Many people don’t even realize that Preston Specialties is actually located in Lanesboro; in addition, even if they know it’s there, many people don’t know what the company does or makes. A lot of people think it’s a box company, but it is not!
Preston Specialties makes packaging. One of the current owners, Tiffany Ask explained, “We’re not a box company – we make packaging that goes inside and outside of a box, but not the box!”
The company was started in 1976 by Richard and Lucretia Brehm, grandparents of the current owners, Tiffany Ask and her brother Cory Strom. The company originally started using plastics and has evolved through the years to using corrugated cardboard and several kinds of foam.
Initially, the company was based at the fairgrounds in Preston. Moving out for the fair each year became cumbersome so the Brehms decided to look for a suitable building. They found the building that suited them in Lanesboro. Buying an empty lot next door gave them space to build a warehouse; several unoccupied houses across the alley in the back were purchased, torn down and replaced with another building for production and warehouse.
The company is 51% women owned. Richard had three daughters; including his wife Lucretia and granddaughter Tiffany, the women comprised 51% of the company.
Richard’s daughter Karla and her husband Scott Strom officially took over the company in 1999. Karla had worked in the business long before that.
Both Tiffany and Cory worked at Preston Specialties when they were in high school. Tiffany started in sales and has worked there for 21 years. Cory worked construction at Elcor in Rochester at first, but when the opportunity arose at Preston Specialties to keep the business in the family, he took it. He’s now worked there for five years.
Preston Specialties makes packaging for many products – from scrapbooks to housing and construction items such as glass, doors, coolers and large walk-in freezers. Some of the more unusual things they’ve made were corrugated chairs. They also made cat scratchers of catnip infused corrugated cardboard.
Usually bigger companies come to Preston Specialties with a design they want them to make for a product. Preston Specialties does not have a design team. The company does actually manufacture the corrugated or honeycomb materials. They actually take on the role of converter. They convert the materials to the shapes needed to package their customers’ products.
Some of their orders are for PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) lamination. The product is a glue that remains sticky; a release paper is placed on the adhesive. The customer can then take the paper off the adhesive and stick it to an item. The adhesive then can keep a piece in a box or be used on pallet runners.
Some companies order corrugated pallets; these are much lighter to ship and are used for one way shipping. When the item arrives at the destination, the entire pallet can easily be recycled.
Preston Specialties has a total of 15 employees; all the manufacturing is done in Lanesboro. There are a couple different lines running. Tiffany is in the office three days a week; the other two days she is busy making cold calls and visiting customers. Her mom, Karla, covers for her those two days a week.
Cory is the plant manager; his dad, Scott, is usually there as well to lend a hand in trouble-shooting. “It’s easier to solve a problem with two people than by yourself!” Scott declared. “It takes a lot to learn everything.”
Cory said he learns something every day – problem solving, ordering and keeping up with the inventory.
Preston Specialties’s goal is to see growth every year with potential for growth in years to come. They are content in their current buildings with no plans for any more buildings in the future.
The company is large enough to tackle large orders, but also small and flexible enough to accommodate custom orders for packaging. Most of their products are for smaller companies. A couple times a week, they send their truck on a 150-mile run one way to deliver products. They do have one customer in Canada and another in Washington state to which they ship. They are also currently making packaging for a car parts company in Brazil.
Tiffany and Cory are enthused about running the company for years to come. When asked if the next generation would be likely to join the business when they get older, Cory replied with a chuckle that his one-year-old daughter already has a forklift! (Courtesy of her aunts!) Tiffany’s son Carter and daughter Taylor have done some odd jobs at the business so far. Preston Specialties plans on staying right where it is and looks forward to continuing to supply customers with custom packaging to suit their companies’ individual needs.
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