Strategy February 21, 2022
Counselor 2022 Best Places to Work
The overwhelming changes of the last two years have given rise to a new crop of great workplaces.
Since Counselor last put together the Best Places to Work list in 2019, the biggest change is, well, the places we work. While some companies and select personnel have remained in person since the start of the pandemic, a large percentage of promotional products companies continue in some capacity to work remotely.
For an industry that was defined by its office culture, the changes have been radical. And the results certainly show in the 2022 Counselor Best Places to Work list. Out of 50 companies, 22 are making their first appearance. A whopping 82% offer hybrid or remote scheduling.
Don't Miss
Our coverage this year dives deep into this massive sea change. We examine the broader implications of the shift to virtual and why companies, without the ability to fall back on staples like in-office parties, are fully embracing schedule flexibility, clear communication and employee empowerment. For each distributor or supplier profile, we spotlight their company culture and current work model (in person, remote or hybrid), as well as how they’ve kept employees engaged throughout COVID.
To be named a Counselor Best Place to Work, industry firms participated in a months-long survey process where employees evaluated their company on 17 different qualities. The grading occurred on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being most positive and 1 being most negative. To give an idea of the strength of employee satisfaction among all firms nominated, no company scored less than 3.5 in any one category. Counselor then analyzed the scores to determine the final rankings.
The companies on this year’s list pulled off an impressive feat. They’ve weathered unprecedented economic and societal changes to keep employees productive and happy. They’ve emerged on the other side as good or even better than they were before. Join us in celebrating their accomplishments and learn their secrets in making a great place to work – wherever that may be.
Click on each company name below to find out what makes it a top workplace.
Ranking | Company Name | Distributor / Supplier | Headquarters | Appearances on Best Places to Work |
---|---|---|---|---|
41 | Foxtrot Marketing Group (asi/170720) | Distributor | New Brighton, MN | 1 |
42 | Vanguard Promotions (asi/350665) | Distributor | New York, NY | 1 |
43 | Consolidus (asi/166966) | Distributor | Akron, OH | 2 |
44 | Metropak (asi/70830) | Supplier | Richardson, TX | 3 |
45 | Gemline (asi/56070) | Supplier | Lawrence, MA | 2 |
46 | Arrow Emblems (asi/36901) | Supplier | Kent, WA | 1 |
47 | Kaeser & Blair (asi/238600) | Distributor | Batavia, OH | 3 |
48 | AIA Corporation (asi/109480) | Distributor | Appleton, WI | 7 |
49 | Stahls' (asi/88984) | Supplier | St. Clair Shores, MI | 1 |
50 | Fairware (asi/191452) | Distributor | Vancouver, BC | 1 |
Since Counselor last put together the Best Places to Work list in 2019, the biggest change is, well, the places we work. While some companies and select personnel have remained in person since the start of the pandemic, a large percentage of promotional products companies continue in some capacity to work remotely.
For an industry that was defined by its office culture, the changes have been radical. And the results certainly show in the 2022 Counselor Best Places to Work list. Out of 50 companies, 22 are making their first appearance. A whopping 82% offer hybrid or remote scheduling.
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Our coverage this year dives deep into this massive sea change. We examine the broader implications of the shift to virtual and why companies, without the ability to fall back on staples like in-office parties, are fully embracing schedule flexibility, clear communication and employee empowerment. For each distributor or supplier profile, we spotlight their company culture and current work model (in person, remote or hybrid), as well as how they’ve kept employees engaged throughout COVID.
To be named a Counselor Best Place to Work, industry firms participated in a months-long survey process where employees evaluated their company on 17 different qualities. The grading occurred on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being most positive and 1 being most negative. To give an idea of the strength of employee satisfaction among all firms nominated, no company scored less than 3.5 in any one category. Counselor then analyzed the scores to determine the final rankings.
The companies on this year’s list pulled off an impressive feat. They’ve weathered unprecedented economic and societal changes to keep employees productive and happy. They’ve emerged on the other side as good or even better than they were before. Join us in celebrating their accomplishments and learn their secrets in making a great place to work – wherever that may be.
Click on each company name below to find out what makes it a top workplace.
Ranking | Company Name | Distributor / Supplier | Headquarters | Appearances on Best Places to Work |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bright Ideas (asi/146026) | Distributor | Troy, VA | 8 |
2 | The Book Company (asi/41010) | Supplier | Delray Beach, FL | 11 |
3 | Identify Yourself (asi/232242) | Distributor | Kitty Hawk, NC | 1 |
4 | Printable Promotions (asi/299458) | Distributor | Chicago, IL | 6 |
5 | Stowebridge (asi/337500) | Distributor | Chandler, AZ | 9 |
6 | Doing Good Works (asi/222095) | Distributor | Irvine, CA | 1 |
7 | RiteLine (asi/82498) | Supplier | Dallas, TX | 2 |
8 | Tic Toc (asi/158990) | Distributor | Dallas, TX | 10 |
9 | Weaver Associates Inc. (asi/550019) | Distributor | Lancaster, PA | 1 |
10 | Walker-Clay Inc. (asi/354530) | Distributor | Hanson, MA | 11 |
11 | Crystal D (asi/47759) | Supplier | St. Paul, MN | 4 |
12 | Liquid Screen Design (asi/254663) | Distributor | Minneapolis, MN | 1 |
13 | Williams & Associates (asi/360450) | Distributor | Tucson, AZ | 1 |
14 | Midnite Snax (asi/71685) | Supplier | Bethpage, NY | 5 |
15 | iPromo (asi/229471) | Distributor | Chicago, IL | 1 |
16 | CE Competitive Edge (asi/166085) | Distributor | Stevensville, MI | 9 |
17 | LogoIncluded (asi/67837) | Supplier | Cumming, GA | 1 |
18 | iClick (asi/62124) | Supplier | Seattle, WA | 12 |
19 | TCAG (asi/170136) | Distributor | Littleton, CO | 2 |
20 | Image Masters (asi/230071) | Distributor | Merced, CA | 1 |
21 | Blink Marketing (asi/141424) | Distributor | Franklin, TN | 1 |
22 | Bob Lilly Promotions (asi/254138) | Distributor | Garland, TX | 9 |
23 | PromoPlace (asi/144084) | Distributor | Ancaster, ON | 1 |
24 | Pinnacle Designs (asi/78140) | Supplier | San Fernando, CA | 8 |
25 | Evans Manufacturing (asi/52840) | Supplier | Garden Grove, CA | 1 |
26 | Gator Garb Promotions (asi/202667) | Distributor | Altoona, WI | 1 |
27 | BAMKO (asi/131431) | Distributor | Los Angeles, CA | 2 |
28 | Image Source (asi/230121) | Distributor | Seattle, WA | 12 |
29 | BEL Promo (asi/39552) | Supplier | Medley, FL | 1 |
30 | Hirsch Gift (asi/61005) | Supplier | Houston, TX | 4 |
31 | Pacesetter Awards (asi/75640) | Supplier | Chicago, IL | 2 |
32 | PowerStick.com (asi/51566) | Supplier | Ottawa, ON | 1 |
33 | Brand Fuel (asi/145025) | Distributor | Raleigh, NC & Virginia Beach, VA | 8 |
34 | Children's World Uniform Supply (asi/161711) | Distributor | Sarasota, FL | 1 |
35 | Pinnacle Promotions (asi/295986) | Distributor | Norcross, GA | 6 |
36 | Custom Logos (asi/173183) | Distributor | San Diego, CA | 6 |
37 | World Emblem (asi/98264) | Supplier | Hollywood, FL | 1 |
38 | Harper + Scott (asi/220052) | Distributor | New York, NY | 3 |
39 | Toddy Gear (asi/91411) | Supplier | Chicago, IL | 1 |
40 | Promotional Consultants (asi/300790) | Distributor | St. Louis, MO | 6 |
41 | Foxtrot Marketing Group (asi/170720) | Distributor | New Brighton, MN | 1 |
42 | Vanguard Promotions (asi/350665) | Distributor | New York, NY | 1 |
43 | Consolidus (asi/166966) | Distributor | Akron, OH | 2 |
44 | Metropak (asi/70830) | Supplier | Richardson, TX | 3 |
45 | Gemline (asi/56070) | Supplier | Lawrence, MA | 2 |
46 | Arrow Emblems (asi/36901) | Supplier | Kent, WA | 1 |
47 | Kaeser & Blair (asi/238600) | Distributor | Batavia, OH | 3 |
48 | AIA Corporation (asi/109480) | Distributor | Appleton, WI | 7 |
49 | Stahls' (asi/88984) | Supplier | St. Clair Shores, MI | 1 |
50 | Fairware (asi/191452) | Distributor | Vancouver, BC | 1 |