Gibbs Smith

Gibbs Smith is a 100% employee-owned independent publisher and distributor headquartered in Layton, Utah. Founded in 1969 by Gibbs and Catherine Smith, the company began as Peregrine Publishers in Santa Barbara, California, before relocating to a converted barn in Utah in 1973. Over the decades, Gibbs Smith has grown into a multifaceted publishing house, encompassing Gibbs Smith Book & Gift and Gibbs Smith Education, and distributing titles for partners like Lil' Libros and Angel City Press. Today, the company employs over 80 employee-owners across the United States.

Gibbs Smith became employee-owned in 2015 when it implemented an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), selling 50% of the company to its employees. In 2022, the ESOP acquired the remaining 50% from co-founder Catherine Smith, making Gibbs Smith fully employee-owned. This transition was driven by the founders' desire to ensure the company's longevity and to align ownership with the collaborative culture they had cultivated. This ownership model strengthens Gibbs Smith's commitment to its mission of enriching and inspiring humankind through its publications.