For many distributors, the origin story begins with a small, unassuming shop. For Marco Awards Group, that story goes back to Quebec nearly 63 years ago, when the company’s founder, president, and CEO, Marcel O. Bizier, decided he wanted to move from Canada to Florida for a change of scenery and warmer weather.
Marcel Bizier started his journey into the awards industry with $42 in his pocket as he traveled to the U.S. While he initially only made it as far as East Hartford, Connecticut, he started Discount Trophy in 1977. The small awards business became the foundation for the wide-reaching distributor it is today.
From the late 1970s through the 1980s, the company expanded operations, including developing a wholesale division, launching a wholesaler catalog, adding distributor lines, and bringing several innovative products to the market. The business also purchased manufacturing and tooling facilities to expand its production capabilities.
In 2004, the business formed Marco Awards Group to incorporate all its companies under the Discount Trophy umbrella. Today, the company is headquartered in Vernon, Connecticut, just a short drive from where Bizier started his business.
According to Gregory Kolenut, national sales manager at Marco, Bizier founded the company on key principles of hard work, commitment to quality, and customer service.
“Marcel has always focused on investing in people and building for the long term,” says Kolenut. “Now, he’s mentoring the next generation of leadership to carry the company forward.”
As Marco Awards approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027 with more than 20 company-owned domestic distribution centers, including locations in both Canada and Puerto Rico, it still maintains a core focus on the awards and recognition industry, and has benefited from that focus.
Growth over Time
In addition to Bizier’s focus on a strong company culture and commitment to quality of service, Marco’s longevity and staying power have benefited from several strategic acquisitions.
Kolenut points to a few key acquisitions over the years, including Plastic Plus Awards; Alenite Corporation; a multimillion-dollar Chicago-based manufacturing company, Freeman Products Worldwide (through which Kolenut joined the company); and most notably, Barhill Manufacturing, a leading supplier of corporate awards.
The Barhill acquisition, in particular, marked a major move, since the manufacturing company already had a strong reputation for high-quality corporate recognition products dating back to 1954. With the third generation of Hilaire family members still managing the company, it operates as a stand-alone division of Marco Awards Group. With hundreds of original products, all manufactured in the USA. The Barhill Retail Catalog has long been recognized in the industry as the top resource retailers rely on to sell high-quality corporate awards.
Expanding the Network
Over the past five decades, those strategic acquisitions have also coincided with continual additions of warehouses and distribution centers to the company’s nationwide network. Despite this growth and expansion, Bizier’s core commitment to quality has remained.
Between 2008 and 2009, the company established a quality control department to supervise offshore vendors and ensure any incoming products met Marco Awards Group’s standards.
Soon after, the company set up an office in China and conducts plant inspections at select locations to further enhance quality assurance.
Today, Marco Awards Group offers over 1,000 styles of items in popular categories like crystal and glass awards, assembled cups, plaques, corporate awards, and hundreds of styles of trophy components, resin sports sculptures, sublimation supplies, and equipment—all showcased in a 1,100-page master wholesale catalog.
Marco Awards continues to make significant moves, including a new warehouse purchase in Texas and expansion of its Vernon headquarters with an additional 50,000 square feet. Marco Awards Group has also expanded its fulfillment division to help customers handle production during peak periods or manage large orders.
Building for the Future
With its upcoming anniversary, Kolenut says leadership at Marco Awards Group feels celebratory while also looking ahead to how they can take the company into the next 50 years with the same hard work and competitive spirit.
To lead Marco Awards into the future, Kolenut says Bizier is mentoring the current leadership team.
The company’s forward-looking leadership team features Kolenut and Bizier family members, including Angel Fillmore, director of finance with decades of experience and daughter of the owner, and Christopher Smith, chief operating officer and nephew of Marcel, who oversees all operations to ensure Marco’s facilities deliver results. Kolenut meanwhile leads the company’s sales force across eight dedicated reps visiting customers nationwide and is heavily involved in marketing and product management.
Through their combined experience, the team can draw on Bizier’s vast knowledge while applying their cumulative years of experience to prepare Marco for the coming decades.
“The goal is to honor Marcel Bizier’s legacy while also shining a spotlight on the team he has built for the future,” Kolenut adds.