Our History
From a single warehouse in 1998 to the Pacific Northwest's leading gaylord box supplier, our journey spans 25+ years of innovation, growth, and unwavering commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer success.
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The Founding Story
In the spring of 1998, John Miller stood in a small 5,000 square foot warehouse in Southeast Portland with nothing but a pickup truck, a cell phone, and a vision. He had spent years working in logistics and witnessed firsthand the shocking amount of perfectly good packaging being thrown away by manufacturers.
John saw an opportunity where others saw waste. He believed that used gaylord boxes - those large, sturdy cardboard containers used to ship bulk goods - could serve multiple businesses before reaching the end of their useful life. The concept was simple: buy quality used boxes from companies that no longer needed them, inspect and grade them, then resell them to businesses looking for cost-effective packaging solutions.
The early days were challenging. John spent mornings driving his pickup truck to manufacturing facilities, loading boxes by hand, then afternoons inspecting each one for quality. Evenings were spent cold-calling potential customers, explaining why buying used boxes made both economic and environmental sense.
His first customer was a berry farm in Wilsonville who took a chance on 50 boxes. When those boxes performed flawlessly, word began to spread. By the end of 1998, Oregon Boxes had served 5 customers, processed 2,500 boxes, and generated $50,000 in revenue. More importantly, John had proven his concept and laid the foundation for what would become the Pacific Northwest's premier gaylord box supplier.
Growth by the Numbers
Our steady growth reflects the trust Oregon businesses have placed in us and our commitment to delivering exceptional value year after year.
Sustained Growth
27 Years of Milestones
Every year brought new challenges, achievements, and opportunities to serve our customers better. This is the complete story of our journey.
The Beginning
Oregon Boxes was founded by John Miller in a modest 5,000 sq ft warehouse in Southeast Portland. With just a pickup truck, a cell phone, and an unwavering passion for reducing waste, John began his mission. He spent his days visiting local manufacturers, convincing them that their used gaylord boxes had value. His evenings were spent inspecting, cleaning, and preparing boxes for resale. The first customer was a small berry farm in Wilsonville who took a chance on 50 used boxes.
Building Trust
Word spread quickly about the quality and reliability of Oregon Boxes. John hired his first employee, Sarah Chen, who is still with the company today as Operations Director. Together they established the quality inspection process that remains the foundation of our business. We began sourcing boxes from electronics manufacturers and food processors.
First Warehouse Upgrade
Demand exceeded capacity, forcing a move to a 10,000 sq ft facility. We invested in our first forklift and pallet racking system. This was also the year we established relationships with three major Portland-area manufacturers who became steady suppliers of quality used boxes.
First Major Contract
Secured our first major contract with a large food processing company in the Willamette Valley. This partnership validated our quality-first approach and opened doors to the agricultural industry. We began offering delivery services with a leased box truck, a game-changer for customer convenience.
Service Diversification
Expanded services to include box pickup from suppliers, not just self-sourcing. This created a more efficient supply chain and helped more businesses participate in the circular economy. Started tracking environmental impact - diverted 500,000 lbs from landfills in this year alone.
Quality Certification
Implemented a formal quality grading system (A, B, C grades) that became an industry benchmark. Invested in employee training and safety programs. Added a dedicated repair station where damaged boxes could be restored to Grade A condition.
Regional Recognition
Featured in Oregon Business Magazine as an innovative sustainability company. Began partnerships with environmental organizations. Started offering free consultations to help businesses optimize their packaging costs and reduce waste.
Facility Expansion
Moved to a 25,000 sq ft facility in North Portland with dedicated zones for receiving, inspection, repair, storage, and shipping. Added our first dedicated repair station with professional equipment. Hired dedicated inspection staff to ensure consistent quality. This facility still serves as our main headquarters today.
Technology First Steps
Implemented basic inventory tracking software, moving away from paper records. Created our first website with email inquiry forms. These early technology investments laid the groundwork for future digital transformation.
Team Growth
Crossed 20 employees milestone. Established dedicated sales, operations, and logistics teams. Created employee ownership program, allowing long-term employees to share in company success. This investment in people became a key competitive advantage.
Weathering the Storm
During the economic downturn, many businesses struggled. We doubled down on value, offering flexible payment terms and helping customers reduce costs. Our affordability and reliability helped many businesses survive. Rather than laying off staff, we invested in training and process improvement. The relationships built during this challenging time created customers for life.
Recovery and Innovation
As the economy recovered, we emerged stronger. Introduced new box sizes and specialty configurations based on customer feedback. Began offering custom box solutions for unique industry needs. Invested in a second delivery truck.
Milestone Year
Celebrated processing our one-millionth box since founding. Reached 150 active customers across Oregon and Southwest Washington. Established our first sustainability report, documenting environmental impact and setting future goals.
Safety First
Achieved OSHA recognition for workplace safety excellence. Zero lost-time accidents for the year. Implemented comprehensive safety training program that became a model for the industry. Invested in modern material handling equipment.
Green Initiative Launch
Launched our comprehensive sustainability program. Implemented advanced tracking systems to measure environmental impact. Began publishing annual sustainability reports with third-party verification. Partnered with local schools for environmental education. This year alone, we diverted over 1 million lbs of material from landfills.
Customer Service Excellence
Won Portland Business Journal Customer Service Award. Implemented same-day quote response guarantee. Added Saturday pickup and delivery services. Created customer loyalty program with volume discounts and priority service.
Supply Chain Optimization
Developed strategic partnerships with major manufacturers as consistent box sources. Created a network of supply and demand that increased efficiency for everyone. Reduced turnaround time from pickup to resale by 40% through process improvements.
Technology Investment
Major digital transformation: implemented comprehensive inventory management system with real-time tracking. Launched online ordering portal where customers could check availability and place orders 24/7. Added automated email notifications for order status. Within a year, 40% of orders were placed online, reducing phone congestion and improving accuracy.
Market Leadership
Became the largest independent gaylord box supplier in Oregon. Expanded customer base to include wineries, breweries, and the growing craft beverage industry. Started offering industry-specific solutions and consulting.
Warehouse Automation
Invested in warehouse management software and barcode scanning systems. Added automated inventory alerts and predictive analytics for supply planning. Improved accuracy to 99.5% while increasing throughput by 30%.
Transportation Fleet
Major milestone: purchased our own delivery fleet of 12 trucks, eliminating reliance on third-party logistics. This enabled same-day delivery for Portland metro area and next-day service throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Added GPS tracking for real-time delivery updates. Customer satisfaction scores jumped to all-time highs.
Service Area Expansion
Extended service to cover all of Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Northern California. Opened a satellite storage facility in Salem to better serve the Willamette Valley. Added overnight delivery options for urgent needs.
Pandemic Response
When COVID-19 hit, we were deemed essential business. Quickly implemented safety protocols to protect employees while maintaining operations. Provided critical packaging supplies to food distributors, medical supply companies, and e-commerce businesses experiencing unprecedented demand. Extended payment terms for struggling customers. Added weekend operations to meet demand. Zero service interruptions throughout the entire pandemic.
Record Growth
Record year driven by e-commerce boom and supply chain disruptions increasing demand for used boxes. Hired 20 new employees. Added second shift operations. Reached 400 active customers. Invested heavily in employee bonuses and benefits in recognition of extraordinary effort.
Innovation Center
Launched Box Innovation Center - a testing facility where customers can trial different box configurations before committing to large orders. Added custom printing and labeling services. Developed proprietary box strength testing protocols. Began offering packaging engineering consultations.
25th Anniversary
Celebrated 25 years of service to the Pacific Northwest business community. Expanded main facility to 50,000 sq ft with state-of-the-art repair and refurbishment capabilities. Launched comprehensive box repair service, extending box life by 2-3 cycles. Reached 500+ active customers. Hosted community celebration with customers, employees, and local business leaders.
Sustainability Leadership
Achieved carbon-neutral operations through renewable energy and offset programs. Launched box recycling program for end-of-life boxes, creating circular economy loops. Diverted cumulative total of 50 million pounds from landfills since founding. Received Governor's Environmental Excellence Award.
Looking Forward
Continuing to invest in technology, people, and sustainability. Exploring AI-powered inventory optimization. Planning additional facilities in Washington and California. Committed to making Oregon Boxes the most trusted name in sustainable packaging solutions across the entire West Coast.
Key Turning Points
Certain moments defined our trajectory and shaped who we are today.
First Major Contract
Landing our first major food processing contract proved that our quality-first approach could scale. This partnership opened doors to the agricultural industry and validated our business model. It gave us the confidence and capital to expand operations and invest in better equipment.
25K Sq Ft Facility
Moving to our North Portland facility was transformational. For the first time, we had dedicated zones for each operation: receiving, inspection, repair, storage, and shipping. This professional infrastructure attracted larger customers and enabled process improvements that became our competitive advantage.
Financial Crisis Response
When the economy collapsed, we had a choice: cut costs or invest in relationships. We chose the latter. Offering flexible payment terms, maintaining staff, and helping customers reduce costs built loyalty that lasted decades. Many of our strongest customer relationships began during this difficult period.
Digital Transformation
Launching our online ordering system revolutionized how we did business. Customers could check real-time inventory, place orders at midnight, and track shipments automatically. This technology investment reduced errors, freed up staff for customer service, and positioned us ahead of competitors still relying on phone orders.
Own Delivery Fleet
Purchasing our own 12-truck fleet was a massive investment that paid immediate dividends. Same-day delivery in Portland, next-day throughout Oregon, GPS tracking for customers, and complete control over the delivery experience. Customer satisfaction scores jumped to all-time highs. This investment separated us from every competitor.
Pandemic Response
COVID-19 tested every business. As an essential supplier, we implemented safety protocols while maintaining 24/7 operations to serve food distributors, medical suppliers, and e-commerce companies experiencing unprecedented demand. We extended payment terms for struggling customers while adding weekend operations. Zero service interruptions throughout the entire pandemic.
Evolution of Services
We started by simply buying and selling used boxes. Today, we offer a comprehensive ecosystem of packaging solutions developed through years of listening to customer needs.
1998-2001: Core Business
Simple buying and selling of used gaylord boxes. Manual inspection, basic grading, customer pickup only.
2002-2005: Pickup & Delivery
Added box pickup from suppliers and delivery to customers. Introduced formal quality grading system (A, B, C). Started basic repair services.
2006-2012: Professional Operations
Dedicated repair station, inventory tracking software, sustainability reporting, industry-specific consultations.
2013-2018: Technology Integration
Online ordering, real-time inventory, automated notifications, own delivery fleet, GPS tracking, loyalty programs.
2019-Present: Comprehensive Solutions
Box Innovation Center, custom printing/labeling, packaging engineering consultations, box refurbishment extending box life 2-3 cycles, end-of-life recycling programs.
Community Impact
Our success is measured not just in revenue, but in the positive impact we've had on our community and environment over the past 27 years.
Environmental Stewardship
- 50 million pounds diverted from landfills since founding
- Carbon-neutral operations achieved in 2024
- Box recycling program for end-of-life containers
- Annual sustainability reports since 2012
Job Creation
- 105+ full-time jobs with benefits in Portland metro
- Employee ownership program for long-term staff
- Comprehensive training and career advancement
- Industry-leading safety record with OSHA recognition
Business Support
- Saved Oregon businesses $50M+ in packaging costs
- Free packaging consultations and cost optimization
- Flexible payment terms during economic hardships
- Supporting 500+ Oregon businesses currently
Looking Forward
After 27 years of growth and innovation, we're more excited than ever about the future. Our vision for the next decade is ambitious, sustainable, and centered on serving our customers better.
West Coast Expansion
Planning new facilities in Seattle and Northern California to better serve the entire West Coast. Same-day delivery expanding to major metropolitan areas throughout the region.
AI-Powered Operations
Implementing artificial intelligence for inventory optimization, demand forecasting, and automated quality inspection. This technology will improve accuracy and reduce costs.
Zero-Waste by 2030
Committed to achieving complete zero-waste operations. Every box that can't be resold will be recycled into new products. Expanding our end-of-life recycling programs.
Double Processing Capacity
Reach 1.8M boxes processed annually by 2030
1,000+ Customers
Serve over 1,000 active customers across the West Coast
100% Renewable Energy
All facilities powered by renewable energy sources
2-Hour Delivery
Ultra-fast delivery option for urgent needs in metro areas
Our Commitment
The next 27 years will be even better than the first. We're committed to innovation, sustainability, and exceptional service. We'll continue investing in our people, technology, and infrastructure to remain the Pacific Northwest's most trusted packaging partner.