The story of Tiger Oak began with the release of its first title, Minnesota Bride Magazine, in June 1993. Created for the discerning bride-to-be, Minnesota Bride smartly and artistically presented the area’s best resources and experts to help make her event unique and memorable.
The magazine's combination of beautiful design, intelligent, well-crafted editorial, and high-grade paper quickly gained the attention of readers and advertisers alike. But it did much more than that. Minnesota Bride set the tone of all of what Tiger Oak has become and still is more than 20 years later: a publishing entity committed to quality and thoughtful attention to detail on every level.
As publishing evolved, so too did Tiger Oak. Today, Tiger Oak is a multi-dimensional media company, delivering content to audiences through branded apps, social media and high-profile events.
But no matter what method a reader uses to engage with us—print, digital or events—that same commitment to quality design, editorial and presentation remains. It’s what has made Tiger Oak’s brands considered among the very best in their respective niches and why everyone from Fortune 100 companies to the individual entrepreneur wants to engage with what we create.
The Only Frequently Asked Question
“So where did the name Tiger Oak come from, anyway?” Yes, the name often attracts attention, because it isn’t terribly common and certainly doesn’t appear to say anything much about publishing. Here is the short story:
Before there even was a company, I was helping a good friend of mine, Martha, move as she had gotten a new job and was leaving Minneapolis for Chicago. We start lifting this rather large desk, and I said, "that's a real cool desk; what is it made of?" She replied, "It was my grandfather's. It's tiger oak, and that's why it has those stripes in it."
At that same time I was bidding on a custom publication for Radisson Hotels and was on the phone talking about the company (which, admittedly, was a tad fictitious since it was just myself), and the lady I was speaking with asked me what the company's name was. It so happened I was at a friend's house looking straight at a built-in oak cabinet and said, "It's Tiger Oak Publications." I wish the origin of our name was more scintillating, but reality is what it is.
If you haven't seen tiger oak, it is actually quartersawn wood radially cut against the grain. That's how the "stripes" are created and why it has a rather distinctive look. Any wood can be cut like this, from maple to redwood to hickory. Had I not been staring at oak, I suppose it could have been Tiger Teak Media. You'll recognize the oak leaf is part of the logo design that art director Alicia, who designed many issues of Minnesota Bride before moving to Seattle, originally created.
Thanks for reading our story. Thanks, too, for visiting Tiger Oak's website, and learning about our titles and brands. I'm quite proud of the entrepreneurial organization we've created over the past two decades.
--R. Craig Bednar, president and publisher