About Us
100% Employee-Owned
At Gibbs Smith, our employees are our foundation. As a 100% employee-owned, certified B Corp, every book we publish is the result of our collective creativity, dedication, and belief in the power of stories. From editors and designers to marketers and warehouse teams, we share ownership of both the work and the mission: to craft books that enrich, inspire, and educate generations.
Who We Are Today
At Gibbs Smith, From our historic barn in Layton, Utah, we publish elegant gift books, imaginative children’s titles, and trusted educational resources now used in classrooms across more than 30 states. As owners, we’re charting new frontiers—expanding into digital learning, advancing sustainable production, and championing an ever-widening diversity of voices and perspectives.
Our Legacy
At Gibbs Smith, We didn’t get here by chance. Our story began in 1969, when Gibbs Smith turned his graduate thesis into a published book. That single title grew into a publishing company built on independence, grit, and a belief in the cultural power of books. By 1973, Gibbs and his wife, Catherine, moved the company into a renovated barn on their family farm—where the ringing of phones mixed with the sound of nearby cows. Their first major success, Utah’s Heritage, was delivered to schools in the back of their truck, setting the tone for our hands-on, heart-driven approach.
We've been busy creating!
Defining Eras
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1970s–80s: We built a strong educational publishing arm while expanding into regional history and lifestyle titles.
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1990s–2000s: Creativity flourished, with bestselling series like 101 Things to Do With and BabyLit, and the introduction of gift items.
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2010s: We introduced the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, ensuring our independence and mission would endure.
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2020s: We achieved 100% employee ownership, earned B Corp certification, and embraced our role as both a cultural force and a sustainable business.
1970s–80s: We built a strong educational publishing arm while expanding into regional history and lifestyle titles.
1990s–2000s: Creativity flourished, with bestselling series like 101 Things to Do With and BabyLit, and the introduction of gift items.
2010s: We introduced the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, ensuring our independence and mission would endure.
2020s: We achieved 100% employee ownership, earned B Corp certification, and embraced our role as both a cultural force and a sustainable business.
Looking Ahead
While our catalog continues to evolve, our purpose stays the same: to make beautiful, meaningful books that connect people to ideas, beauty, and one another. Together—as employees, owners, and storytellers—we are not just publishing books. We are shaping a creative community, building a responsible business, and proving that an independent press rooted in purpose can thrive for generations to come.
