Who We Are - CROSSMARK

CROSSMARK elevates brands and engages consumers, wherever they go.

Today CROSSMARK accelerates brands throughout nearly every category of the consumer goods industry. Our team of 25,000+ employees are responsible for servicing all major retailers throughout North America from the buyers desk to consumers baskets—and our unparalleled eCommerce and omnichannel expertise continues to innovate our industry, well beyond brick and mortar. The newly launched proprietary CROSSMARK Accelerator™ platform delivers state-of-the-art insights and analytics through advanced modeling and artificial intelligence. The results are smarter, faster growth. We take pride in our broad team of experts and innovators—and you’d never believe it all started as the work of one man at one store.

Long before there were supercenters, supermarkets, and the fast-paced eCommerce industry we champion today, big ideas were brewing for a young man named Willis Johnson. The year was 1905. He saw an opportunity to make merchandising easier and faster within the booming town of Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was then that he decided to team up with E. Leslie Hunt to establish Johnson & Hunt Merchandise Brokers. That company would evolve into Willis Johnson & Company, a major player in its region. But just as the retail market changed…so did the company itself.

Willis learned that Cadbury candy company was struggling with out-of-date product in stores. Seeing an opportunity to save the day, Willis Johnson & Company began travelling across the country in 1977, all to rotate products on shelves…starting at the newly launched Walmart store. This one-off project soon became a core offering that marked the beginning of a business services evolution as SALES MARK. In 1995, SALES MARK merged with Gordon Company and Phillips Brokerage Company—and one year later, that massive merger was complete. CROSSMARK was born.

By 2000, CROSSMARK had completed 55 mergers and acquisitions in its quest to become a national sales agency, managing brands, and performing sales functions for manufacturers and performing in-store merchandising services at retailers nationwide.

The same year, we expanded our operations to Canada to broaden our impact in North America. And in 2013 we acquired Chicago-based agencies Marketing Werks and PromoWorks to deliver end-to-end shopper marketing and engagement—both in store and out. The fusion of talents and expertise among these agencies, with CROSSMARK at the core, has empowered us to deliver a leading, all-encompassing, and completely integrated Marketing Services arm to our organization.

Company milestones and service expansions have only been possible because of the true beating heart of CROSSMARK: our people. Our dedicated and passionate employees work hard to provide clients with the best opportunities to drive sales, to see brands thrive, and to create lasting connections. We’re excited for what’s next in our ever-evolving company—and we hope you’ll join us for the journey ahead.

CROSSMARK BUILDS BRIDGES TO GROWTH

A mission guided by

strong values.

CROSSMARK builds connections to make growth possible. We call them bridges—and they’re the paths forward to evolve, succeed, and better our businesses and ourselves. From clients to customers and people to opportunities, everything we do is about forging strong bonds.

And that same mantra is proudly reflected in our core values. Now, of course, every company has values that define them. But our difference is…we actually live and reward them. Meaning, we actively seek out those within our organization who exemplify the BRIDGES traits and make a big deal about it. (We actually have an award ceremony.)

If you visit our offices, you’ll find these values displayed for all to see.

CROSSMARK BUILDS BRIDGES TO GROWTH

A mission guided

by strong values.

If you visit our offices, you’ll find these values displayed for all to see.

CROSSMARK builds bridges to growth with Boldness, Results-oriented, Innovative, Diversity, Genuine, Excellence, Supportive

CROSSMARK Builds Bridges to Growth by bold

CROSSMARK Builds Bridges to Growth by being results-oriented

CROSSMARK Builds Bridges to Growth by being innovative

CROSSMARK Builds Bridges to Growth by diversity

CROSSMARK Builds Bridges to Growth by being genuine

CROSSMARK Builds Bridges to Growth by achieving excellence

CROSSMARK Builds Bridges to Growth by being supportive

OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNITY & YOU

CROSSMARK thrives because of the people and neighborhoods who support, invest, and believe in us. We’re a part of the larger, global community. From the employees we hire to the brands we work with—we have an obligation to make responsible decisions that recognize our impact and advance our people.

COMMUNITY

CROSSMARK is committed to supporting the communities around us. Employees volunteer their time for schools, charities, and other non-profits. We’re also proud to contribute to local food banks in the communities we operate, as well as support the Shoebox Project for Women, which aids women impacted by homelessness in communities across Canada.

SUSTAINABILITY

We operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Recycling is a top priority, as well as using energy-efficient lighting and smart landscaping practices. CROSSMARK strives to be a good steward of natural resources and fosters efficient and sustainable business practices to preserve the environment for our employees, our community, and future generations.

DIVERSITY

We strive to develop and promote an environment that fosters the cultural diversity and professional development of not only our employees but our partners and the industry at large. Focusing on areas such as recruitment, retention, and development opportunities, we promote growth through education and by providing access to resources and network connections. We work to strengthen the culture of CROSSMARK by being inclusive and open to differences so that everyone feels valued and welcomed.