Counselor 2024 Best Places to Work: #30 – Tools of Marketing

Find out what makes this distributor a top workplace.

Tools of Marketing logo

Company Size: Medium (26-100 employees)
Category Ranking: 13 (out of 35 medium companies)
Overall Ranking: 30 (out of 75 companies)
Location: Sauk City, WI
Year Founded: 1995

Ingredients for a Best Place to Work: Ask employees of Wisconsin-based Tools of Marketing (TOM, asi/345333) what distinguishes the business as an employer, and “flexibility” emerges an oft-cited reply. Employees at the female-owned business founded by Marietta Reuter in 1995 can work full-time, part-time, remotely from home or even on an “on-call” basis. “Employees are treated with respect and fairness, and our leadership team understands how life can bring the unexpected,” office assistant Mary Halweg says. “This caring environment is why the staff enjoy working here.”

Top Attributes

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Flexible Work Arrangements

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Alignment With Company Goals

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Reasonable Workload

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Job Satisfaction

It’s also why former employees remain so connected to TOM. To wit: the company’s “Special Forces” include “retired” staffers who return as extra hands to tackle large projects or shipments. Special Forces members can pitch in as they’d like. For some, the on-call work facilitates continued connections with TOM and former colleagues. For others, it’s a way to collect some retirement “play money.”

Tools of Marketing employees

Top Benefits & Perks: While the traditional benefits exist – health insurance, IRA benefit match and paid vacations – TOM distinguishes itself with a few lively perks: Monday staff lunches; in-house life skill seminars around topics like financial health and online safety; yoga days; and staff raffles for event tickets or gift cards. And while TOM celebrates each employee’s birthday and work anniversary with cards, singing and an afternoon ice cream social, employees also get their birthday off with pay.

Oh, and then there’s this: an all-staff trip to Disney World to celebrate – albeit belatedly thanks to COVID – the company’s 25th anniversary.

Three Words That Describe Tools of Marketing

Flexible
Caring
Family-Centered