Building an image one store at a time - Borders' corporate culture allows superstores remarkable degree of managerial autonomy

Discount Store News, June 17, 1996

Borders is aiming to be a resource for the markets it serves, Altruda said, emphasizing that not every event the stores plan is necessarily designed to sell a book.

Chainwide, the stores schedule one charity-related benefit a month. Borders often forms partnerships with nearby schools where either book donation programs or proceeds from sales benefit local schools. Borders also offers discounts to teachers (from preschool to high school) who need books or teaching aids. And the chain contributes to the National Endowment for the Arts through silent auctions at each new store event.