The AACE (Annual Award for Communications Excellence) competition is held each year by the ESOP Association. The annual awards for Communications Excellence are awarded to companies that excel at communicating with Employee Owners, and the larger community, about ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). The awards are broken down into seven categories, and this year, Mountain Hardware and Sports won Employee Ownership Marketing runner up!

So...What is an ESOP?

Regardless of the type of wood or surface of your patio furniture, always start with a light sweeping with a soft brush or cloth to remove light loose debris. Bird droppings, sap, or other contaminants should always be brushed or removed right away to make sure they don’t stain. Before doing a deep clean, make sure you know the type of wood or surface you are working with – knowing this will ensure you use the proper cleaning and sealing products to use.

Normal sun exposure and inclement weather will cause some deterioration of your outdoor furniture. The best way to protect your furniture is to use covers, and be sure to store your furniture during the winter or heavy weather periods.

Why It Matters to Us

Our ESOP and Employee Ownership culture is a huge part of what makes us unique. Showcasing the importance of our Ownership is the backbone of our company and our marketing efforts. Whether it’s celebrating our employees’ anniversaries with photos on our website, highlighting employee-owner adventure photos on our social media platforms, celebrating EO month, or educating our community and beyond on what Employee Ownership stands for. Because we “own it” our pride for where we work extends well beyond our marketing, and into our customer service and love for the great communities we serve.

“As an employee-owner, you’re not a minor character in the company’s story. You and your fellow employee-owners are the storytellers, and every day, your work adds value to the company and unfolds another part of who they are. Owning the company means that you have a deeper relationship with both outcomes and rewards.”

ESOP By the Numbers

• There are 6,000+ Employee Owned companies
• 1.5M+ Employee-Owners in all 50 states
• Employee-Owners have more than twice the average total retirement balance of other Americans
• Median Household networth is 92% higher for employee-owners than non-employee owners

*numbers couresty of certifiedEO.