Seth and Mitch Nash

Pittsfield brothers Seth and Mitch Nash founded Blue Q, a funky gift manufacturer, in 1988 in Boston, and moved operations to their hometown in 1994. “We’re not just here to make cool stuff. We’re very much about the community.” says Mitch. Blue Q’s stuff is very cool—from socks to kitchen mitts, lip balm to catnip, all with hilarious, slightly irreverent, sayings. Their commitment to the community is huge, donating nearly $2 million to Doctors Without Borders in over 10 years (from sales of socks and kitchen items) and giving a percentage of bag sales to the Nature Conservancy and Housatonic Valley Association for water testing in the Housatonic River. Blue Q is employee-owned, with an admirable work culture. The Nash brothers seek out diverse artists, hire individuals with disabilities through BCArc, and offer team members art classes with Community Access to the Arts and gardening classes at Berkshire Botanical Garden. Again, Mitch: “We try to be a well-rounded company that’s engaged in the community, working for fair health, and environmental causes.” Mission accomplished.