Picture Puzzle Piece

Do you remember growing up reading the Shel Silverstien books?  I loved them.  My most favourite days in school was when the teacher would pull out one of his books and start reading - I remember how much I would laugh.    My kids have the same appreciation for these books and we enjoy reading them from time to time.   It was just the other day I found my son reading "A light in the attic" so I sat down beside him to read along.   He was sharing some of his favourites with me when we came across the "Picture Puzzle Piece" poem and he mentioned that he didn’t understand it.  

So I read it out loud to him and at first I didn’t either - Then all of a sudden it hit me.  

We start puzzles by having all the pieces and a picture of what it should be...but what if we could only see one piece of the puzzle and not see the whole picture, what does that one piece represent and where does it fit in the big picture. 

We started to think about how "The Puzzle Piece" poem relates to our everday world and how we should keep the message of this poem in mind when we meet someone for the first time or when dealing with people we see everyday. We often only see a small part of who they really are. We don’t know all that they are going through, the burdens they are carrying, or possibly illnesses they are hiding. We need to remind ourselves that we are only seeing one picture puzzle piece at a time and without all the pieces we will never truly appreciate the full picture. 

This concept is something we have reflected on every day this week...Something I hope you will think about too.

Craft – Creative – Culture ... a re-Brand Initiative

Are you thinking of re-branding?  Is it time for a fresh new look  for your company/product? When considering a re-branding initiative don’t forget to think long and hard about how your packaging fits into that equation, and more importantly how your packaging looks!  Your package is your first line of communication with your customer and plays an important role on how they respond to your product.   

Packaging tells them who YOU are, what YOU stand for, and they will immediately get a feel for your product. 

The product that you selling to the consumer is not only a physical product, but an emotional product - You are selling a feeling, and an experience.  Your packaging is the key to getting that message across. 

I was recently at the LUXE PACK conference, the premier show for creative packaging.   There was an open panel discussion on how to get a new brand identity out to the consumer.  The consensus was - Being Crafty, Creative and Cultural will bring Clarity to your product.  

    

So what does that mean? ...

Crafty – make sure that what you are putting out is Perfection – you want the consumer to have what you consider to be the most perfect product on the market – the packaging will tell them that story. 

Creative – The package must be inspiring to the consumer.  It should make them want to come back again and again. 

Culture – The package can tell your story,  what the company and products stand for.  Your core values. 

If you are going through a re-branding initiative or  just looking for new packaging ideas, please ask us to the table!  Ingersoll Paper Box Co. Limited is dedicated to making sure your product is packaged in the best way possible.   Our Marketing team will be happy to put a presentation together for you to see all of what is available to you! 

2014 Highlights

Wow, we have officially wrapped up 2014,  and what a year it has been! 

Last January, we talked about change.  How important it is to keep changing.  Never staying stagnant.  We sure showed everyone that change; big change should be embraced and celebrated as an exciting way to move forward. 

January and February saw us in training – A LOT!  KBA training in Germany for the press operators, Esko and Agfa training for our new pre-media work flow and platesetter.  We also dug the hole in the plant floor in preparation for the new printing press. 

Now, some may wonder why we have been talking so much about a new printing press.  For us, this type of purchase doesn’t happen often.  And when it does, it’s a big deal!    What made this an even bigger deal was all the new features that this press has been able to offer us and our customers. 

2013 also saw some major renovations; the biggest and most exciting was our new lounge area.  A special space created for customers and employees to hang out while at IPB.  We use this space to host our events, info sessions, vendor presentations and customer press proofs.  The space also features a few museum pieces that detail the company’s history. 

March and April brought the delivery of lots of new equipment.  The KBA began to arrive in March (it was delivered in over 20 crates – not little ones, large ones, VERY LARGE!) and we immediately began installation.  The Agfa platesetter was installed and became operational.  Esko pre-media work flow was also installed.  This allowed us to work with artwork files onsite directly with the customer.  A new chapter for IPB!

Sales and Marketing teams were busy at trade-shows.  Showing potential customers everything that IPB has to offer!  We spent a great deal of time seeing what was happening – new and cool ideas in the packaging industry.  Always staying on top of the latest trends!

May and June found us prepping for 2 big events.  For our first ever, we hosted our local Ingersoll Chamber of Commerce Business After 5.  Local business owners came and toured our facility and got to see first hand just what we do at IPB!  For our second event, we held a customer VIP day.  Customers were invited to tour the facility and see what we have been up to, and meet the staff!  Eric Frank from KBA came to speak about trends in the packaging industry and relationships between supplier and customer.  This made for a very eventful June!  It was exciting to see how many people came to visit us. 

July and August was ‘All systems a-go’.  All of the training that we had gone through in the last few months were coming together in the pre-media, pre-press and printing departments.  The summer always brings IPB family BBQ’s and fundraising events for our team. 

We were excited to welcome new and returning customers throughout the summer months.  New challenges were set and are now being met!  All thanks to the great first six months of the year!

September and October were much of the same.  But now we were turning some of our attention to the other Departments.  Diecutting departments were trained on learning new knicking methods, quicker makereadies and more consistent cut and creaselines that will make our packaging work better on the auto-fill equipment!  Learning about new technology and what is coming out in the next year. 

The Ingersoll Chamber of Commerce awarded Ingersoll Paper Box with Industry of the Year for 2014.  Very exciting to be recognized as a team in our own community for our achievements. 

November and into December we decided to try a fundraiser.  While promoting the amazing new techonology we have in house, we made gift boxes for the holiday season.  We sold them locally with all proceeds going towards to local charities.  Ones that are near and dear to our hearts.  The Lunch Bunch serves hot lunches to children at schools.   The Inter-Church Relief program runs the Hamper program during the Christmas season. And through out the rest of the year provides food, clothing and financial assistance were and when needed. 

The gift boxes came in 2 sizes, and 4 different print looks, along with gift tags.  Sold throughout the month of December, we raised well over $3,000.

With the New Year upon us, we are happy with all of our past accomplishments.  And I can honestly say I am so proud of the IPB team.  We made many changes and coming out the other side, we look back and can see now that all these changes were necessary to move forward for a better future. 

If you are interested in a tour and want to see what we have been up to this past year - Contact your IPB Sales Representative. Hope to see you soon.

Change is Good…

Every couple of years I like to change my hair style.  I don’t know why.  I just like the change.  I’m not talking subtle changes, I’m talking going from long to pixie cut and back again.  Now the back again always seems to take forever.  But if you do it with sort of funky style, the change seems to happen over a few months.  Believe me there are days when I curse my hairstylist and my crazy idea for change. 

Change is good, and at times necessary.   IPB has certainly changed a lot this past year.   Not only have we changed the face of IPB, but also our capabilities.  We have overcome many challenges.  New and great challenges….and the greatest part of all – I knew that our team was up for that Challenge!  We’ve all faced the change with own style and have made it our new normal. 

One year ago this coming week, we signed the deal with KBA to bring in a new Printing Press and I knew that would spark a chain reaction – a chain of changes.  We all looked at each other, held on and jumped in.  1 year later, I couldn’t be more proud!

Last week I wrote about winning an award from Ingersoll’s Chamber of Commerce.  I came back to the office with the award and was ready to present it to the team.  I got up in front of everyone and thought I would be able to keep it together.  I wanted to share with them how lovely the evening was, talk to them about what I said when I accepted the award on behalf of the team, I stood before the group of people that help bring my crazy ideas to life.  I was overwhelmed with emotion and started to cry – yes a girl moment!   I walked off the stage shaking my head wondering why is it when I have an emotional moment - I cry.  It wasn’t until the next day when I walked out into the plant to see what was happening that day, that people came up to me and gave me a hug and told me that they were proud to be a part of the IPB team that I understood it.  It’s ok to show your softer side – some emotion, and yes maybe show them your ugly crying face. 

I spend a lot of time with these people, and I consider them my family.  We celebrate together – and cry together (good or bad).  We are in this together for the long haul.

Last night I was invited to go to the Canadian Printing Awards.  An exciting night to celebrate and share what is happening in the printing industry.  Recipients received awards for lifetime achievements, up and coming leaders and innovation.   There were also a number of judged categories.  It was my first time at such an awards presentation.  But certainly re-affirmed the changes we have made and will continue to make in the year (s) to come!

I certainly walked away with a number of new ideas to add to my Vision Board.  I love change!  And a good challenge – don’t you?!?

And the Winner Is….

Ingersoll is a home that I have grown to love.  As a young adult, I could not wait to leave the town limits and move to the big city.  But, soon realized when it was time to raise a my own family, I couldn’t think of anywhere better to raise my children. 

Ingersoll offers the best of both worlds – we are a short drive to major cities, but can experience all the wonderful joys a small town as to offer.

Last night was a night that I will always remember - Ingersoll Chamber of Commerce hosted their Annual Awards of Excellence evening.  It is a night I always look forward to - where members nominate businesses and owners for different awards.  Ingersoll Paper Box Co. Limited was awarded the Industry of the Year for 2014.  What a proud moment!

But before the awards were handed out, our newly re-elected mayor spoke about all the great things happening here in our town.  We have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Ontario.   There are businesses expanding, and new opportunities coming to the community.  We have new parks building built, and wonderful festivals bringing people back into the community.  It’s encouraging to hear the town be spoken of in such a positive manner.  Because it’s way too often we get dragged down by the negative.

In addition to our award, there were four other awards presented.  Business of the Year (The Bakery Café), Business Person of the Year (Brenda Hendry), Youth Citizen of the Year (Sarah Cameron), and Citizen of the Year (Adam Funnel).  The award winders all exude what living in a small town means to us – they are giving back to the community each and every day.

It was a wonderful evening. What a nice way to be recognized for all our hard work - We have done so much this past year!  Added an Inspection machine, new proofing and prepress systems, had an office facelift, and installed our new KBA printing press!   

So much to be proud of…which makes receiving this award from our community so much more special.