2018 Best Places to Work in Direct Selling – Pure Romance

“My top priority is maintaining a positive, collaborative culture where every employee feels fulfilled, valued and challenged.”

—Chris Cicchinelli, President and CEO

What makes your company one of the best places to work in direct selling?
We have the opportunity to truly get to know our Consultants and see the direct impact that our corporate office makes on their lives. The Pure Romance corporate office is filled with excited, creative, interesting, and talented individuals who are dedicated to the cause and it shines through in their work and attitudes. Our growing company allows for new projects and ideas to become reality. Many of the Consultants start in this company because they are looking to improve their financial situation and help provide for their families. It is our honor to support 23,000 women worldwide who are educating, empowering, and entertaining millions across the globe each year.

What is your top priority when it comes to maintaining a great work environment?
I believed it all comes down to culture. My top priority is maintaining a positive, collaborative culture where every employee feels fulfilled, valued and challenged. We have a fast-paced environment that thrives on engaged employees.

What benefits do you offer to your employees?
In additional to medical, eye, and dental benefits, we also offer yoga, meditation, and personal training on-site. We offer free downtown parking and unlimited access to coffee, lattes, soda and bottled water.

What unique or unusual benefits do you also offer?
We have a new employee onboarding program that pairs new employees with seasoned employees to help them get acclimated and serve as additional support. Our employees also have the opportunity to travel the world as staff hosts for our incentive trips.

How does your company celebrate a job well done?
We offer an annual bonus program based on performance. We also recognize employees with recognition dinners and have an internal peer-to-peer recognition program tied to rewards and PTO days. I know recognition is important for our Consultants and it is equally as important to our corporate office. We have great company parties for all of our employees, and our goal is for our employees to develop bonds with their co-workers and create a “family” environment.

How does your company support team members in their personal and professional development?
We provide employees with opportunities to participate in workshops and conferences. We also encourage our employees to share their long-term career goals, and our executive team will help them outline a path of purposeful development.

How does your company give back to the community?
We support several nonprofits including the United Way, Cincinnati Pride, Proscan Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Center and The American Heart Association. Pure Romance is the largest donor to our founder’s foundation, The Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health. I also launched The Living with Change Foundation to support transgender youth and their families. For the last three years our employees have really enjoyed being a part of Adopt a Class as well. We have adopted first grade classes at inner city schools.

How do you develop and maintain trust between all levels of your company?
I am a goal oriented leader, and I involve all of the employees in achieving company goals.
When an employee shows initiative and brings great things to the table they are rewarded and trusted with important projects.

What is the single most fun day of the year at your company? Why?
We love being a part of downtown Cincinnati, and one of the best days at our company is the Cincinnati Pride parade and festival, which we sponsor. It is a day where our employees and their families come down and support the company and the LGBT community by working our booth and walking in the parade. The positive vibe and energy is great, and our employees love it!

What is something new that you’ve added in 2018 to enhance your workplace?
We are adding an employee giving back program to help our employees financially when an unforeseen burden occurs personally or in their family. We spend a lot of time with our “work family,” and if someone needs help we want to rise to the occasion and provide that help. Our employees elect to contribute to the fund and facilitate the distribution.

 Best Places To Work In Direct Selling 2018 Honorees!

Pick up the April 2018 issue here in which this article appeared.