Keep Moving Forward
February 05, 2026
Ernest turns 80 years young.
As we turn 80, of course it’s good to take a look back. To remember where we came from, the struggles we overcame and how we’ve grown from that tiny garage in LA back in 1946 to an international packaging company today. But as the saying goes, “Know your history, know your destiny.” Which means celebrating the big Eight-Zero is reminding us to keep an eye on the future.
Keep it in the family.
It’s not only in our hearts. It’s on the walls at Ernest divisions across the country. The images of two brothers and founders, Ernie and Chuck, ready to take the world by storm. But it was their widowed mother Minnie who really shaped them. She taught them the importance of giving back, hard work and of course, family. We still bring that spirit of tenacity and understanding to work every single day.
Keep loyal and brave.
Before “Ernest Paper Products” even existed, the boys had a much more important job: to fight in WWII. It was the Army Air Corps for Ernie and shortly thereafter, the Army for Chuck. And these two brothers not only survived the war. They came home as heroes, with Chuck being awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. But his biggest reward? Reuniting with Ernie at Union Station in LA, then starting this little company, which we simply call “Ernest” today.
Keep putting others first.
The selflessness didn’t stop when their service ended abroad. The values their mother Minnie instilled in Ernie and Chuck lived on as they began to grow their business. Rather than focusing strictly on selling packaging or building their books of business, the boys always took a different route by creating relationships with their customers. And when it came to giving back to their community, they always remembered their humble upbringing. Chuck said it best, “When you can help someone, that’s the best thing in the world.”
Keep them guessing.
Why would a packaging company make a Fender Stratocaster guitar out of cardboard? Why would we tell people we’re NOT hiring when we actually are? And why would we turn a stale donut into our mascot? To keep people guessing. Because when it comes to the status quo, we’ll continue to steer clear of that for the next 80 years. We show up unlike any other packaging company. And we’re proud to solve things creatively while tackling anyone’s unique business challenges.
Keep growing, connecting and pushing.
Over the past eight decades, we’ve grown from a tiny two-person operation to over 17 locations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. We’re proud of that fact, because we not only get to connect with more people. Now, we can make human connections in different cultures, too. That’s what keeps our artisans and craftspeople pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the packaging world and beyond. The simple fact that we get to work and collaborate with the best and brightest companies in the entire world.
