In keeping with the Ernest Way, we call everyone who works here an E-Teamer—because they’re not just employees, they’re essential contributors to everything we do here. That’s also why the Ernest Brand Council, the all-volunteer, E-Teamer organization charged with keeping our culture alive and thriving, put an Ernest spin on things by renaming the event E-Teamer Appreciation Day. And what a day, it is! We go out of our way to make sure everyone who works here knows how much we value them and all they do for us and our clients.

“Ernest truly values everyone who works here and we really celebrate big across the company. It’s one of the things that makes Ernest a different kind of company, and a special place to work.”

—Jose Ibarra, EBC Chair 

As our family continues to grow, so do the celebrations. Each division comes up with their own way to shower their E-Teamers with love by hosting an event that includes coffee, breakfast, lunch, dessert, and games. Plus, the EBC gives every employee an E-Teamer Appreciation gift. This year it was a $30 swag store credit, which was a big hit. (We love seeing that Ernest swag all around the office!)

“We like to work hard and play hard. This was a great opportunity for the whole E-Team in each division to do something fun together. Everyone got really into it, and we’re already looking forward to the next one.”

—Jose Ibarra, EBC Chair 

The divisions did not disappoint when it came to creativity. Our crews in Sacramento and Portland both opted for a luau theme, while Houston went French, Fresno rolled out the red carpet, and Salt Lake City turned into a carnival. Raleigh shook things up with a Flavor-Flav party, complete with some Dudley drip. Meanwhile, our Los Angeles headquarters went all in on a Western throw-down, featuring line dancing, BBQ, and ping pong. San Luis Obispo hosted a movie night, and San Diego and Reno focused on everyone’s favorite part of the party: food.

While the world is slowly opening up again, the supply chain crisis has us feeling like the ports will forever remain closed. The last 2 ½ years have led to a lack of trains, truck drivers, warehouse space and an increase in costs, plus delayed shipments and headaches. To top it off, inflation rates continue to surge—the U.S. alone witnessed a 9.1% increase in June compared to last year. The highest inflation rate in 40 years.

For our West Coast customers, there are even more woes. Union contracts at the ports have expired. Plus, all independent drivers in California must be full-time employees for the companies they partner with after the Supreme Court’s ruling on AB5. Which means shipping costs will increase even further. While the West Coast tries to navigate new challenges, the East Coast is dealing with their own. Since 2019, ports in New York and New Jersey have seen a 33% increase in container ships coming in, all of them waiting almost a week to actually dock and about 6.5% originally meant to be shipped to the West Coast.

All of this comes during the busiest shipping season where containers are already stuck on liners and at ports across the globe. But that’s where we come in. At Ernest, we have the solutions to help you get through any challenge the supply chain crisis throws your way.

Unsolvable? Impossible? Not for us.

AN ON-SITE SOLUTION WITH OFF-THE-CHARTS RESULTS.

Some solutions were born because of the supply chain disruptions. But others have been given the spotlight because of how effective they are at erasing problems.

Ernest Managed Inventory, aka EMI, is the latter of those two.

This supply chain management solution encompasses all products that we service for our customers. From Jan San to tape to Just-in-Time inventory. This inventory management solution solves it all. And the reason it soars above the competition is because it’s about relationships, too. Our team learns the ins and outs of your business and how your employees work best, all while addressing any problem that arises.

EMI helps our clients reduce inventory holding costs and increase inventory turnover (you know, the kind of problems amplified by the supply chain issues). Through our solution, you have a better idea of what you have vs. what you need—freeing up precious space in your warehouse. It’s all possible thanks to our dedicated specialists who are in constant communication with you.

EMI may have a short name, but its benefits are never-ending. It prevents overproduction, minimizes wait times, cuts down on transportation costs, improves productivity and streamlines your production.

The cherry on top? We customize everything to your business needs.

YOU KNOW THE PERKS. NOW HERE’S THE PROOF.

When you partner with us, we focus on maintaining your business AND maintaining a relationship. Because strong relationships make all the difference.

It’s that mentality coupled with our EMI solution that helped our client, Coast Aluminum, keep up with their supply chain at their 10 locations.

Each Coast location keeps a two-week supply on hand while Ernest has a 90-day supply ready to go at a moment’s notice. This freed up space in each warehouse and improved cash flow, because they don’t have to worry about meeting the minimum order requirements. Another perk? Since we share a similar national footprint with Coast, our team can deliver the next day—allowing them to turn orders on stainless steel, aluminum and specialty metals around quickly.

A great partnership made better thanks to EMI.

UNSTOPPABLE SOLUTIONS. ONE-OF-A-KIND PARTNERSHIPS.

The supply chain issues have thrown companies one too many curveballs, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t get a homerun.

At Ernest, our team of experts is always at the ready. Whether you need distribution support, cost-effective packaging or to free up some much needed space, we’ll find the perfect solution by working alongside each other.

Give us a call today or fill out our form here and let’s get you started with EMI. Or, if you’re looking for something else, we’ve got you covered. Check out our supply chain management page to learn more.

Tough love, that is.

Although she couldn’t always give the boys a dime for the movies or a hamburger, she always (and we mean always) had a dime to spare for those in need. With that same small budget, she still managed to give back. That dime could provide someone with an entire meal or a blanket to keep warm.

Minnie’s generosity was larger than life. And it’s something that’s still a driving force for our co-founder and Chairman, Charles “Chuck” Wilson. He said it best, “If you can help someone, that’s the best thing in the world.”

This history of generosity and spirit of giving sparked what we now know as Givember. (See how we pushed forward to give back last year, here bit.ly/3FTirii) It’s our annual event at Ernest Packaging Solutions where we work together throughout the entire company to give back to our communities. And with over half a million U.S. citizens experiencing houselessness, the need has never been greater. See our video below.

During the month of September, our 13 divisions across the country worked to collect 30,000 personal hygiene items to donate to houseless shelters across the country. Something as small as razors, toothbrushes or even toilet paper can really make a big difference in peoples’ lives. Which is why we set a hefty goal for ourselves. But the giving spirit runs deep at Ernest and our divisions knocked it out of the park.

We collected 73,683 items—more than double our goal.

Check out the breakdown by division, below, and where the items ended up.

Boise.
1,903 personal hygiene items for Boise Rescue Mission.

Fresno.
3,220 personal hygiene items for Marjaree Mason Center.

Houston.
2,100 personal hygiene items for Star of Hope.

Los Angeles.
25,316 personal hygiene items for Los Angeles Mission.

Las Vegas.
6,735 personal hygiene items for Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.

Phoenix.
8,227 personal hygiene items for Aris Foundation.

Portland.
6,414 personal hygiene items for Share Vancouver.

Raleigh-Durham.
2,876 personal hygiene items for Healing Transitions.

Reno.
3,880 personal hygiene items for Eddy House.

Sacramento.
2,654 personal hygiene items for Union Gospel Mission.

San Diego.
5,644 personal hygiene items for Brother Benno’s Center.

Salt Lake City.
2,800 personal hygiene items for The Road Home.

San Luis Obispo.
1,914 personal hygiene items for CAPSLO.

A huge thank-you goes out to each and every Ernest employee who participated. It warms our hearts to know that Minnie’s spirit of giving lives strong.

Ernest Packaging Solutions is a family company, meaning everyone working here is considered a part of the family, but that’s a line you hear from a lot of places. What makes us different is that we live that statement, and that comes from leadership.

“Products are just products; everybody has products,” said Charles Wilson in a recent interview with The Ernest Buzz Blog. “The reason it’s a family business is because we’re all in this together. We feel very strongly that everyone is important whether you are in sales, a buyer, in the warehouse or whatever. Now, we’re considered one of the leaders in our industries even though we are a mid-sized company, and that’s because of the people and culture we have. We will work together and try to get you to do your best.”

What Ernest Packaging Solutions has become – a nationwide company advancing packaging technology and engineering – is remarkable. But that isn’t what Mr. Wilson is most proud of. No, he wanted to talk about family, both his blood and his extended company family.

“We wanted to have a family business, and we wanted everybody who worked for us to be a part of that family,” Wilson says. “If you enjoy the people you work with, you feel we’re all in this together and everybody is important in the business. We will work together and try to get you to your best.”

Mr. Wilson, who still comes into work every day, told us, “I think it’s fun to come to work, and I want other people to feel that way, too. … The success of the company is the success of all the people. When we accomplish something as a company, everybody is responsible, and they feel a part of that growth.”

“From my vantage point, every day is a gift. Challenges are what makes life interesting. If you just did the same thing all the time in life, it wouldn’t be interesting. Problems are to be solved – that’s what they’re there for. Sometimes you solve them right, and sometimes you don’t, but at least you’ve got something to do.”

Wilson continues, “One thing I’ve enjoyed about my longevity is I’m still able to do things. And I’ve got a store of memories that’s my fortune, wonderful memories. Nobody can match my memories because they’re for me. Each one of us has a lot we can be grateful for. All we have to do is look back and think of the wonderful things that have happened to us.”

Can we get a high five for that?

It’s easy to call yourself a family-oriented company. It’s harder to live that for nearly 70 years in business, but Ernest Packaging Solutions has.

This belief that the people you work with can be a family extends to our customers, as well. In fact, many of our customers have been working with us for over 20 years! What do you want from your packaging company: a business partner or a long-term relationship? Contact us today to learn how Ernest is the packaging partner for you.

Bidding things out to find a lower cost doesn’t always get you the best bottom line. It’s a costly endeavor to bid everything out, especially if you use multiple vendors. Sometimes it’s better to look within at the bigger picture, instead of scouring each line item expense.

When you decide to take a look at how it all gets done, why should you hire a bunch of expensive outside consulting groups to tell you that costs need to be cut? A better solution is to find one company that provides complete consultation, and Ernest is the answer. It’s not that we are biased toward vendors. It’s just that we are biased toward customers and their needs.

Here’s Why

On average, most medium sized companies use 3-5 packaging distributors. Maybe you save a penny or 25 cents per item, or even a $1, but it takes tremendous bookkeeping costs to handle multiple vendors. Although individually they may have a slightly cheaper price, it’s going to be more expensive once you add in your internal manpower hours to invoice and manage several vendors rather than just one.

Instead, let Ernest handle everything so you won’t spend employee hours on invoicing multiple vendors. Our prices might be a little higher, but we offer quality and customer service that is second to none. When you consolidate vendors and solely invoice Ernest, you’ll actually save money when you look at the entire picture. By spending a little more up front, you save more in the long term.

Here’s What We Offer That Others Don’t

We do payment terms, most don’t. That’s because most companies are too small or too big. The big ones try to force palates of product on you. The small guys are just trying to get sales and don’t have the buying power.

We can help with your cash flow. We are big enough financially to hold customers’ inventory. We understand small companies don’t have large amounts of warehouse space. Check on your volume buy, which will store for you, and then pay for it when you pull it. This helps you to not incur additional cost because we are doing the inventory management. This gives you the ability to fill up your warehouse with product to sell. Ship out product twice a week instead, which will make you more successful.

We are local, in your community. Everything is in a stand-alone unit locally with onsite customer service to help with purchasing, accounting, the warehouse, your sales force and management. We have nine locations in Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Reno, Salt Lake City and Portland. We employ local people so you don’t have to go to customer service in Arizona for a purchasing department in California. We are all about connecting directly with the customer from asking How your kids are doing in sports to supporting local organizations and fundraisers like Girl Scouts and other non-profit and charitable groups.

We have our own trucks. The local warehousing will check your product and you can stop by anytime from 8am to 5pm. We can also send over a report or ask our customer service do a visual for you.

We offer specific reports, tailored to each of your customers. Do you need GIT customer history? We offer weekly reports custom fit for each of your departments to meet your every need. Do you want to know how much committed inventory you have? We can do it. Pull customer history reports, year to date and last three invoices.
That means you get one invoice with back-up paperwork for accounting and billing.

Come take a tour of our facility today. It’ll change how you think.