To say that Grand Rapids-based Praxis is in growth mode is an understatement. The company quadrupled its annual sales in the past two years, hired 115 workers this year alone, and now plans to add some 60 more by year's end.

Praxis is a contract packaging company that began in the late 1980s offering packaging and point of purchase displays for over the counter drug manufacturers. The company recently expanded its services to include packaging for prescription pharmaceuticals, which has become its fastest growing market.

“We go to large pharmaceutical customers and design and develop the package—for example, [sample prescription] starter kits handed out by physicians along with a prescription,” says Scott Hanmer, VP of sales. “All of which are timed to a launch of when the Food and Drug Administration releases a drug, or are tied to a promotion.”

And Praxis offers one stop shopping: they design the package, as well as coordinate the printing, manufacturing, and finishing of the order.

“We can go to a pharmaceutical customer or anyone with a retail product and produce a turnkey package for them,” Hanmer says. “And that sets us apart from our competition.”

Right now, the company has just over 300 employees, and at times supplements staff with 100 or more temporary employees hired through employment agencies.

Hanmer expects to expand Praxis’ warehouse space over the next six to twelve months, as business grows.

“Our current trend shows steady hiring throughout the end of the year.”

Source