CSE (Caliendo Savio Enterprises Inc.)

Order Reprint

Subscribe to BizTimes Daily โ€“ Local news about the people, companies and issues that impact business in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin.

 During difficult economic times, customer retention plays a greater role in success for New Berlin-based Caliendo Savio Enterprises (CSE) Inc., said Tom Savio, company president.

The firm grew 18 percent in revenue in 2007 and boasts annual sales of $31 million. CSE provides promotional products, branded uniforms and awards, ranging from in-house embroidery, branding and warehousing to fulfillment.

โ€œOur markets are competitive,โ€ Savio said. โ€œThose with high customer turnover donโ€™t do well, so as a company, we concentrate both on attracting new business and retaining what we have.โ€

- Advertisement -

CSE has served clients such as Kohler Co. and Miller Brewing Co. for 24 years.

โ€œTo keep a relationship for that long is very impressive,โ€ Savio said. โ€œGetting a new account is exciting, but we make sure to maintain what we have.โ€

Over the last year, CSE has added new businesses and larger clients, landing the Dunkinโ€™ Donuts uniform account and adding American Family Insurance Co. to its promotional account list.

- Advertisement -

โ€œThe key to good growth is adding good companies vs. adding businesses which are down,โ€ Savio said.

As it becomes more important to hit goals during a recession, where everyone is after a piece of a smaller pie, employee incentives can go a long way to keeping people motivated, said Savio.

So, when CSE surpassed its revenue goals in 2007, all employees received a 3-percent profit-sharing bonus.

- Advertisement -

โ€œWhen we have a good year, we love to share it with our employees. We make sure their futures are as solid as possible,โ€ Savio said.

CSE goes beyond cash incentives by offering events such as a โ€œRock Star for a Dayโ€ contest, where one person is selected and given a limousine for six hours of paid time off and $250 in spending money. They can even bring a few co-workers along.

โ€œThey basically have one day

where they are the star of the company,โ€ Savio said.

CSE also holds a โ€œDirectorsโ€™ Dinnerโ€ every Christmas. One employee is selected at random, and Savio and five other company directors cook a steak dinner for that person and a few people he or she invites.

โ€œItโ€™s just a great event,โ€ Savio said. โ€œEveryone looks forward to it.โ€

CSE (Caliendo Savio Enterprises Inc.)

Address: 5400 S. Westridge Drive, New Berlin
Website: www.csepromo.com
Industry: Promotional products and uniforms
Revenues: $31 million
Employees: 103

What's New

BizPeople

Sponsored Content

Holiday flash sale!

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.

Subscribe to BizTimes Milwaukee and save 40%

Holiday flash sale! Subscribe to BizTimes and save 40%!

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.