[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S739-S740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    RECOGNIZING BIG RIVER PACKAGING

 Ms. ERNST. Madam President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Big 
River Packaging of Clinton, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week for the week of March 13, 2023.
  In 2001, Bob Simpson found himself reflecting on the 350 jobs that 
were lost due to the recent closure of the large paper plant in 
Clinton. He saw the value of the experienced professionals in the area 
and wanted to see their talent stay in his community. He and John 
Huling cofounded Big River Packaging in 2005 with the big idea of 
utilizing the dedicated local talent to create high-quality boxes. 
After hiring Bob's son Kip Simpson as the first employee, they began to 
make their dream a reality. Through trial and error, they slowly grew 
their business until they eventually found a niche that truly ``takes 
the cake'': bakery boxes. Once they discovered the need for bakery 
boxes, they became dedicated to providing the best customer service to 
a unique clientele whose needs are often overlooked by large 
corporations.
  In the folding carton industry, small carton orders for specialty 
items are an underserved market. Many in the industry choose to focus 
on big-volume orders, but Big River Packaging, on the other hand, has a 
short-order/value-added market strategy. Big River Packaging aims to 
help local bakeries by providing them with customized boxes, in volumes 
that the ``big guy'' often ignores. To continue to serve these 
specialized accounts with excellence, the company has decided to forgo 
a physical storefront and instead run all their sales solely through 
their website. The company strives to provide quality customer service 
and do everything they can to foster long-term relationships with their 
clients. This dedication has been evident since the beginning or, in 
other words, since the fateful day John Huling stopped at his local 
bakery to pick up a dozen donuts.
  Years prior, cofounder John Huling went to a local bakery to pick up 
donuts. While he was there, he discovered that the bakery needed a 
special box to keep their cupcakes steady. At the time, the baker was 
using sheet-cake boxes to transport cupcakes, leaving the individual 
desserts totally unsecure inside the box and, as a result, ruining the 
meticulously painted frosting on the cupcakes. Big River Packaging came 
to the rescue and developed an insert grid with holes for the cupcakes 
to keep them steady and upright. Keeping that same knack for product 
innovation in mind, Big River Packaging continues to cater to the 
unique needs of any bakery. Currently, Big River Packaging offers a 
plethora of boxes and bags to fulfill every baker's packaging needs, 
including cocoa bomb packaging, cupcake boxes, and paper bread bags. 
Over the years, their reach has grown to over 120,000 customers, and 
they have even expanded to international markets. In addition to their 
unique approach to the packaging industry, it is the team's commitment 
to high-quality products and top-notch customer service that has led to 
the growth and success of Big River Packaging.
  When you chase a dream, you might be surprised where it takes you. 
Big River Packaging's commitment to the value of hard work has even 
allowed some of their boxes to end up on the silver screen. A 2019 
episode of the hit television series Grey's Anatomy features one of Big 
River Packaging's boxes. Big River Packaging has also been recognized 
by the Iowa Small Business Administration in 2017 in celebration of 
National Manufacturing Day and National Manufacturing Week, and Bob 
Simpson was named the 2018 National Small Business Person of

[[Page S740]]

the Year. Clearly, Mr. Simpson and Mr. Huling proved to be a dynamic 
pair as the two have led Big River Packaging through impressive growth 
and innovation, all while receiving accolades from industry experts and 
beyond. I want to congratulate Mr. Simpson and Mr. Huling along with 
the entire team at Big River Packaging. I look forward to seeing your 
continued growth and success in Iowa.

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