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Michael Tucker
President at Books Inc.
Michael Tucker, President and CEO of Books Inc.
Michael Tucker is the President and CEO of Books Inc., a prominent independent bookstore chain in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been a key figure in the company's history and growth over the past few decades.
Early Career and Acquisition of Books Inc.
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Tucker began working at Books Inc. in the 1980s as a store manager after previously working in the Middle East on archaeological digs, at the now-defunct wholesaler Bookpeople in Berkeley, and running a graphic design firm.2
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In 1995, when longtime owner Lew Lengfeld died, Tucker and a few other trusted employees took ownership of Books Inc. at a time when the company faced severe financial troubles and had to declare bankruptcy.15
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With the help of Michael Grant, Tucker was able to rebuild the company, emerging from bankruptcy in 1997 with 4 stores.5 He then went on to open 6 new stores and computerize the company's operations.4
Leadership and Expansion
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Under Tucker's leadership, Books Inc. has grown to 11 locations in the Bay Area, including 8 neighborhood bookstores and 2 Compass Books locations at the San Francisco International Airport.13
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Tucker has overseen the opening, closing or moving of around 30 Books Inc. stores over the past 20 years.1 Some key milestones include:
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Each Books Inc. location actively engages with its local community, with the company donating over $100,000 annually to support schools, libraries, and charitable organizations.2
Industry Leadership
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Tucker served on the American Booksellers Association (ABA) board for six years, including two as president from 2009-2011, during a challenging time for the industry.14
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As ABA president, Tucker focused on educational programs, publisher relations, and e-books to help indie bookstores navigate the changing landscape.4 He was praised for his generosity in offering advice and support to other booksellers.4
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Tucker is known as a "change maker" who helped Books Inc. not just survive but thrive in the face of competition from national chains and the rise of e-commerce.4 He is described as "fiercely committed" to helping indie bookstores succeed.4
