March 09, 2022
Best Places to Work: #22 – Bob Lilly Promotions
Find out what makes this distributor a top promo industry workplace.
Company Size: Small (10-25 employees)
Location: Garland, TX
Work Model: Hybrid
Year Founded: 1999
Company Culture: Bob Lilly Promotions (asi/254138) is making its ninth appearance on the Best Places to Work list. Andrea Weston, director of program operations, says that if the company’s culture had a tagline, it would be “BLP Loves!”
9
Appearances on Best Places to Work
“We love our co-workers and appreciate who they are and what they bring to the company,” Weston explains. “We love our clients and are excited and honored to serve them. And we love our industry – the suppliers, the products, and creativity in finding solutions which exceed our clients’ expectations.”
A generous PTO policy, work-from-home options and affiliation with industry strategic alliance group Peernet are perks that staffers enjoy. “We’re extremely flexible with our employees, understanding that life happens and work happens,” says Weston.
COVID Changes: With employees spread across Texas and other states, BLP has had a flexible “hybrid” work environment for years. That didn’t change during the pandemic, throughout which the firm’s corporate office has remained open. Some employees have worked in the office every day. Others are fully remote. Others do a bit of both.
To keep employees feeling appreciated, BLP has held team-building days (bowling, ax-throwing), potluck and pizza lunches for the corporate team, and bi-monthly Zoom meetings where peer-nominated employees are recognized.
Parting Tip: Thoroughly vet potential hires to ensure they’re a match for your company. BLP arranges for each prospective hire to meet with multiple people at the company “so they get a feel for our vibe as much as we get a feel for them,” says Weston. “We also have each candidate fill out an online profile, which is benchmarked against top performers from within the promotional products industry. Doing some extra digging and evaluating in the beginning makes for a solid union with longevity.”
Full List: Counselor Best Places to Work