shop estate claimed largest europe main academic branch flagship store located street london promoted europe largest academic aside branches operates number large stores set multiple floors refer stores london simpsons flagship branch floors estimated miles head office company moved store owns large road street london academic branch floors miles manchester floors books stock bath floors books stock street glasgow floors set cinema gate nottingham floors concessions large stores broad street reading birmingham grade listed building designed birmingham trading floors preston ornate grocery head office street canterbury basement display buried remains roman bath house newcastle building parliament row trent corn exchange
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