NC Manufacturing is Thriving

By Michael R. Drummond,

Packrite LLC.

Dear Tom,

Not only is manufacturing not dead but it is thriving. Our company, Packrite LLC, a packaging manufacture company started in October of 2008 just as the economy was turning down has not only survived but thrived. Packrite is a retail packaging company that was started by myself and a group of people that would not give up when our company Preferred Packaging was shut down by our corporate office laying off 50 people.

Tom the reason for my letter is to let you know not only are you right but we are an example of rising from the ashes providing jobs and a tax base for our country. You are also right about manufacturing in North Carolina. When I did my research on starting this business I found NC was the 5th largest state for Packaging manufacturing. That led me to realize we are a great manufacturing state despite losing furniture and textiles. North Carolina manufacturers would need packaging for all the retail products shipped nationwide.

What I did find is a work force woefully under trained for a company like ours. Packrite is and continues to be the most state of the art packaging company in the world. We invested $10 million in the most advanced equipment in the world most of which of it was the first of its kind in the world. We need help from community colleges, high schools and trade development companies to expand our work force.

All we have received from our government is pressure to pay taxes with no regard to the jobs we provide for the community. Even when we wanted to install the next $2.5 million dollars piece of equipment, High point railroaded us when it came to tax breaks. Although the county can give out millions for the promise of growth by P&G for 200 jobs, Packrite has delivered jobs now. We invested despite High Point and Guilford county policies.

Packrite started with 18 people and $0 in sales to now 48 people with a $2 million dollar payroll, $13 million in sales and continuing to grow. We projected steady growth and we have exceeded our wildest dreams and we are just getting started.

Packrite is having a open house March 21 and there will be people coming from around the world to see what we have doing. Talk about the out reach affect of our business, there will be over 300 company’s coming that will stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and buy from Packrite, creating even more jobs.

If I sound a little proud, I am. We have over come all odds in a downturn economy and created a multi-million dollar company. I believe our newly elected governor has the same vision, and if so, look out world North Carolina is back in manufacturing.

Please call or visit our website to see who we are.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Drummond

President

Packrite LLC

Packrite.net