Company Culture: Hirsch Gift (asi/61005) embraces individuality, while still functioning as a cohesive team. One area where this philosophy plays out is the supplier’s lack of a strict dress code. “We allow team members to come to the office in the clothes they feel comfortable in,” says Brittany Frase, national sales manager. “For some employees this means a favorite band hoodie, and for others, it means business casual.” Management leads by example, Frase adds, noting that it’s not unusual to see the president and vice president “roll up their sleeves to get orders out.” Many on the tight-knit team find time to connect even on their off-hours: “We’re a younger, energetic team who love to work hard, and play equally as hard. Our employees see each other all week and still make plans to see each other after work and on weekends.”

COVID Changes: At the beginning of the pandemic, Hirsch Gift had underutilized office space, which made physical distancing between team members and different working groups a simple prospect. Since then, the company has purchased another building to help support its growth, while continuing to maintain necessary distancing. “At a high level, we’ve committed to being transparent in our COVID policies, and placed the health and safety of our staff as our paramount concern,” Frase says. “At a more individual level, we’re keeping team members engaged by scheduling more frequent team lunches and renewing our continuing industry education programs.”

Parting Tip: “Create an atmosphere that nurtures personal and professional growth,” Frase advises. “We make every effort to connect with employees quarterly regarding their short- and long-term goals, both professionally and personally.”