ROSELAND, N.J., May 12, 2026 – In its continued series spotlighting this year’s Grit & Wisdom Award winners, ADP highlights Malibu Village Books and the practical advice owner Michelle Pierce has for fellow entrepreneurs on staying resilient.
Small Business Spotlight: Malibu Village Books
In the day-to-day rush of running a small business, it’s easy to forget what a vital role you and your employees play in your community. For Malibu Village Books, that point was driven home after a series of disasters in late 2024 and early 2025. Two fires, a massive earthquake, a mudslide, and a six-month road closure left the town and its residents facing immense challenges.
It became clear to owner Michelle Pierce that closing the store was not an option. The bookstore had become a lifeline for their beachfront community, where residents found comfort and connection in one another. Yet, Michelle’s requests for financial assistance were turned down. “Bookstores don’t matter,” she was told. “I moved forward every day, opening our doors and showing up for work because the employees and our community needed the bookstore.”
Michelle credits two things for getting the store through the crises: financial resilience and creativity. “Never underestimate the power of a rainy-day fund,” she shares. “We [now] operate with a sharper financial discipline and work hard to maintain reserves. We have diversified how we reach customers and how we serve our community beyond the bookstore’s walls. We invest with more intention in events and programming that bring people together. We are more resilient, more resourceful, and more deeply rooted in our purpose than ever before.”
Don’t underestimate creativity either, she adds. “Getting creative in thought, systems and practice is the only way to push past present challenges and change for the future. We had to get creative with outreach, with inspiring employees and partnering with organizations to make ends meet. Ultimately remember, challenges are only a chapter of your business’ story.”
For more small business stories and support, visit adp.com/gritandwisdom.
FAQs:
The awards highlight real examples of entrepreneurs navigating challenges such as cash flow pressure, operational disruption, leadership transitions, growth decisions and unexpected external events. Their stories offer practical lessons other business owners can apply as they strengthen their own operations.
Small businesses can build resilience by formalizing and documenting key processes, improving financial visibility, preparing for workforce and supplier disruptions, and creating systems that add structure and continuity to business processes. ADP’s Grit & Wisdom Award winners show how structure, adaptability and leadership can help businesses navigate challenges and drive growth.
ADP supports more than 900,000 small businesses with the workforce infrastructure that makes business possible. ADP’s HR and payroll solutions are designed to help businesses manage their most critical workforce functions with precision, compliance, and confidence.
