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The post Volk Packaging Launches Paxit, New Contract Packaging Arm appeared first on Volk Packaging.

1. We are having a contest to help us create a new logo for Volk Paxit. Due to some requests for additional time we are extending the deadline to Sept 1.  We look forward to seeing more submissions.  Remember, we are trying to avoid having the Volk logo or a box on the logo so it is more independent of VPC.  By the way, Corey is doing a great job as our Paxit sales rep and things are really starting to heat up down there.   Since most of Paxit’s projects require boxes, it is great news for Volk Packaging as well.

2. Russell has closed several major accounts in the last couple of weeks so, if you can believe it, you’ll be seeing even more XXX and YYY boxes coming through in the next few months!

3. Jimmy Williams is due to have a baby soon so there will be a baby pool going around. You can also send kara@volkboxes.com with your guess for date and time of the baby’s arrival.

4. CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT!! We are having a cornhole tournament so be sure to find a teammate and sign up.  We are hoping to do it in late August if we get enough teams.

5. I read a great book called The Psychology of Money. Everyone would benefit from reading it.  In an attempt to encourage you all to read it, we will be putting it out by chapters every couple of weeks. This week is the Introduction and Chapter 1 (about 20 pages).  Read it and answer the 10 questions at the back of the chapter for $10.  Submit your quiz in the boxes we will put in the break rooms or give it to Kara.  We will give $10 for everyone who completes what we put out.   When you finish the whole book, we’ll give you another $25 as a completion bonus.

6. People have been asking about another skydiving I am planning one for September 10.  Let me know if you would like to join us!

The post Derek’s outBOX – 8/2/22 appeared first on Volk Packaging.

1. The city of Biddeford, and their efforts through The Heart of Biddeford, recently won a very prestigious award called the Great American Main Street Award. Check out this terrific video and be proud of the city we work in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcRtStWmO4k

2. We are having a contest to help us create a new logo for Volk Paxit. All of the information will be on the email as well as the TVs.  Gather up your creative juices for a chance to win $250!

3. I worked on a big bid for Pentair this week. One of the questions they asked was, “If an incumbent, what is our record of quality?”  I looked up the data and it is very impressive!  Since 2018, we have made 1,911,785 boxes for Pentair in Dover, NH.  We have issued 2 credits in that time.  One was in Sept ’18 for 40 boxes with a glue issue. The other was in Dec ’18 for 170 boxes that had some damage during shipment.  We have had no quality issues since then.  That is a rejection rate over the past 4 ½ years of 0.0001%!!   Amazing!  Thank you all for making it a lot easier to retain their business.

4. I know it seems like we are really slow lately but keep in mind that, this July, we are averaging 33% over pre-COVID levels. July is always the slowest month of the year, so given how insane things have been for 2 years, it does feel like we are much slower.  The good news is that we have not lost any major accounts (except Penobscot McCrum because of their fire), so all is fine.

5. The annual 5-Year Club party will be on Sunday afternoon, September 18 this year. With all the weddings that were postponed due to COVID, it was very challenging finding a venue and the tents were all booked.   Invitations will be out shortly, but please save the date if you have been here at least 5 years.  We hope all who qualify will be able to attend so I can show you how much I appreciate you.

6. I gave a tour to some customers a couple of weeks ago during our BOX 101 Class. After the tour one of the customers remarked, “This is not just a box company, it is an experience.”   What an awesome compliment to the company and everyone that works here.

         Who wouldn’t want a box skirt??

The post Derek’s outBOX – 7/15/22 appeared first on Volk Packaging.

1. Today is an historical day at Volk Packaging. Mike Allen was hired on August 5, 1980.   That was an amazing 15,259 days ago, which means he has broken the record of longest employment set by John Jeffers when he retired in 2014.  We will be celebrating this impressive milestone at our Memorial Day cookout on May 26! 
2. Travis and I had a meeting this morning with XXX. It appears we are pretty much done repackaging swabs.  We have repackaged just over 80 million swabs without a single complaint since that project began in July 2020.  Now that the world is doing so much less testing for COVID, they have an excess of inventory and won’t need any more swabs repackaged.  XXX did say that they are projecting a slight bump again in the Fall and will definitely reach out to us if that happens.  In the words of our main contact there, “You have proven yourself to be our go-to company for labor projects, so if more swabs are needed, or if there are other labor-intensive projects, everyone here knows to call Volk first.”   To hear that from a multi-billion company with over 100,000 employees is a testament to the great work of the folks at Volk Paxit.

Fortunately, there are quite a few projects underway at Volk Paxit and several more just awaiting a green light, so we are optimistic that Paxit’s best days are still ahead of it.

3. Don’t forget to sign up for your back massage on May 26.

The post Derek’s outBOX – 5/16/22 appeared first on Volk Packaging.

1. I have Sea Dogs tickets for the weekends of May 20 and May 27. Reach out to Kara (kara@volkboxes.com) if you want some Sea Dogs tickets.

2. The chair massages were very popular. Everyone who received one really enjoyed it, so I am bringing Josh back on May 26.  Sign up sheets are posted by the back door in the plant and in the office copy room. I can also send him to Paxit if there is an interest in Sanford.

3. For those of you who don’t know, we have been doing a series of videos called Box Talks since 2011. Each video is 30 seconds to 2 minutes and they tell the viewer a little more about Volk Packaging, provide information on our companies, or answer common questions customers ask.  If anyone would be interested in doing a Box Talk, please reach out to Kara and we’d love to have you record one.  Don’t worry, they are edited so you don’t have to get it perfect in one take. 

This is the very first Box Talk we ever did, and it still rings true – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Po0O65r4E

The post Derek’s outBOX – 5/11/22 appeared first on Volk Packaging.

1. The chair massage schedule is all set for tomorrow. We’ve posted the times on the TVs and bulletin boards.   Please take a note of your time and head up with a couple extra minutes to spare so we don’t fall behind.   I am thrilled that we received such a positive response.  I have a feeling he’ll be back soon.

2. Russell Schmelzer was talking to the buyer at XXXX Customer yesterday. He said they have a lot more business for us, so Russ asked him, “On a scale from 1 to 10, how are we doing as a supplier?”

The buyer said, “So, is 10 the highest?”

Russ said it was.

He said, “Then I’d give you an 11.   You are the best vendor we have.”

Russ was obviously very excited and wanted me to share that story with everyone because he knows it is a total team effort to get that kind of reply.  He thanks you and so do I!

3. Okay, believe it or not, I heard from a reliable source on Friday that there is another paper increase underway by the big paper companies. The sales reps are not happy as that would be the 6^th increase in less than 18 months!  I’ll just say this, elections have consequences.

4. I have put a box in the cafeteria for the Breaking Bread sign up sheets. If you didn’t get one there are some near the door or I can get more printed.   I look forward to grabbing a meal with you and getting to know you better.

5. There are only a couple of weeks left to apply for a moose permit. Let me know if you need help signing up.

The post Derek’s outBOX – 4/26/22 appeared first on Volk Packaging.

1. For those who have not heard, Greg Milligan, who worked with us in sales for 38 years, passed away last night during heart surgery. Those of us who knew him are devastated by this shocking news.  Greg and I worked very closely for many years.   He started at Volk Packaging when I was 12 years old and retired when I was 49.   I know a lot of you didn’t know Greg but every day you run customers that wouldn’t be here if not for him.   He was the 2002 Benjamin Volk Award winner and had a huge influence on this company and on me.  We will miss him terribly.

  Greg’s Obituary can be read here

2. The results of the VPC March Madness Pool are in and, in an awkward ending, I won. I have awarded a VPC sweatshirt to customer Joe Curesky as the runner up.  Thanks to all who played along.

3. Our 401K plan moved to a new company called Empower when they purchased Mass Mutual’s 401K platform. They are starting to implement some changes.  Some are good and some you may not be so happy with.   Our provider, Raymond James, will be coming down to discuss the changes and meet with people one-on-one if you would like a meeting to discuss your retirement plan.  Some of the changes include no more re-financing of loans from the 401K, you can now only take one loan at a time, and they have added a ROTH IRA option.   Again, we will have someone come in to explain the details and help you better figure out your personal situation.

4. I will leave some Sea Dogs tickets near the back door, first come first serve. They are away next week then return to Portland for 6 games starting on the 19^th.  Let me know if you’d like to go to a Sea Dogs game.

The post Derek’s outBOX – 4/8/22 RIP to Greg Milligan appeared first on Volk Packaging.

1. Thank you for your donations to Vladimir Lenchuk’s family in Ukraine. Through your generosity, we raised over $2,000 for Vlad’s family.  I am sure that will go a long way to help them.

2. Tomorrow our neighbor on Morin Street, FMI, will be bringing in some very heavy equipment. This will block off much of Morin Street for the day so please plan to enter the industrial park from the Route 1 entrance on Drapeau Street.

3. Our Volk Paxit website went live last week. You can view the website and a few promotional videos by going to VolkPaxit.com.  We recently promoted Corey Laplume to our full-time Paxit sales representative.   We have great optimism for what Corey can do with this terrific opportunity!

4. Lastly, April is Earth Month and corrugated is the most recycled material on planet Earth!

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