October 24, 2023
Counselor Power 50 2023: No. 2 CJ Schmidt, Hit Promotional Products
Welcome to the 2023 Power 50 list, which ranks the most influential people in the industry.
#2 CJ Schmidt
Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125) – CEO
2022 Rank: #6
Industry Experience: 19 Years
Previous Appearances on Power 50: 13
With his Counselor Top 40 company’s sales up 41% in 2022 from $434 million to $611 million, CJ Schmidt has proven himself over the last few years to be one of the industry’s most astute and strategic operators, successfully guiding his company through challenges like facility-damaging hurricanes, the pandemic, supply chain disruptions and market volatility. With a recently-announced partnership with fellow Top 40 apparel supplier Stormtech, a host of respected industry hires like Tiffany Tarr, Kim Brockschmidt and – just a few weeks ago – Jon Norris, and one of the best overseas sourcing and networking channels in the business, it’s not surprising that Schmidt predicts Hit’s sales will increase by 10%-12% in 2023.