Every year, ASI releases a list of the best places to work in the industry for both suppliers and distributors. Some interesting facts from this year? Washington won out as the state with the biggest concentration of winners, five in total, and small companies with 25 employees or less accounted for the majority of the list. Here’s an inside look at the top five companies winning the “best place” honor this year and why they made the grade.
 

5. Superior Printing Co.; Medford, Massachusetts. Aside from a beautiful, modern showroom with bright colors and a fireplace, there’s also a “chill-out zone” for employees. Breaks in that room include a fully-equipped lounge and video games. Plus, employees get some pretty good perks: year-end bonuses and 401Ks, holiday parties, early releases on Fridays and profit sharing. Employee Stephanie Rego explained part of why she likes working at Superior so much to Counselor: “The atmosphere is casual. We’re like one big family here. We truly enjoy each other’s company and we all feel like Superior is a great place to work. We work hard, but we make sure we have fun while doing so.”
4. Harper + Scott; New York, New York. At Harper + Scott, it’s all about the unlimited. There are unlimited vacation days, unlimited free food, unlimited chances to lounge in the company’s living room and mostly unlimited potential. Each employee is encouraged to help build the company along with everyone else and to really create their own paths. Of course, commissions for new projects help and so do the multiple health benefit options and an open, casual feel in the office.
3. ScreenBroidery; Indianapolis, Indiana. ScreenBroidery launched from founder Tom Rector’s couch in 2008, and since then, it has grown into a Midwestern powerhouse with offices and a warehouse in Indianapolis and a storefront in Muncie. The company follows the golden rule of America’s heartland: treat others how your mother would treat them. That means everyone is a friend, customers and employees included. That friendship is reflected in the work culture; team members frequently plan social gatherings ranging from happy hours to community clean-ups. ScreenBroidery also offers a unique perk to employees — there’s a certain amount budgeted every month for potential mistakes or reorders. If there’s a problem with an order, that money is deducted from the fund but, at the end of the month, everything left is divided and given to all the employees as an incentive to keep up the good work.
2. Mac Mannes, Inc.; Bethesda, Maryland. These days, it’s odd to see one of the best places to work that doesn’t have all the perks expected by Millennials — like open office plans, free food and lounges. Mac Mannes doesn’t have those things, but it does offer something potentially more important: autonomy. The majority of staff works from home because management really doesn’t see the value in having everyone stuck in traffic just to come into an office where they can do everything they could do at home anyway, thanks to cloud computing. But there are still regular check-in conference calls and networking and team-building activities throughout the year. For those that do come into the office, they get half days on Fridays and a casual dress code.
1. Brand Blvd; St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brand Blvd is a young company in more ways than one. It was founded in 2007 and only has 26 employees — whose average age is only 31. Even the company president, Shaun Lichtenberger, is a young 39, a stark contrast to the typical older business leader in the promotional products industry. The culture at Brand Blvd reflects that youthful mentality. There are awards for high performers, 3-day conferences full of perks, a weekly business consultant visit to discuss goals with staff members individually, 170 charitable initiatives annually and, what may seem like the best perk for employees: the annual Million Dollar Dinner. At this event, the top producers in the company are treated to a limo ride with the owners, an extravagant meal and high-end gifts like custom suits and watches, car detailing and gym memberships. The mentality in the office is focused on fun and innovation and that’s part of why the employees love it so much.
 
Idea Custom Solutions congratulates everyone who made the list!