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National Book Store: a Category in Itself

In: Business and Management

Submitted By etrnlbliss
Words 1022
Pages 5
National Book Store: A Category in itself

National Book Store is the largest book and supplies retail chain in the Philippines. As a student, it is also the retail chain that I am most dependent on. It is the place where I get all my essentials from school to recreational materials. NBS has numerous branches scattered all over the archipelago. I do most of my purchases at the Glorietta 5 branch. This is where I gained my personal perception and knowledge about the chain.

Through the hard work and powerful leadership of Socorro Cancio-Ramos and the late Jose Ramos with their family, the company has evolved from its humble beginnings into the biggest and strongest bookstore chain in the Philippines. The first National Book Store started as a stall shop in Escolta before the Japanese occupation selling supplies, GI novels, and textbooks. When war broke out, strict book censorship forced them to shift their trade to soap, candies, and slippers. They bought their merchandise from wholesalers and peddled them to smaller retailers. They went back to business using their door as a counter for selling textbooks, notebooks, pad paper, and pencils. Business went very well because, during that time, there were only a few stores that sold school supplies and books. National Book Store's opening was strategically timed to welcome the first postwar school year. In the 1940's, Typhoon Gene destroyed their store and soaked all the merchandise. After the tragic event, they slept for only three hours a day, spending the rest of their hours at work just to bring back the foundation that was lost during the calamity. They were eventually able to construct a two-story building with a mezzanine, which was to become their retail store for many years.

In the 1950's, Mrs. Ramos thought of producing a line of greeting cards and postcards using Philippine views and artwork. It

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