Open (ware)house

STERLING – Achievement recognition is a part of Halo's business, and quite an achievement was recognized Monday at its new warehouse.

Racks and racks of empty blue shelving stretched as far as the eye can see as Halo Branded Solutions held an open house for community leaders to show off its new 275,000 square feet of warehouse space.

It won't be empty for long: Some items were moved in from the original warehouse in January, and about two-thirds of space will be filled by the end of the year, said Terry McGuire, vice president of marketing and supplier relations.

"It increases the capabilities that we can provide to our customers," McGuire said. "What's really changed in our business the last 3 years is that we have a number of larger customers that we're servicing."

More than 600 employees work at Halo, and expansions will lead to more than 300 additional jobs when all is complete, McGuire said. Nearly 20,000 square feet of the original warehouse is being converted into office space; that should be done by May.

Halo provides corporate branding and employee recognition products for more than 60,000 customers nationwide. Amazon was its largest customer last year and will continue to be this year.

"We're just attracting a lot of very good business right now," McGuire said.

Business has grown quite fast since Halo broke ground at the Meadowlands Business Park 3 years ago. It moved from its former building at 1980 Industrial Drive in April 2018 into a complex at 1500 Halo Way – at the southeast corner of Lynn Blvd. and LeFevre Road – that totalled 157,000 square feet: 90,000 of warehouse and 67,000 of office space.

"We thought, gee, this is going to last forever," Halo CEO Marc Simon said, "and it didn't."

The growth not only provides space in terms of length and width, but also a few more feet of height. The original warehouse space is 28 feet high with shelves reaching 22 feet. Racks in the addition are 12 feet higher and 6 feet from the ceiling.

"It looks like parent and child, just a little bit of a difference," said Bill Barrett, senior vice president of materials handling.

Halo also is looking to add more space for parking. It approached the Sterling Park District in February about acquiring 2.4 acres of Eberley Park, across Lynn Boulevard; negotiations are underway, McGuire said.

More information

Go to halo.com or call 815-625-0980 for more information about Halo Branded Solutions or to apply for a job.