Gibbs Smith Adds Southern Accent

by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 4/18/2005

Looking to broaden its geographical appeal, Gibbs Smith, Publisher, based in Layton, Utah, has acquired Wyrick & Co. of Charleston, S.C. Wyrick founder Pete Wyrick will continue to run the company from Charleston as an imprint of Gibbs Smith. Christopher Robbins, general manager of Gibbs Smith, said the purchase will increase the company's presence in the Southeast. "The Southeast can be a challenging market for a publisher in the Rocky Mountains," Robbins said.

The purchase includes 47 backlist titles in architecture, design and cooking, as well as some regional works. Robbins said Wyrick will continue to publish in those areas, beginning with a fall list of five new titles. Plans call for Wyrick to do 10 to 12 titles in 2006 and to increase the list by about 5% per year thereafter. "Pete has a tremendous Rolodex with ties throughout the Southeast," Robbins said. "We want to build the Wyrick backlist, and the way to do that is to invest in frontlist, " Robbins said. While he is looking for Wyrick's titles to have national appeal, Robbin said Gibbs Smith "won't be afraid" to publish regional works.

Gibbs Smith is coming off a 2004 in which revenue rose by 36%, pushing sales to more than $10 million. The first quarter of 2005 came in ahead of plan, with its textbook division benefiting from higher school funding, while sales in the trade group continue to be led by the publisher's interior design, cooking and children's lines. Gibbs had a big hit last Christmas with the children's title The Big Book of Boy's Stuff, which now has 50,000 copies in print. The Big Book of Girl's Stuff is planned for later this year.

Gibbs Smith is also investing in its infrastructure, a move that includes expanding its warehouse. The company is not finished on the acquisition front, either. In June, Robbins expects to complete the purchase of a Southwest publisher that will bring out new titles next year.