Five Most Likeable Businesses of 2012

NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media agency Likeable Media issued today its list of the five most likeable companies in the United States for 2012.  These companies were chosen based on their ability to meet criteria of a LIKEABLE BUSINESS, including gratefulness, team playing, responsiveness, passion, and surprise and delight. Likeable Media's CEO and author of Likeable Business, Dave Kerpen, has named The Company Store, DaVita, Entenmann's, Southwest Airlines, and Trader Joe's as this year's top brands.

The Company Store (La Crosse, WI) has been honored for its philanthropic efforts, including donating blankets to local shelters and disaster relief. This year, the company is handing out comforters to military families as part of its nationwide "Operation: Comforter Drop." More than just a business, The Company Store strives to be a positive influence in its communities.

DaVita (Denver, CO) is the nation's second largest dialysis provider and holds "team playing" as a core value. The DaVita Village, home to 45,000 team members, is a community first, and a company second. The democratic company culture lets each member have a say in DaVita's vision, mission, and values.

Entenmann's (Bay Shore, NY) excels at responding to its online community. The baked goods company responds not only to positive feedback, but negative comments as well—oftentimes turning a frustrated customer into a brand advocate.

Southwest Airlines (Dallas, TX) is known for its passion. The company, one of the few airlines with steady profits, is passionate about its employees which results in a passionate staff eager to spread its brand love to passengers.                       

Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) has been recognized for the delightful customer experience it provides.  Designed to be a place where people enjoy grocery shopping to a point where it's like going on a vacation, the store offers "tasting huts," ever-helpful "crew members," and pleasant policies like mixing and matching brews or returning opened products.

Dave Kerpen is the New York Times bestselling author of the new book Likeable Business: Why Today's Consumers Demand More and How Leaders Can Deliver and Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and Be Generally Amazing on Facebook (and Other Social Networks). (McGraw-Hill) In his new book, he outlines the 11 principles of a likeable business: listening, storytelling, authenticity, transparency, team-playing, responsiveness, adaptability, passion, surprise and delight, simplicity, and gratefulness.

Disclaimer: The Company Store and Entenmann's are clients of Likeable Media.

About Likeable: Likeable Media is an award-winning, global social media and word of mouth marketing firm with a focus on creating compelling content. Likeable Media has worked with over 200 brands such as Medtronic, General Electric, Neutrogena, Verizon, and Logitech. Likeable Media is recognized as one of Facebook's top 90 Preferred Marketing Consultants, and is the only agency to win three consecutive WOMMY awards from the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA). In 2012, Likeable Media was named number 146 on the Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing U.S. Companies List. Likeable consists of Likeable Media, as well as the small business software product Likeable Local.

SOURCE Likeable Media