When President and Executive Chairman Ira Neaman or CEO Rob Watson run into one of their employees at Counselor Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) and ask how they’re doing, it’s not a rhetorical question. “They don’t keep walking,” says Donna Krusznis, senior director of marketing at the Avenel, NJ-based decorated-apparel firm. “They’re making eye contact, and they expect an answer.”

Neaman and Watson, who share a spot on Counselor’s Power 50 list of the most influential people in the industry, are genuinely concerned about the well-being of their workers, and that culture of caring is one of the reasons so many people have chosen to stay with the company for the long haul. Indeed, 138 employees have been with Vantage for at least 15 consecutive years, and some have stayed significantly longer. “We have a lot of tenured people here, which is a testament to the organization,” says Sean Macilvain, vice president of business development.

Senior leaders at Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) routinely serve food at employee celebrations.

Anu Mathew, a digital commerce administrator who’s been with the company for about four years, was particularly impressed that top leadership get to know employees by name – a sharp contrast to the corporate environments she was accustomed to. “Vantage actually takes the time to make you feel like you belong. … You’re not just another number,” Mathew adds. “When an employee feels safe at work, it’s one of the biggest perks.”

Vantage Apparel was launched nearly half a century ago when printed T-shirts were rising in popularity. Neaman saw an opportunity for brands to add their logo to more upscale apparel, like polo shirts. In those early days, Neaman would purchase fabric, have shirts made to order locally, then customize them with direct embroidery. Fast-forward to today when Vantage Apparel, still known for its high-quality apparel decoration capabilities, has made significant investments in technology, becoming an early adopter of print-on-demand e-commerce.

Operationally, Vantage leaders empower the team to make their own decisions, looking at failure as a learning opportunity rather than a personal condemnation, Macilvain says. At the same time, he adds, leadership is also quick to “get their hands dirty” on untangling day-to-day snarls and problem orders. “If you really need help and you hit a wall, any senior leader is willing to just stop what they’re doing to help,” Macilvain adds.

Vantage Apparel hosts a cowboy-themed party for employees.

That all-hands-on-deck mentality is “just part of the culture” at Vantage, Watson says.

But hard work is only one piece of the puzzle. Vantage Apparel also builds in plenty of time for fun. The supplier hosts outdoor cookouts, holiday parties, Thanksgiving potlucks and food truck days. “There are almost 400 people here in our New Jersey facility,” Watson says, “and if you work in production, you have your own separate entrance and rarely ever come into the office section of the building, so these kinds of celebrations give everyone an opportunity to sort of commingle together.”

As the company prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, Watson says, he’s looking forward to what comes next.

“We’re building a culture,” Watson says. “Culture isn’t just a check mark; it’s not a transaction. … I’m very proud of the infrastructure we’ve built in our organization of thoughtful people coming together every single day to do something pretty dynamic.”