IntroductionThe "Mom and Pop" book store was a well known component of frontier general stores, when this country was in its infancy. The well known literary conglomerate Barnes and Noble has been in existence since 1873 and had its humble beginnings in New York City the publishing capital of this country then and now.
Barnes and Noble is a publically traded company under the symbol "BKS". It is currently the largest book retailer and leading publisher in the United States. The store developed a reputation for excellent service and a large selection of books. Through the years the store transformed itself it has maintained their high quality of customer service. For this discussion we will be exploring the history of Barnes & Noble, financial analysis of the corporation, and recommendations for improved performance. For adequate comparison of Barnes and Noble it will be compared to Borders one of its major competitors.
English: The interior of the Barnes & Noble locate...
Barnes and noble
English: Barnes & Noble's flagship store at 105 Fi...(Barnes and Noble, 2009)Company HistoryBarnes & Noble became a publicly traded company in 1993 listed on the NYSE under the symbol "BKS." It is a Fortune 500 company and is currently the largest book retailer in the United States. In addition, it is also one a America's leading book publisher. Barnes & Nobles has a long history that dates back to 1873. Charles Barnes opened a book printing business in Wheaton Illinois. However it was not until 1917 when his son opened the first store with his partner G. Clifford Noble, in New York City. The store developed a reputation for excellent service and a large selection of books. The original was closed in 1932 so it could be moved to its current location on 18th street & Fifth Avenue. However Barnes and Noble was notIncorporated until December 1986 which is when the company started on the...