What Does Powell's Books Do?

Total employees450
HeadquartersPortland
Founded1971

Powell's Books is an iconic independent bookseller with a flagship store in Portland, Oregon, famously known as Powell's City of Books—one of the largest new and used bookstores in the world. Founded in 1971, Powell's has built a strong reputation for its vast selection, knowledgeable staff, and commitment to the literary community. They offer a unique browsing experience by shelving new and used books together. Beyond its physical stores, Powell's maintains a robust online presence, shipping books globally and hosting virtual author events, making it a beloved institution for readers everywhere.

Where Is Powell's Books's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the central hub for all company operations, including retail management for its flagship store, online order fulfillment, inventory management, marketing, author event coordination, and administrative functions.

Notable Features:

The Powell's City of Books building is a landmark, occupying an entire city block. It features multiple floors, color-coded rooms (e.g., Rose Room, Gold Room), a Rare Book Room, a coffee shop, and an estimated one million new and used books.

Work Culture:

Powell's fosters a work environment for passionate book lovers. The culture emphasizes customer service, literary knowledge, and a shared enthusiasm for reading. Employees, often avid readers themselves, contribute to the store's unique, community-focused atmosphere.

HQ Significance:

The headquarters is not just an office but a cultural institution and a major tourist destination in Portland. It symbolizes the enduring appeal of physical bookstores and independent bookselling in the digital age.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters reflects Powell's values of literary passion, community, accessibility to a wide range of books (new and used), and the celebration of print culture.

Location:

While Powell's Books' physical stores are located in Oregon, USA, it maintains a significant global presence through its comprehensive e-commerce website, Powells.com. The company ships new, used, and rare books to customers across the globe, supporting international readers, collectors, and academics. They also engage a worldwide audience through their online blog, social media channels, and virtual author events, extending their community reach far beyond their physical locations.

Street Address:

1005 W Burnside St

City:

Portland

State/Province:

Oregon

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Powell's Books Operate Around the World?

Portland, Oregon/USA

Address: 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Serves the Southeast Portland community, providing a more intimate bookstore experience compared to the flagship City of Books, while still embodying the Powell's spirit of diverse selection and knowledgeable staff.

Beaverton, Oregon/USA

Address: 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd

Provides convenient access to Powell's unique inventory and bookstore experience for residents in the suburban areas west of Portland, focusing on popular titles, children's books, and community engagement.

Buying Intent Signals for Powell's Books

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Powell's Books? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Powell's Books' leadership includes:

Emily Powell - President and Owner

Who's Investing in Powell's Books?

Powell's Books has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Powell's Books is a privately held, family-owned company and does not have external institutional investors.

What Leadership Changes Has Powell's Books Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

As a private, family-owned company, Powell's Books does not typically publicize executive-level changes unless they are of major significance to the company's direction or public identity. No major executive hires or exits have been widely reported in the last 12 months.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byPowell's Books?

Discover the tools Powell's Books uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Powell's Books Email Formats and Examples

Powell's Books likely utilizes standard corporate email formats. Common patterns include [first_initial][last]@powells.com or [first].[last]@powells.com. For general inquiries, they have specific departmental emails available on their website.

[first_initial][last]@powells.com or [first].[last]@powells.com

Format

epowell@powells.com or emily.powell@powells.com

Example

70%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Powell's Books?

Publishers WeeklyOctober 26, 2023

Powell's Books Workers Ratify New Contract

Employees at Powell's Books, unionized with ILWU Local 5, ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. The contract includes wage increases, enhanced healthcare benefits, and improved workplace safety measures following months of negotiations....more

Powell's Books BlogApril 22, 2024

Powell's Books Celebrates Independent Bookstore Day 2024

Powell's Books announced its participation in Independent Bookstore Day on April 27, 2024, featuring exclusive books and literary items, special promotions, and activities across its locations to celebrate indie bookstores and the joy of reading....more

Powell's Books EventsOngoing

Powell's Books Hosts Diverse Lineup of Author Events

Powell's Books continues its tradition of hosting a vibrant array of author events, both in-person at its Portland locations and virtually for a global audience. The schedule features renowned and emerging authors across various genres for readings, discussions, and signings....more

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