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Nearly 70 years ago, Spiral Paper Tube & Core Company was founded by George Hibard Sr. Three generations and millions of paper tubes later, we’re still at it.
This Thanksgiving, we thought we would share the top 2 things we’re most thankful for.
1. OUR EMPLOYEES
Over the years, we have aimed to remain a true “small business,” maintaining somewhere between 45-50 employees at any given time. With this few number of people, it feels more like spending time with family than anything else.
One of our employees, Jesse, has been working with the Hibard family since he was 17 years old. In a pinch to make a delivery, and without a truck driver, George Hibard Jr. asked Jesse if he knew how to drive.
Jesse replied he had a driver’s license and had been driving for less than one year. George tossed Jesse the keys to a 26 foot bobtail delivery truck and suggested he take it around the block a few times before his first delivery.
Jesse is now in his 50s and continues to work with the Hibard family.
He has worked in nearly every department, held every title available, and, armed with a photographic memory, can recall obscure details of jobs we ran decades ago without batting an eye.
Over the years, we have watched many of our employees fall in love, get married, purchase their first home, become parents, raise children, navigate life’s many challenges, and truly live out the American dream.
2. OUR CUSTOMERS
In the beginning, customer acquisition was slow and hard. Every order, no matter how small, was a victory. With each order, customers displayed their trust in us to produce a quality product. Over the years, we have continued to gain trust and produce spiral paper tubes for an array of industries and applications.
Now, with decades of manufacturing experience under our belts, the confidence our customers have in us challenges us to continually “think outside the box.”
Throughout the years, we have had the opportunity to meet wonderful men and women from all over this great nation and abroad. Some buyers were links in the middle of their company’s supply chain. Others were just starting out, risking everything to bring their business idea into reality.
Cristina Bartolucci, celebrity makeup artist, was the latter.
According to the story circulating the office, Cristina walked in to our South Central Los Angeles factory 16 years ago and nearly 9 months pregnant.
A bit wobbly on her feet, she sat down with George Hibard Jr. and passionately explained her idea for a “lip plumping” cosmetic product. George, a married man with three teenage daughters, curiously listened.
Cristina, a UC Berkley graduate, was a long-time Hollywood makeup artist, but wanted to make the transition to a business owner by launching DuWop Cosmetics.
She had the product and was looking for a unique secondary packaging solution. She chose our 3-piece telescope tube. “Lip Venom” by DuWop hit the market and immediately dominated the cosmetic industry.
Lip Venom was globally featured in magazines and television spots for years to come.
