TOP SMALL COMPANIES (10-25 employees)
Competitive Edge (PPAI 103776, D6)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Stevensville, Michigan
Founded: 1993
Top Executive: Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS, president
Employees: 17
Website: www.competitive-edge.net
Survey Results: Employee recognition and praise, good benefits package, confident about future of company, motivates employees to do best work
What employees say: “The CE leadership team truly strives to create a positive work environment for the entire staff. Their passion and perseverance are inspiring. Clients take notice, and it’s one of the reasons they are loyal to CE. Of course, there are always going to be obstacles, but they are always transparent about our challenges and the steps we will take to rectify the situation. They genuinely care about our growth, both professionally and personally.”
City Apparel (PPAI 242048, D5)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Findlay, Ohio
Founded: 2000
Top Executive: Andrea Kramer, president
Employees: 13
Website: cityapparel.net
Survey Results: Fair pay, confident about future at company, informed about important company decisions, offers tools and training
What employees say: “City Apparel feels like a family and not a company. We lift each other up, support one another and challenge each other to be and do better every day. So many employers make it difficult to balance work and family life, but City Apparel understands the importance of balance and never makes you feel guilty for having to choose one or the other. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing I can be a mom first and employee second.”
Concepts & Associates (PPAI 134402, D7)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama
Founded: 1983
Top Executive: Tim Hennessy, president
Employees: 17
Website: conceptsusa.com
Survey Results: Fair pay, confident about future at company, informed about important company decisions, offers tools and training
What employees say: “I work for a great family-owned and family-oriented company. My pay is great. I’m off nights and weekends, and they understand that things come up and things happen outside of work. They understand family emergencies and try to work with me if I need to be away from the office. It’s a great place to work, and I look forward to the future here.”
Fill It Forward (PPAI 792815, S1)
Category: Supplier
Headquarters: Guelph, Ontario
Founded: 2012
Top Executive: Matt Wittek, founder & CEO
Employees: 15
Website: fillitforward.com
Survey Results: Fair pay, confident about future at company, informed about important company decisions, offers tools and training
What employees say: “This is the best job I have ever had. I am treated with respect and kindness, and we laugh a lot! I enjoy being around my co-workers, and I love the work I do. Our hybrid work situation allows for a healthy balance. Although being in the office is the best, it is also nice to work at home a few days each week. Fill it Forward is a dream place to work in every way.”
Gator Garb Promotions (PPAI 216347, D6)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Altoona, Wisconsin
Founded: 1997
Top Executive: Fred Stark, owner and president
Employees: 18
Website: gatorgarb.net
Survey Results: Fair pay, confident about future at company, informed about important company decisions, offers tools and training
What employees say: “Working at Gator Garb is an amazing experience! We are busy and have a lot going on, but I am able to self-manage my work while being supported and encouraged to share new ideas and products. Our team is growing, and with that teamwork and collaboration is also encouraged and promoted. We are given a good amount of PTO and holidays and are offered hybrid work schedules along with summer hours, so I feel that I am presented with the opportunities to take time for myself/family and to replenish my mental energy.”
Identify Yourself (PPAI 281720, D5)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Founded: 2000
Top Executive: Joseph Ausband, president
Employees: 11
Website: idyourself.com
Survey Results: Good benefits, employees feel appreciated, confidence in leadership, new ideas welcome
What employees say: “Identify Yourself has outstanding business values – honesty, integrity, customer service and satisfaction. We work hard as a team and praise team members with words of encouragement. All wheels within the business work cohesively together. It’s caring, goal-oriented leadership. Great company!”
Image Masters (PPAI 172738, D6)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Merced, California
Founded: 2000
Top Executive: Tim O’Neill, CEO
Employees: 24
Website: imagemasters.com
Survey Results: New ideas welcome, fair pay, efficient operations, recognition and praise of employee work, good benefits
What employees say: “Image Masters has an amazing work culture. Not only does everyone care about each other, but everybody is willing to help one another in any task that is at hand. There is amazing flexibility, camaraderie and recognition. If you have something come up in your personal life, our bosses are more than willing to work with us, telling us that family and personal health is the No. 1 priority, and our work will still be here when we get back. Being a smaller, family-owned company helps, as we are all close to our bosses and feel comfortable talking to them about anything that we need to.”
KG Specialties (PPAI 270537, D3)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Troutdale, Oregon
Founded: 1992
Top Executive: Kyle Gibbons, president
Employees: 11
Website: kgspecialties.com
Survey Results: Good benefits, well-informed about important company decisions, opportunities to learn and grow, fair pay
What employees say: “At my job, I get to do something I enjoy and work with people who are friendly and hardworking. I am afforded the ability to manage my own tasks by proven consistency in work quality and timeliness. I would highly recommend KG Specialties to anyone in my industry or someone looking to get involved in promotional products/decoration/apparel.”
Magellan Promotions (PPAI 288676, D6)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: West Allis, Wisconsin
Founded: 2005
Top Executive: Michael Wolaver, owner
Employees: 13
Website: magellanpromotions.com
Survey Results: Good pay and benefits, employees recommend working here, new ideas welcome, well-informed about important company decisions
What employees say: “Magellan Promotions is an amazing place to work. Employees develop deep connections with each other and support one another in the growth of the company. Leadership has developed such an amazing culture – one of trust, inclusion, supportiveness, positivity and integrity. We truly have the flexibility to balance personal lives and work – no questions asked. By far, the greatest work environment I’ve ever experienced.”
Maple Ridge Farms (PPAI 114165, S8)
Category: Supplier
Headquarters: Mosinee, Wisconsin
Founded: 1979
Top Executive: Thomas Riordan, president
Employees: 23
Website: mapleridge.com
Survey Results: Efficient operations, well-informed about important company decisions, new ideas welcome, motivates employees to do their best, offers tools and training
What employees say: “Not everybody is fortunate enough to love their jobs and what they do. I truly feel like I get to work at a company that stands behind its employees, supporting our growth both professionally and personally. Our farm family is just that – a family filled with everyday mentors, leaders and creative thinkers. I couldn’t have asked for a better intro to promo. And I look forward to what the future holds for our team of ‘Ridgers!’”
Pride Products Distributors (PPAI 192311, D2)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Springfield, New Jersey
Founded: 1997
Top Executives: Wendy Ferber and Andrew Nadel, co-CEOs
Employees: 10
Website: pride-products.com
Survey Results: Good benefits, well-informed about important company decisions, employees recommend working here, new ideas welcome
What employees say: “I’ve never had another job where the leadership was this genuinely invested in its employees. They do everything they can to keep us happy, and there is always tons of praise for a job well done. I feel appreciated and very happy with my job. Of course, every job could pay more, but in comparison to other similar positions, the pay and benefits are great. I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Red Promotions (PPAI 385713)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington
Founded: 2008
Top Executive: Shelly Stewart, president
Employees: 13
Website: redpromo.net
Survey Results: Motivates employees to do their best work, confidence in the future, flexible, efficient operations, strong values and ethics, confidence in leadership
What employees say: “It is honestly the most amazing place to work. Shelley, our fearless leader, is one of the most genuine, honest, smartest and most beautiful humans I know. I’m blessed to get to work with her, as well as all of the ladies at Red. We are a group of strong independent, hardworking ladies, and that all stems from the top. Even with all of us working remotely, we’ve still managed to find ways to bond and maintain close relationships with each other, which is important to us all. Everyone should be so lucky to have such an incredible work family.”
Scrub Authority (PPAI 387935, S6)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Littleton, Colorado
Founded: 1994
Top Executive: Rob Mossman, CEO
Employees: 18
Website: scrubauthority.com
Survey Results: Good pay and benefits, employee recognition and praise, well-informed about company decisions, employees feel appreciated
What employees say: “Scrub Authority is the best company I have ever worked for. Never in my career have I been surrounded by so many who truly care about the work they do and the colleagues and customers with whom they do it. This is a unique organization with incredible people. I am lucky to be here.”
Show Your Logo (PPAI 511027, D6)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Oswego, Illinois
Founded: 1999
Top Executive: Don Forsell, president
Employees: 22
Website: showyourlogo.com
Survey Results: Good pay and benefits, confidence in the future, well-informed about major company decisions, efficient operations
What employees say: “First of all, I don’t like to tell people too much about where I work because they always ask for a job after I tell them about what it’s like to work here. We always say that working at Show Your Logo is like working with your family, but it’s the family you get to choose. We are always here to help each other with work or personal issues. We have a ‘say yes’ attitude toward our customers and employees. It’s just a fun and rewarding place to work.”
Specialty Incentives (PPAI 104275, D8)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Denver, Colorado
Founded: 1982
Top Executive: Andrew Davis, owner and president
Employees: 16
Website: specialtyinc.com
Survey Results: Praise for a job well done, well-informed about major company decisions, motivates employees to do their best work, employees feel appreciated
What employees say: “Specialty Incentives is strongly anchored in striving to provide the best solutions possible for our clients, suppliers and associates. Every day. Our leadership consistently seeks new ideas for improving efficiency to stay ahead of our competition. They are not afraid to try something new and invest in its success or learn from its failure. I have complete freedom to do my job in any way that’s comfortable while achieving results. The support I’ve received when life happens is unprecedented.”
Walker-Clay (PPAI 109398, D6)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Hanson, Massachusetts
Founded: 1956
Top Executive: Amanda Clay, president
Employees: 16
Website: walker-clay.com
Survey Results: Good benefits, well-informed about major company decisions, confidence in the future, offers tools and training, strong values and ethics
What employees say: “Walker-Clay is truly my work family. It is a small group of diversified individuals of different ages that enjoy working as a team for the better of the company. I’m thrilled to be working in a great atmosphere where my family, as well as I as an individual, come first. Where flexibility and the ability to work from home when needed is never an issue. As an older employee coming to the end of my career, I couldn’t have picked a better place to retire from when the time comes.”
Way To Be Designs (PPAI 287330, D3)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: Hayward, California
Founded: 1956
Top Executives: Alan McIntosh and Wayne Beasley, co-founders and partners
Employees: 17
Website: waytobe.com
Survey Results: Good pay and benefits, well-informed about major company decisions, recognition and praise for a job well done, efficient operations
What employees say: “Way To Be is a company that values their employees. They regularly solicit input from employees and as a result, employees feel valued and heard. The company has a strong emphasis on doing the right thing. We sometimes refer to it as the ‘Way To Be Way.’ The company empowers the employees to make decisions consistent with company values. Living and acting on values sometimes cost a bit more money, but almost always, the money is not material. I feel very fortunate to be part of Way To Be.”
You Name It Specialties (PPAI 102673, D5)
Category: Distributor
Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
Founded: 1990
Top Executive: Josh King, owner and president
Employees: 9
Website: younameitspecialties.com
Survey Results: Good pay and benefits, flexibility, well-informed about major company decisions, confidence in leadership
What employees say: “I love my job! No day is the exact same as the one before. YNIS has been my home for six years now, and I will never work anywhere else. I found my forever home in You Name It Specialties Inc. Our leaders are exceptional. They care and have concern about every one of us. We are family! The amazing company and people I work with/for are my family first, my friends second and my coworkers last. YNIS is the best company to work for.”
