When Director and CEO Judith Maloy learned that Polaris Direct had once again been named one of New Hampshire’s fastest-growing women-led businesses by Business NH Magazine, she was thrilled.
“I was amazed,” she said. “To be one of the fastest growing companies is a testament to our ability to adapt in an ever-changing environment.”
With a three-year-average growth of just over 16 percent, Polaris Direct ranked 17th on the list of the top 20 fastest-growing women-led firms and 10th on the 80 Top Women-Led Businesses in NH list for the second year in a row, having moved up two spots since 2013.
According to its October 2015 issue, Business NH Magazine started the list four years ago to demonstrate the economic influence that women-led companies have on the economy. Companies are ranked by annual gross sales over three years.
A startup in 2003, Polaris Direct has grown from a tight-knit team of five to a team of 121—46 percent of them women—working two shifts.
But although the direct marketing services company has grown significantly, Maloy and her partners have never lost sight of what makes it successful: teamwork.
“I’ve always put a lot of trust in my team,” Maloy said. “Trust and loyalty have been the secret to a successful business, but most importantly, it’s our team of loyal employees that makes us successful.”
Notably, Polaris Direct also landed on DiversityBusiness.com’s list of the top 500 women-owned businesses in the U.S. for 2015, ranking 115.
“I’m proud of the success of our company,” Maloy shared. “It is truly a feat, a milestone. We’ve been in business 12 years, and to still represent high levels of growth is worthy of recognition.”
When asked if she had any words of wisdom for other women in business, Maloy, who is a member of the WBENC and active member of The Forum, had this to say: “It’s about trusting your own judgment. Women should feel confident in their ability to lead. I’ve learned to respect my instincts when it comes to making business decisions.” Most importantly, she said, “Be sure to rely on others in your team.”
About the author: Melanie Gray is Creative Supervisor/Copy Writer at Polaris Direct, a nationally acclaimed high-volume direct marketing services company in Hooksett, NH.
