Courage to Grow: 29 Years of Flintas Publishing

On December 6, Flintas Publishing celebrates its birthday! This year marks its 29th anniversary. On this occasion, a short interview with the publishing house’s CEO, Sikstas Ridzevičius.

1. Flintas Publishing House is turning 29 this year, and during that time, the publishing business has changed significantly. What is the secret of the company’s success and strength that has allowed it to operate successfully to this day?

There is a good saying: change itself is not frightening – what is frightening is failing to change your behavior when circumstances change. The fact that we continue to exist and grow in this rather conservative industry, which is facing increasing competition, is proof that we know how to implement innovations on time.

2. Which of your publishing products are you most proud of?

“Most” is an ungrateful word in this case ????. We have been proud of FLINTAS magazine –because it is still being published and continues to surprise and entertain today’s boys. We are proud of the widest brand, CUTIE, because the magazine alone reaches more than twenty countries. We are proud of the hottest of the seventh Little Ant Wonderwhy book – it’s being swept off the shelves right now before Christmas.

3. Which victory or breakthrough over the 29 years do you remember most vividly?

The courage to choose to be a small publishing house in a big world. Fifteen years ago, we were considering whether to expand our range and try to become leaders in Lithuania, or, on the contrary, to narrow our focus but become competitive in many countries within specific niches. That export ambition helped us achieve breakthroughs in many areas – first and foremost in the quality of our magazines and books.

4. What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you manage to overcome it?

The biggest challenge is how to overcome fear. The Russian crisis, the real estate bubble, COVID-19, the war, staff turnover, and technological changes – everything is a challenge. If you get frightened, you turn into stone, just like in a fairy tale. So you constantly have to nurture courage, hope, and faith, and continuously keep learning.

5. What future vision do you see as you approach the 30th anniversary? What goals and ambitions are shaping the next stage of the publishing house?

I believe we will create that vision together with the team. What I hope for is that we will become more international both internally and externally. We will be even more visible and audible in the world. The greatest goal is to love children and to nurture a love of books in them.