Small Business Spotlight: Strive Publishing & Bookstore

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos by Dusty Dembley

Mary Taris

A Discussion with Founder/CEO, Mary Taris

August is National Black Business Month. Let’s take this opportunity to get to know and celebrate an exemplary small business owner and entrepreneur, Mary Taris, Founder and CEO of Strive Publishing & Bookstore. We talked to her about the challenges and joys of operating a bookstore downtown, supporting unrepresented authors and writing contests. Pay her shop a visit at 901 Nicollet Mall. Buy a book and support a small locally-owned business.

Q:  A Star Tribune article from earlier this year noted that Strive Bookstore is part of an intentional transformation of downtown to promote locally-owned, small businesses. Could you tell us your experience as a retailer downtown this year? Have the big events - Pride, U.S. Gymnastics Team Trials, Taste of Minnesota - driven traffic to your stores?

A:  As a retailer in downtown Minneapolis this year I have experienced some ups and downs, and I have learned some valuable lessons.

I love having my bookstore in the beautiful Young-Quinlan Building and I appreciate the owners, Bob and Sue Greenberg for opening up this opportunity. Thanks to my in-house designer, Dusty Dembley, the bookstore has a warm and welcoming vibe with furnishings that highlight the historic aesthetics of the building. It has been wonderful meeting customers who have fond memories of the Young Quinlan building. I am frequently told that the bookstore is beautiful, and many customers say, “thank you for being here” and “it’s great to have a bookstore downtown again.” One customer, Ms. Jewelene McIntyre, who loves books and loves to help has become our bookstore grandma. It is a joy to see her interact with customers, and she gives wise advice. I have met many local authors who come into the bookstore to have us carry their books or host a book launch. I am very proud of our “Local Authors” bookshelf. Neighboring restaurants and other businesses have sent customers our way who ask them about where to shop, which makes me happy to be part of the downtown community.

As a small business owner, I am grateful to have the opportunity to potentially be part of the transformation of downtown, but I must be realistic. There is no guarantee that the Minneapolis Downtown Council will continue the Chameleon Shoppes program. Thanks to major events and conferences happening downtown, bookstore sales go up at those times. It can be scary when 90% of our customers are from out of town. Sales go way down when there’s nothing going on downtown. The challenge is to grow the number of local repeat customers when I have a niche bookstore. Another challenge is building our inventory selection. I am trying to find a balance between underrepresented voices and the best sellers that folks see on television and social media.

One of the main lessons I’ve learned this year is that marketing is key. You can have the best retail spot in town, but if folks don’t know you’re there you don’t grow your business.

Q:  You have an education background. What inspired you to take the leap to open your own business, Strive Publishing?

A:  As an educator, I struggled year after year to find contemporary children’s books that my Black students could relate to. I was frustrated because I knew that my students (like me when I was a child) needed to see themselves represented in the books they read. That frustration made me want to do something about it, something big, and that’s what led me to start a book publishing company. I figured that publishing could be a way to get more books by and about Black people into the world.

Above and below - Strive Bookstore's welcoming environment awash in natural light awaits you at 901 Nicollet Mall in the historic Young-Quinlan Building.

Q:  Your store’s tagline is “breaking barriers, book by book.” Could you speak to us about that a bit?

A:  Book publishers are considered the gatekeepers of the stories that influence society. In my research prior to launching Strive Publishing, I learned that there are many barriers that keep many voices from being published. Those barriers are related to the lack of diversity within the book publishing industry and the dominance of the five largest and most influential publishing companies in America. Specifically, the manuscript submission process and the requirement for authors to have an agent are barriers to authors with limited resources. By accepting unsolicited manuscripts with no agent involved, Strive Publishing is breaking barriers to publishing.

Q:  What role do you see your publishing company and book store playing in promoting diversity and inclusivity in children’s literature?

A:  I see both Strive Publishing and Strive Bookstore as community connecting opportunities. I believe that books play a major role in our lives, introducing us to new places, new experiences, and teaching us about ourselves and others. I want Strive Bookstore to be a space where folks of all backgrounds can come together and share the joy of books and literary events. Especially for children who benefit from what books offer, what professor Rudine Sims Bishop refers to as “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors.” I want children to have access to books with windows to view the world, mirrors to see themselves affirmed, and sliding glass doors to imagine being part of the various worlds they read about.

Q:  Can you share a memorable moment or interaction you’ve had with a customer that stands out to you?

A:  We had a local author visit the bookstore to read their children’s book. It happened to be a day when there was not much going on downtown and my daughter and grandson were the only ones in attendance. So, I went outside and asked two young ladies if they wanted to join us. They got excited and got their friend to come to the book reading too. We all had a wonderful time!

Q:  You sponsor writing contests! Please tell us more about the Black Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest. 

A:  In 2018, I attended a publishers roundtable discussion on diversity in children’s book publishing where I met Judy Galbraith, the owner of Free Spirit Publishing. Since I was new to the publishing industry and Judy had been publishing for thirty-five years, I asked her if she would be interested in finding a way to work together to create opportunities for Black children’s book authors. Judy hosted a meeting at Free Spirit Publishing where we came up with the idea to co-sponsor a writing contest.

The writing contest gives Black writers access to the possibility of becoming a published children’s book author. The first two years the contest was for Minnesota residents, the next two years it grew to regional, and last year we went national. Winners receive cash prizes and the possibility of having their children’s book published.

Q:  We wish you the best during Black Business Month and every month of the year. How may we follow your news? 

A:  You can follow us on Instagram and check out our website and Facebook.