Earlier this year, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss announced “Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big” as the 2017 Mayor’s Book of the Year. Now, Books and Mortar is hosting a book discussion in partnership with Local First to talk about the book and how Grand Rapids can become a “small giant.”
The book discussion is being held on Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Books and Mortar, 955 Cherry St. SE. It is free to attend.
“Small Giants” was selected as the Mayor’s Book of the Year in conjunction with the #GRLocalChallenge campaign, in which Bliss challenged Grand Rapids residents to visit one local business during 2017 and share a photo on social media, tagging it with #GRLocalChallenge.
“West Michigan is home to many businesses that are small giants, which is what makes our region so special,” Bliss said. “Working together, we can continue to support locally owned companies by shopping local and spreading the word about our amazing small businesses.”
Written by Bo Burlingham, “Small Giants” takes a look at 14 privately held companies, each in varying sections of industry, that have made a conscious decision to be “great instead of big.” These companies have redefined what it means to be successful and are beginning to change the economic landscape.
Kris Spaulding, owner of Brewery Vivant, said she read “Small Giants” before opening her brewery. “I read ‘Small Giants’ when Brewery Vivant was just a dream. This book has shaped how my husband and I run our business today as well as the policies we implement to ensure Brewery Vivant has a positive impact on our employees, the environment and our neighborhood.”
The book talk is an opportunity for community members to participate in a dialogue about the book’s message and meet some of West Michigan’s “small giants.”
“This book talk is now an opportunity to have a dialogue with community members and local businesses on how we can put the book’s lessons into action in West Michigan,” said Elissa Hillary, president of Local First.
Additional Events
Burlingham will also be speaking in Grand Rapids on Monday, Nov. 6.
Local First will host a second book discussion on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 at Schuler Books & Music.
*This article has been updated. An earlier version of this article stated that Mayor Rosalynn Bliss would be in attendance. GR|Mag has since learned she will not be in attendance.
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