Culture over quotas: Building success by putting people first

By Jesse Sanchez.

Quality and human connection aren't slogans — they’re the foundation of everything.

In a fast-moving manufacturing world where speed and scale can overshadow values, Topps Products is charting a different path — one grounded in people, integrity and staying small by design.

James Thomas, a former Navy officer turned owner and advisor at Topps, knows a thing or two about discipline and mission. But what defines the company he helped lead through global expansion and a pandemic isn’t just operational efficiency — it’s an unwavering commitment to core values.

“We want to keep quality, our quality control of all our products for manufacturing the legacy products,” James said. “If we lose this customer because we cannot get it out on time, but we relax on the quality — we don't want that to happen. We'd rather just lose the customer.”

That’s not just talk. The company has lost business when it refused to rush production at the expense of craftsmanship. It’s a philosophy that runs deep — from the manufacturing floor to the executive level. Every team member knows the customer, the product and the person who made it. “We can tell you when you receive your product who made it. We know exactly in the plant who made it for you. That’s your person,” James added.

But the culture at Topps goes beyond products. It’s embedded in the way people are treated inside the company.

“We don’t have a lot of turnover,” James said. “People stay here because they’re respected, not micromanaged. They work until they’re ready to leave.”

In an era defined by labor churn and burnout, Topps’ employee retention stands out. Even during COVID, when businesses everywhere were making cuts, Topps didn’t lay off a single worker.

James attributes this to a management philosophy that blends military strategy with emotional intelligence: “Everybody has a talent. And so you find their talent — you can take that talent and move it around and find out what they're good at, what they can do and build your team.”

That belief drives Topps’ broader hiring initiatives too, especially when it comes to veterans, those with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.  

His passion for inclusion and community investment now extends beyond Topps. Through his separate venture, Veterans Group Sales & Analytics, he’s bringing more veterans into the roofing business and leading a housing rehab initiative in Mississippi that puts refurbished homes in the hands of disabled and low-income veterans.

Yet despite the company’s growth — including international offices and new product launches — James insists that Topps stays small where it matters. Relationships, craftsmanship and trust remain at the core. “People buy from people,” he said. “They have to have quality and you're allowed a few mistakes, but they'll buy from you just for you being you.”

Learn more about building success by putting people first — discover how Topps Products weaves quality, loyalty and purpose into every layer of its business!