Our story in a box...
Carton Service Co. was born out of the living room of our home in 1975. Harold and Gerald Unkeles, owners of Carton Service in Portland, Oregon approached my wife, Saralyn and I about opening up a branch in Seattle. Harold and Gerald pretty much said, “I will get the product, you find the customers.” I began making some phone calls. Starting up a business with three small children is not easy. At one point, we had the phone transfer from the office to our home if I couldn’t answer in time and Saralyn would help the customer.
By 1983, the Unkeles brothers and I decided to break ties financially but stay friendly in business. We started out with one employee other than Saralyn and I. He worked in the warehouse and drove the truck. If he was out delivering and a customer came to pick up, I would pull the order. Everyone pitched in to get the work done each day. Carton Service Co. has grown in size to a team of six. Although we have changed in numbers, everyone still pitches in to help get things done.
One of the benefits of owning a small business for so many years is that you can create friendships with your customers and vendors. I have been buying and selling to some of the same people for over 30 years. The funny thing is, when we started selling used and surplus boxes the word ‘Recycle’ was not even a household term yet. And now, we are even greener than the Recyclers by helping the community Reuse.
Carton Service Co. was created to provide your company with quality affordable shipping boxes and other packaging supplies. I am proud to say we are doing just that 37 years later.
Sincerely,
By 1983, the Unkeles brothers and I decided to break ties financially but stay friendly in business. We started out with one employee other than Saralyn and I. He worked in the warehouse and drove the truck. If he was out delivering and a customer came to pick up, I would pull the order. Everyone pitched in to get the work done each day. Carton Service Co. has grown in size to a team of six. Although we have changed in numbers, everyone still pitches in to help get things done.
One of the benefits of owning a small business for so many years is that you can create friendships with your customers and vendors. I have been buying and selling to some of the same people for over 30 years. The funny thing is, when we started selling used and surplus boxes the word ‘Recycle’ was not even a household term yet. And now, we are even greener than the Recyclers by helping the community Reuse.
Carton Service Co. was created to provide your company with quality affordable shipping boxes and other packaging supplies. I am proud to say we are doing just that 37 years later.
Sincerely,
Marvin Negrin
Meet the Carton Service Co. team...
Marvin Negrin is the co-owner of Carton Service Co. Marvin is very involved in making sure Carton Service Co. thrives. He has kept this company going through his desire to always help his customer get what he/she needs. He is known to be a unique owner of a business. He does the buying and selling and at the same time has no problem jumping on the forklift to pull an order or take the truck out if need be. He enjoys chatting with customers and vendors about life, not just business. Marvin is a very active person. All week long you can find him on the streets of Seattle with his running or bicycling buddies. But most of all, Marvin loves his family. His children have grown up and have lives of their own, yet Marvin stays close to all of them.
Saralyn Negrin is the co-owner of Carton Service Co. Saralyn takes care of the accounting side of Carton Service Co. She keeps the paper trails running smoothly and in the right directions. She enjoys spending time with friends and loves spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Mike Chaffee is the General Manager of Carton Service Co. He manages every aspect of the warehouse, coaches employees, schedules the trucks, and assists customers. Mike keeps this place very organized and running smoothly. He is from Lakewood, WA. Outside of work he enjoys time with his family and friends. He plays hockey, goes skiing, and likes to fish.
Kyle Patterson is our one and only truck driver. He keeps our stock coming in and going out with a smile every day. Kyle is a native of Washington state, originally from and still residing in Tacoma. Kyle likes the people he works with and all the new people he meets while out delivering to customers. He rises early to start work before the sun comes up and appreciates his unique schedule. Outside of work, he likes to look at classic cars, go on walks and most of all, spend time with his family.
John Swarringin is our main warehouse associate. He sorts and palletizes our stock in lightening speed. He grew up in Seattle and now resides in Kent. He enjoys the friendly company of everyone that works at Carton Service Co. John really appreciates his 15 minute commute to work. Outside of work, John enjoys cooking and collecting toy trains. He also loves spending time with his dogs Lola and Dex.
Laura Haleva is the daughter of Marvin and Saralyn Negrin. She started working at Carton Service Co. when she was a college student at Columbia University. After traveling around the world and living in New York and Israel, she settled down in Seattle and joined the Carton Service Co. team as a full-time employee in 2004. Laura wears many hats and does whatever is needed to help the business run smoothly including upgrading the inventory system to customer service and outside sales. Her favorite project thus far was creating this new site and sharing the story of her family's business which has been an integral part of the Seattle community for nearly 40 years. In her spare time, she enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with family.
