Employee retention, reflecting a positive work environment, has played a significant role in the success of New Berlin-based Caliendo Savio Enterprises Inc. (CSE).
Thirty-eight of the company’s 94 employees have worked there for more than 10 years, says Tom Savio, president and chief executive officer.
“We’re a close-knit company. It’s important that our employees like the work environment and get along with the people because a lot of times it’s the last place people work,” Savio said.
CSE provides branded uniforms and products. The company offers clients everything from in-house embroidery, the development of Web site stores and warehousing to fulfillment.
The company was founded in 1981 by Savio’s father, Jerry Savio, and partner, Chuck Caliendo, in a home office. Despite its small size, the firm served major clients such as Miller Brewing Co. and Kohler Co. CSE outgrew the home office and operated out of three separate buildings for a while. In 2005, the company moved into a 90,000-square-foot building in New Berlin. The move has made operations more efficient, and the site offers the potential to expand another 100,000 square feet.
Two years ago, Savio implemented a $200,000 employee mistake prevention incentive, and mistakes have since declined 50 percent.
“It’s a very competitive business, and the person with the least amount of mistakes will get the business,” said Savio.
Savio starts the year by putting $200,000 into a pool, and for every costly mistake that the employees make throughout the year, he deducts how much the mistake costs the company. The money left in the pool by the end of the period is divided equally among the employees.
Since the employees gain and lose together, Savio believes that this builds teamwork and communication while also drastically reducing costly errors.
The company also makes an effort get feedback from customers. CSE sends e-mail and mail-in survey cards with every shipment. About 28 percent respond to the e-mail surveys, and about 4 percent respond to the mail-in surveys. In those surveys, Savio said the company’s clients have given the firm high grades for quality order handling, Web site experience and timeliness of delivery.
CSE – Caliendo Savio Enterprises Inc.
Address: 5400 S. Westridge Drive, New Berlin
Web site: www.csepromo.com
Industry: Promotional products and uniforms
Revenues: $30 million
Employees: 94
