Keeping the presses running for 85 years

Brothers and sisters rarely agree on anything, but the three brothers and one sister who make up the third generation of the Schmissrauter family that has led TPC Printing and Packaging through its 85th year are united in focus.

During the company’s 85 years, the 130-employee company at 6107 Ringgold Road has printed cardboard boxes and socks among other things, but the four siblings agree their new focus is the key to their success and growth during what has been called the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.

Joseph “Joey” Schmissrauter, TPC president, said the company began steering business toward specific markets they deem “recession proof.”

As a result, the company has grown 50 percent in the last three years, he said.

“We sought out segments that were lucrative and growing,” he said.

TPC Printing and Packaging designs and prints cardboard packaging for a variety of products including several brands of liquor, tobacco, fragrances and some over-the-counter health products.

They have won numerous awards, including the 2009 Paperboard Packaging Council’s Highest Award for Innovation in Packaging for a Jack Daniel’s box that opens at the push of a button.

Mr. Schmissrauter said it is products like the push-button box that emphasize the company’s quality and attention to detail.

“They have to have the packaging, and it has to be right,” he said. “They know we are going to give them that.”

Several years ago, the company positioned itself to be prepared for an economic downturn, said Hilda Murray, executive vice president and the lone sister among the four siblings heading TPC.

“With the economic crisis, we leaned up years ago,” she said. “We haven’t had a secretary in this building in 15 years.”

Officials at the company said they also eliminated just about the entire sales force. Sales now are handled almost entirely by the four siblings.

Executive Vice President Kurt Schmissrauter said another key to their success has been their work with several local companies including Chattem, McKee Foods and Olan Mills.

“We got smart a long time ago about who we do business with,” Joey Schmissrauter said. “The local companies we do business with are a who’s who. They are the best.”

Mark Schmissrauter, with Interpak, a division of TPC, said it used to be “taboo” for fragrance companies to do business in the South, but that mindset has changed.

“We have broken the mold with the mentality of the cosmetic companies and have transitioned a lot of that business to our company in the Southeast,” he said.

Joey Schmissrauter said this is the worst economic downturn he has seen, but the company is doing extremely well.

“We are going to post a slight growth this year when most of our competitors are losing 15 to 20 percent, he said. “We are an anomaly right now. We are in a good segment, and we are doing well in that segment.”