The Paperboard Packaging Council

Century Club

Michigan City Paper Box Company

www.buyabox.com

In 1904, Albert K. Hoodwin began manufacturing paper boxes on the second floor of an old factory building in Michigan City, IN. As the business expanded, in 1920 they moved to an old church building and then to a former shirt factory, where the business remains today.

Sadly, 23 years after starting his box business, Albert was killed in a tragic train accident. His wife, Lillian, then took over as president until their sons, Lou and Fred, joined the firm in the 1940s. Lou purchased his brother’s share in 1983, and then sold the company to his son, Albert, in 1993.

Over the years, accounts as well as box types changed. In the early days, half of their business was  manufacturing punch boards and seal cards. As punch boards lost their popularity in the 1940s, the company switched over to handmade, satin-lined jewelry boxes. They continued to manufacture high-end jewelry boxes until the 1960s, when costume jewelry, which did not require such high-end packaging, became more popular.

Through high-tech automation, a longstanding reputation for producing top-quality boxes, and superior customer service, today Michigan City Paper Box Company is the premier manufacturer of cotton-filled jewelry boxes in the world, with accounts such as Walmart, Gap, K-Mart, Banana Republic, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Lord and Taylor, and Coldwater Creek.