Tags

Four Years Later

It’s been four years since we launched our e-commerce store!

We’ve been manufacturing paper tubes since 1949, but it wasn’t until 2013 we decided to take the plunge.

Our turnaround times have always been a significant factor in our customers’ purchasing decisions.

Conversation after conversation, the feedback was consistent: we need our paper cores faster.

We put our heads together, implemented a few new changes and created solutions to give our paper core customers just what they were looking for:

Same Day Shipping

In 2013, we launched our e-commerce store with a handful of 3″ ID (inside diameter) x .125″ thick paper cores. Since then, we’ve increased to over 90 different lengths.

The process couldn’t be simpler:

  1. order before 11 AM Pacific
  2. orders ship UPS that same day

Our customers are pleased, and so are our new ones. The feedback we’re receiving now is different, but still consistent: thank you.

 

The History of Spiral Paper Tube & Core – Los Angeles

After returning from World War II, George Hibard Sr., a Wisconsin native, set out to pursue his American dream when he started Spiral Paper Tube & Core in 1949.

A machinist by trade, and a USC Marshall School of Business student by night, Mr. Hibard designed, engineered and fabricated most of the machinery used to produce his first spiral paper tubes.

For the first 55 years, Spiral Paper Tube & Core was located at 8802 South Graham, Los Angeles, CA 90002.

George Hibard Jr., an inventor and economist, followed in the footsteps of his father and became President in the 1990s.

Within ten years, George had quickly increased the number of product lines to eight, including Edge Protectors, one of Spiral Paper Tube & Core’s most popular products.

In 2004, Spiral Paper Tube & Core moved its headquarters from South Los Angeles to its current location, 5200 Industry Avenue, Pico Rivera, CA 90660.

After 68 years in business, we continue to value quality, excellence, honesty and integrity. Our diverse product line is reaching farther and servicing more industries now than any time before.

Many of the employees that worked for Mr. Hibard are still with us today. And it is not uncommon for an old-time customer or vendor to call the office and share a few stories about the good ole days with the younger staff. We believe genuine connection best compliments our quality packaging products—it is our way of best serving you.

Top 10 Halloween Costumes with Paper Tubes

minion_costumes_blog_600x220

Every October, parents and party-goers alike are faced with this question: What should I dress up as for Halloween?

Like everybody else, we appreciate a unique costume. But, we’re biased. We like costumes that use paper tubes.

Earlier this month, we set out to find our favorite Halloween costumes with paper tubes. We selected our favorite Halloween costumes based on the following criteria:

  1. creativity
  2. uniqueness
  3. use of materials

After scouring the internet, Etsy, and Pinterest, here’s our top 10 favorite halloween costumes.

The paper tube octopus…

costume_blog_10

The paper tube minions…

costume_blog_9

The paper tube explorer…

costume_blog_8

The paper tube mech warrior…

costume_blog_7

The paper tube mac-n-cheese boy…

costume_blog_6

Baby boy lumber jack with paper tube ax…

costume_blog_5

The human frappucino with whipped cream and paper tube straw…

costume_blog_4

The human toilet paper holder…

costume_blog_3

The painter with paper tube paint brush…

costume_blog_2

And lastly, the paper tube R2D2…

costume_blog_1

 

We hope you enjoyed our top 10 paper tube Halloween costumes as much as we did!

If you’ve used a paper tube (toilet paper tube, wrapping paper tube, paper towel tube, concrete form tube, etc.) for any of your Halloween costumes, we want to see pictures!

Post your pictures on our Facebook page.

Think You Have Tube Knowledge?

think_tube_knowledge_blog_600x200

Paper Tubes. It’s what we do.

Last year, we set out to educate as many people as possible by launching our Knowledge Base.

We had noticed that many of our clients, packaging distributors, curious minds, builders, crafters, retail shop owners, tape and label makers, printers, freight companies, artists, architects, poster companies, etc. all seemed to be asking us the same questions.

Although paper tubes are structurally the same (they all look like a toilet paper tube, with a twirling seam), they’re used in a variety of applications. And depending on how the paper tube was being used, we were able to predict what questions might be asked by somebody in that field.

For that reason, we created our Knowledge Base – a collection of paper tube-specific articles, Q&As, and other helpful information.

For example, an artist who designs and ships custom posters on Etsy will have questions specifically related to packing and shipping poster tubes.

 

3 Common Mailing Tube Questions:

  1. When both plastic end plugs are inserted, how much does each Mailing Tube weigh?
  2. What size Mailing Tube should I use for my poster?
  3. What’s the difference between “overall length” and “outside diameter” and “inside length” and “inside diameter?”

 

Another example is a tape or label manufacturer. Instead of using a plain kraft brown paper core, they may want their company logo printed on the inside. Their product will be wrapped around the outside of the paper core, leaving valuable real estate on the inside. Their questions about printing will be completely different than the artist selling posters on Etsy.

 

4 Common Printing Questions:

  1. Can you print our logo in a specific color?
  2. What’s the difference between Pantone colors and GCMI colors?
  3. Will our ink color look best on kraft brown paper or flat white paper?
  4. What file type and size do we need to send?

 

These questions are just two examples of the types of questions we regularly receive. If you’d like to learn more about paper tubes, take a stroll around our Knowledge Base.

You may already be familiar with many of the Knowledge Base topics. But then again, you may walk away with a greater understanding of paper tubes.

Explore our Knowledge Base and increase your tube knowledge today!

The average American uses 8 paper tubes a day…all without knowing.

blog_ilovetubes_600x220

 

Admit it.

You’ve hit at least one unsuspecting person with a wrapping paper tube at least once in your life.

Probably more.

Did you know the average American uses 8 paper tubes a day…all without knowing? It’s true. All of us here at Spiral Paper Tube dedicate our lives to making products most will never think twice about. Let alone think once about.

Our most popular tubes and cores are hidden in plain sight.

They’re inside holiday wrapping paper, rolls of toilet paper, kitchen paper towels and Scotch tape. Most consumers don’t set out to buy our paper tubes and paper cores directly, so their interaction with our product goes something like this:

  • use all of the wrapping paper, toilet paper, paper towels, or Scotch tape
  • throw paper tube in recycle bin
  • the end

If you’re a parent of small children, or a teacher, it might go something more like this:

  • ask others to intentionally use up all of their wrapping paper, toilet paper, paper towels, or Scotch tape
  • collect their paper tubes and cores
  • use scissors, glue, glitter, construction paper, yarn, paint, and popsicle sticks to make crafts
  • the end

As you can see, parents, kids, teachers and students are having a bit more fun with our products than the average consumer. For this reason, we want to have a little fun this next month.

This summer, we want to see your crafts and inventions!

When you, your kids, or your students create something with a paper tube, post it on our Facebook Page or use #ilovetubes when you post it on Twitter or Instagram!

And for those that may not be too crafty, if you spot a paper tube or paper core in a retail shop, on the street, at a post office, etc. you can join in also!

With your help, we can bring those 8 paper tubes a day into the spotlight and remind America just how fun paper tubes can be!

Paper Tubes and Plastic Plugs Go Together Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

blog_paper_tubes_plastic_plugs_600x200

Some things are just meant to be together…

What would peanut butter be without jelly? Who would Batman be without Robin? How lonely would salt feel without pepper?

Paper tubes are no different. Without friction-fit plastic plugs, banners, posters and prints would simply slide right out of our mailing and shipping tubes. An end closure is needed, and there are a few different ways to secure the ends of paper tubes. White plastic plugs are the go-to option.

Friction-fit plastic plugs are made with virgin plastic.

This is important because plastic plugs made with virgin content are stronger and more durable than plugs made with recycled material. It also ensures a clean, white looking plug. White plastic plugs made with highly recycled content are easily noticed because they appear spotted and “dirty.”

Plastic plugs have 2 prominent features:

  • pull tab
  • ribbed-sides

The pull tab allows the plastic plug to be easily removed while the ribbed sides push against the paper tube’s inside walls and help keep it in place. These two features, and economical pricing, make it the most commonly used end closure.

The Future of Packaging 2016

happy_new_year_blog_700x300

According to Hannu Alalauri, SVP at The Global Pack Summit, the packaging industry is seeing the following 5 major trends:

  1. Increasing importance of brand building and “shelf standout”
  2. Increasing competitive intensity in the value chain drives cost focus
  3. Sustainability and environmental friendliness is growing in importance
  4. Intelligent packaging will grow stronger in the future
  5. E-tailing volumes will continue to increase

Read more…

Merry Christmas from all of us at Spiral Paper Tube & Core!

merry_christmas_blog_600x220

Another wonderful year is coming to a close at Spiral Paper Tube & Core.

As a local manufacturer of paper tubes and edge protectors, our paper products have continued to give us the opportunity to meet great people who either use or distribute our products.

Since 1949, our family owned and operated shop has valued the personal relationship we have with our customers. Read more…

Expand Your Packaging Knowledge!

knowledge_base_blog_900x300

Introducing the first Knowledge Base dedicated entirely to paper tubes and edge protectors!

We’ve been serving the packaging community since 1949 and have learned a few things along the way. Now, we want to share everything we’ve learned with you!

Whether you’re just starting out or are an industry pro, you’ll find these articles helpful and informative!

Our Knowledge Base is an online library of articles, addressing just about everything having to do with cardboard tubes and edge protectors. Articles discuss topics such as raw materials, the manufacturing process, printing options, packaging, and shipping. Read more…

Los Angeles Fulfillment Services – Spiral Paper Tube & Core

Screen Shot 2014-12-15 at 12.47.16 PM

 

Spiral Paper Tube & Core helps customers by offering ways to decrease logistic costs and increase efficiency.

When a customer orders Poster Tubes, Mailing Tubes, Fiber Cans, or Telescope Tubes, they also have the option of utilizing our in-house fulfillment services. For example, if a customer is selling posters on Amazon.com, Ebay.com, etc., a large quantity of posters need to be rolled, inserted into a poster tube, and shipped throughout the world.

Read more…