Established in 1982, Waterstones takes its name from founder Tim Waterstone. Discount vouchers can be used against Waterstones books as well as to get money off products such as stationary. Waterstones is also trying to adapt to the digital age by supplying customers with eBook Readers.
The company quickly grew and was sold to WH Smith in 1993. Just four years later, it was bought back by Tim Waterstone and EMI, Advent International, and brought into the HMV Group. However, poor results meant that a struggling HMV put a for-sale sign on the company in 2010. Alexander Mamut, the Russian billionaire, purchased the firm and it is now under the watchful eye of Managing Director James Daunt.
Since the 2011 takeover, Waterstones has decided to stop selling three books for the price of two, and has made the decision to drop the apostrophe from its name, which has caused a stir within the ranks of the Apostrophe Protection Society. Individual branches will now choose how they price books on offer from available discounts, which means there are still deals to be had by using Waterstones discount codes.
The bookseller continues to have concessions with coffee sellers Starbucks and Costa Coffee so that customers can enjoy something hot while wondering whether or not to purchase Jeffrey Archer's latest effort. Waterstones also owns Hodges Figgis and Hatchards, both of which were established in the 18th century and still retain their names because of the history they exude.