Essential Packaging Store
#104 - 5433 152 St V3S 5A5 Surrey, BC, Canada

Yes, your Christmas wish came early... Well I know SOME of you have been wishing for this!! Mark Saturday, November 14th on your calendars because we'll be OPENING ON SATURDAYS!!!... YAYYYYYYY!!!!! Yup, we'll be opening on Saturdays starting the 14th until December, 19th. Saturday hours will be from 10am till 2pm only! Please note that their may be lineups (4 customers in the Store at a time) so we ask you limit your shopping group to 2 people. Let us know if you're just picking up an order. The Store will be open for in person shopping, curbside pick up and for phone in orders. Come by and visit Diane and myself (Anna) NEXT SATURDAY!!!

Ya better hurry... If you haven't entered our advent calendar giveaway yet, what are you waiting for?!?! The giveaway ends at noon TODAY so head over to our Instagram page and ENTER!!... https://www.instagram.com/essentialpackaging/

IT'S TIME FOR OUR ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY!!!!! ARE YOU READY?!?! We've teamed up with A Paper Life and we’re giving away-... 1 (one) large 25 Days Advent Calendar kit (value $35.95) 1 (one) small 25 Days Advent Calendar kit (value $32.95) 5 (five) 12 Days of Christmas kits (value $15.95) To enter you must- 1. Follow Essential Packaging and A Paper Life on Instagram (giveaway ONLY on Instagram) 2. Like and "save" this post (click the small banner flag icon in the top right just below the photo square) 3. Tag all your friends (1 tag per comment = 1 entry) No limit on entries! 4. BONUS ENTRIES- Share this post in your Stories AND TAG Essential Packaging AND A Paper Life (you must tag BOTH to get 1 BONUS entry) Good luck everyone!! Now the fine print- There will be 7 (seven) lucky winners of the prizes listed at the top. These giveaway prizes have no cash value and cannot be exchanged in any way. The giveaway ends Wednesday, November 4th at 12 noon PST. The winners will be randomly chosen from the combined tags and Story shares on Instagram. They must also be a confirmed follower of Essential Packaging AND A Paper Life on Instagram. The winners will be notified by DM at 5pm on Wednesday. The winners agree to have their names published as the winners of the giveaway. The winners are responsible for picking up their giveaway prizes from the Essential Packaging Store in Surrey by Friday, November 6th. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or associated with Instagram or Facebook. By entering, you confirm to the above conditions and regulations. And PLEASE READ THIS because there are scammers out there and we want to keep you safe- You’ll NEVER be asked to give us your credit card info. You’ll NEVER be asked to pay for anything related to this giveaway. If you’re contacted for any of the above, it’s A SCAM and please report them!! The winners will ONLY be contacted at 5pm on Wednesday and NOT before.

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!!! Who's ready to win some goodies?!?! Join us here MONDAY MORNING AT 9AM for all the details!!... See you tomorrow! #epgiveaway See more

Hug in a box... I've got a sneaking suspicion that THIS is going to be THE Christmas gift this year! The edible gift.... Whether it's homemade by you or someone else, the gift of lovingly made foods is sure to be HUGE this year! Maybe because it reminds us of times when we were together. Maybe because it's a way to say I care about you, I miss you, I love you. Maybe because it feels like a hug...in a box Note- Because our selection of natural kraft bakery boxes are made from recycled content and are 100% recyclable, you can feel good about your packaging choices

This year, we're making advent calendar prep super easy for you!! You don't even have to be crafty because we've put it all together for you. Introducing our new advent calendar kits! See our previous post for the first version, the 12 Days of Christmas.... Our second version is the full 25 Days of Christmas, available in small and large sizes. The gift boxes (with numbered tags 1-25) are a nice size to fit items such as socks, treats, hair accessories, soaps, gift cards, movie nights or activity vouchers. Both kits include ALL the supplies you'll need. They'll ONLY be available in the Store where you can purchase them in person or order them by phone. We can also ship them to you (additional shipping charges will apply). Quantities will be limited so don't wait too long! 12 Days of Christmas kits $15.95/kit 25 Days of Christmas kits (small) $32.95 25 Days of Christmas kits (large) $35.95 Here's a video clip about our kits- https://instagram.com//2429666062850332949utm_source=ig_st https://instagram.com//essentialpacka/2429667273116981697

A sign of the times... Yup, 'tis the season when things start to get real busy at the Store... Yup, lineups may happen during peek times and frustrations might start to seep in...... Yup, we're human, just like you. And while we'd love to help you in any way we can, we can't make things suddenly appear. That requires a highly technical magic wand and we don't have the qualifications to operate one of those, yet. #workingonit Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding. We can make this holiday season awesome, working together

You know what's just around the corner... Advent calendar season!!! Yup, that's right! Now's the time to start thinking about those advent calendars, not November 30th like I usually do!!... This year, we're making it super easy. You don't even have to be crafty because we've put it all together for you. Introducing our new advent calendar kits! This first version is the 12 Days of Christmas! The paper bags (with numbered tags 1-12) are a nice size to fit items such as socks, treats, hair accessories, soaps, gift cards, movie nights or activity vouchers. This 12 Days of Christmas kit will ONLY be available in the Store where you can purchase them in person or order them by phone. We can also ship them to you (additional shipping charges will apply). Our first batch of kits will be available on Monday but quantities will be limited so don't wait too long! 12 Days of Christmas kits $15.95/kit Here's our video showing you the kit- https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGti0cmBydi/

Ready, set...WELCOME!!! Yup, Tuesday's the start of a new (short) week and we're getting ready to welcome you all in with our new customized mat from @bespokedecor! There's a LOT of new stock coming in daily so be sure to follow us on our Stories for all the latest details.... Are YOU coming in this week for a visit??

A great way "to go"... Last year, NO ONE would've even dreamed of serving their special occasion lunch or dinner in takeout containers, right?! Well this year, thanks to Covid, it's a very real part of so many celebrations.... That's right, bye bye buffet, hello paper bowls! Yup, when it comes to pre-packaging your guest's meals, try going the stylish yet eco-friendly route with these paper bowls. And they're perfect for hot or cold foods. PLUS, since they're already a takeout container, it's easy for guests to take home anything they don't finish. No more wasted food! One of our staff, Cheryl, even pre-packaged her dinner and brought it with her when she visited friends the other day. Talk about an easy clean up too! We've had customers use these paper bowls for birthday dinners, baby and bridal shower luncheons and even a few backyard wedding "buffets". Maybe these paper bowls will be featured in YOUR next special event!

Oh 2020, some days you made it challenging to find the gratitude... It was hard, especially in the early days of the pandemic, to find anything that could be considered positive, let alone gratitude inducing. Most days were filled with a considerable amount of stress, worry and uncertainty.... But slowly, as the days and weeks went on, I began to notice small random acts of kindness. It may have only been a conversation or even a cup of coffee but for me, it was huge. That simple act showed you cared and for that, I thank you. And I think that's what I'm feeling most grateful for this Thanksgiving weekend. It's the small things, those little bits of kindness, that made all the difference on those bleakest of days. So THANK YOU to my friends, family, co-workers, customers and strangers alike. You really have given me much to be thankful for this year Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Gather and be grateful And while Thanksgiving may look a bit different this year, the sentiment still remains... #gatherandbegrateful

Things are changing, again... If there's one thing this pandemic has taught us small business owners is that we need to ADAPT and be ready to CHANGE almost daily! And so with that in mind, things are changing at the Store...we're happy to welcome everyone to the new layout that allows you to now move throughout the Store!... However, this new phase will only work with your co-operation. The safety of our staff and customers is our primary concern. We kindly ask customers to- -limit to 4 people in the Store at one time -wait outside if there are already 4 people in the Store -let us know if you're here to pick up an order -sanitize your hands when you come in -wear your mask if you have one -limit your "browsing" time in the Store -minimize handling products -be patient as we all navigate this new phase -ask us if you have any questions or need help Please keep in mind that everything isn't in it's final place and things will still move around as new stock arrives. Please understand that this takes time and if you can't find something, just ask us. Check out our video tour of the Store on our Instagram feed! We can't wait for you to see the new layout

A beautiful way to end the summer... Enjoy the long weekend everyone! #explorebc We'll be closed the holiday Monday but back with regular hours of 10am-4pm on Tuesday.

*** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED *** *** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED *** *** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED *** *** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED ***... Hey!! Have you entered yet??? Our MASSIVE GIVEAWAY is ending TODAY AT NOON!! You don't want to miss out on your chance to win!! **** make sure you enter in the original post, not this one!! ****

IT'S TIME FOR A MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!!!!! ARE YOU READY?!?! To enter you must... 1. Follow @ [152812251396320:274:Essential Packaging Store] on Facebook and/or Instagram 2. Like and "save" this post (click the small banner flag icon in the top right just below the photo square) 3. Tag all of your friends (1 tag per comment = 1 entry) No limit on entries! 4. BONUS ENTRIES- Share this post in your Stories AND TAG US (you must tag us to get 1 BONUS entry) Good luck everyone!! Remember to give some love (and a follow ) to our incredibly generous sponsors- Spa Utopia Casbah Day Spa Little Fox Apothecary Looby Doo Forever Yours Lingerie Little White House & Co. @the mason jar home decor Madeline Bee A paper life Maple Ridge Florist Ltd Inflated Creations gourmet.graze The Handpicked Home Dipsy Doodle Designz The Heart Homeworks Etc Langley CC Crafts Bella & Wren Glitter Paper Scissors La Belle Fleur Floral Boutique Canvas Candle Company A Passion for Flowers Sugar Patisserie Modern Bespoke Dom+Max Novelty Emerge Fitness Studio Inc. Essential Packaging Store Now the fine print- One winner will receive the $2500.00 giveaway prize consisting of goods and services. The $2500.00 giveaway prize has no cash value and cannot be exchanged in any way. The giveaway ends Thursday, August 27th at 12 noon PST. The winner will be randomly chosen within 48 hours from the combined tags and Story shares on Instagram and Facebook. They must also be a confirmed follower of Essential Packaging on Instagram or Facebook. The winner will be notified on the post/DM. The winner agrees to have their name published as the winner of the giveaway. The winner is responsible for picking up the giveaway prize from the Essential Packaging Store in Surrey. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or associated with Instagram or Facebook. By entering, you confirm to the above conditions and regulations.

Did someone say...GIVEAWAY?!?!?! Yup it's true, we're having a MASSIVE GIVEAWAY starting tomorrow morning at 9am!! And when we say MASSIVE, we mean $2500.00 MASSIVE!!!... One lucky winner will get a whopping $2500.00 worth of goods and services generously provided by our local sponsors!! So be sure to check back tomorrow morning at 9am for your chance to win our MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!! #epturns25

An adventure of a lifetime... It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve spent the last 25 YEARS growing this little business of ours! What began as an opportunity for a couple of newlyweds has turned into an incredible adventure of a lifetime. So, we humbly say, THANK YOU! Thank you for all the memories we’ve made together and all the ones we’re still going to make.... And now the LAST 5 of our 25 things that you may (or may not) know about us and Essential Packaging... #21- Over the years, we’ve been blessed to have many amazing staff but these two are in a league of their own. Cheryl has been with us for 13 years and Cathy, a whopping 16 years! Honestly, we still can’t believe they’ve put up with us for so long. Thank you both for all these years together! #22- But the person who has worked with us the longest is someone you’ve never seen at the Store. Our virtual assistant, Tracy Rogal, has been with us for an unbelievable 23 years! She’s the creative force behind our website, graphics and marketing. But most of all, she’s been a supportive and valued friend. Thank you, Tracy for everything! #23- As if small business didn’t already have enough challenges, along came a pandemic called Covid-19. But the support from our incredible staff and the loyalty our customers has been unwavering. We will get through this, together. #24- And just like that, we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary! It really seems to have happened in the blink of an eye. It’s been fun looking back and seeing how far we’ve come. Can’t wait to see where we go next! #25- We can’t have a celebration like this without a MASSIVE GIVEAWAY, right??? Well, it’s no exaggeration that this is by far, our BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER!! Start tagging some friends that you think would like a chance to win BIG!! The giveaway starts MONDAY MORNING!!

A new era begins... Here are some more of our 25 things that you may (or may not) know about us and Essential Packaging... #16 In August 18th 2010, we joined this new thing called Facebook and did our first post, which was seen by no one, lol! ... #17- Some of you may remember our Store newsletter. But did you know that we used to MAIL all 5000 of them every month?! Yup, we did that for many years until something easier came along, email! #18- After searching for several months, we finally found our new home! In December 2014, we moved to the new building where we are today. Once again, we started with 4 bare walls #19- Then in March 2015 we had our grand opening event, complete with red carpet! #20- The following month, we joined this new-fangled thing, Instagram. This time we had a whopping 11 likes on our first post! Ok so how many of those did you know?? I'll be sharing our last 5 things tomorrow (including something awesome!!), so don't forget to check it out!!

And then the Store happened... Who knew that opening a case would lead to a Store! Here are 5 more of our 25 things that you may (or may not) know about us and Essential Packaging... #11- Christmas 1997, a customer came into the office and loved our new holiday shopping bags but didn’t need a whole case. So, we split open our first case and came up with the concept of the Store!... #12- Made the big move to our new location in Cloverdale in 1998. This was BIG TIME for us, and we couldn’t wait to start this new chapter! #13- It was a family affair: from Dads helping with the build to my sister Catherine becoming our first official employee! #14- We decided that we needed a new name that better reflected who we were. And so, in 2000 we officially became ESSENTIAL PACKAGING INC! The debate continues as to which one of us came up with the nameDavid thinks it was him, but I honestly can’t remember! #15- A year later, we moved our offices into another warehouse unit so we could expand the Store. We were GROWING!! So how many of those did you know?? I'll be sharing 5 more historical things tomorrow, so swing by!! #EPTURNS25

So high tech... Oh these photos of the early years do bring back a lot of memories! Here are 5 more of our 25 things that you may (or may not) know about us and Essential Packaging... #6- We got our first cell phone, a Motorola flip, that first year. Yes, we had ONE cell phone that we SHARED. And every Wednesday afternoon, we hit the call forwarding and went to play a round of golf!... #7- And then there was the Sharp thermal paper fax machine. Vintage now but pretty techy back then! #8- We felt like a big time business when we got our first computer. It was a Packard Bell 386 with a super loud Epson dot matix printer! #9- Every morning when we came in, we checked the answering machine. It had 2 CASSETTE TAPES, one for our recorded message and one for customer messages. #10- Back then we delivered orders ourselves, free of charge. And we did them in this STATION WAGON! So how many of those did you know?? I'll be sharing 5 more trips down memory lane tomorrow, so swing by!! #EPTURNS25

How it all began... To kick off our celebrations this week, we thought it might be fun to share 25 things that you may (or may not) know about us and Essential Packaging... #1- David's Grandpa Stanley, first started the business in 1985. Back then it was called Penny Pack Marketing and he primarily sold plastic bags to stores, bakeries and delis.... #2- We bought the company from him in 1995. David took this photo sometime during our first week (yup, that's me). It was one year after we got married (good idea, right?!). Which leads me to... #3- Yup, we're married, 26 years now! Over the years, many customers have thought we're siblings...we don't even look alike!! #4- Grandpa Stanley passed away unexpectedly that year in December. It was a huge loss both personally and for our business. #5- He'd run the business from his home in North Delta. So when he passed, we stayed there for a coupe of years until Grandma Lucy passed as well. Still remember the lunches she made us everyday at exactly noon. So how many of those did you know?? I'll be sharing some more blasts from the past tomorrow, so swing by!! #EPTURNS25

It all starts...TOMORROW!! With our official anniversary coming up next week, we thought we'd start the festivities early!! Starting tomorrow, join us for a week of photos, fun and trips down memory lane. After 25 years, you know we're gonna have a lot of great memories!... And we definitely can't celebrate an anniversary without a MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!! It's the hugest one we've EVER had!! So I'll leave you with a tiny hint about the giveaway...make sure you're following us on Instagram/Facebook and start tagging some friends that might want a chance at our MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!!! The more the merrier, it's a celebration!!

Lights, camera, action... Today's the day and I'm soooooooooo excited!!! To celebrate Essential Packaging's 25th anniversary, we're having an in Store photoshoot and video session to capture the big event!... Join us in our Stories here and on Instagram for some behind the scenes of how it all goes down today. It's going to be an unscripted free for all so I'm sure there'll be a few outtakes, lol! It all starts rolling around 11:30am today so swing by our Stories and see what we're up to #epturns25

Come on everybody, let's play TAG!! For many of our small business customers, getting info about their business out on social media can be very challenging especially when you're just starting out. So, how do you spread awareness without it costing an arm and a leg??... Well, we've got a really simple, effective and FREE way to spread some love for our small business customers! Just TAG us!! Yup, all you have to do is TAG us (@essentialpackaging) in your social media posts that feature our packaging products along with your products. Then, we'll repost them to our Instagram and Facebook Stories to start spreading the love. You just never know who's going to see our Story featuring your products! So let's start tagging and watch the love grow

There's something new 'round here... You've probably seen these at restaurants or deli counters and now we've got them in the Store!! These new kraft paper bowls come with snap on lids and are TOTALLY RECYCLABLE!! How awesome is that?? ... And we're seeing them being used for all sorts of things- - all types of baked goods (great for cookie exchanges this holiday season!) - salads, sandwiches or warm foods (perfect for pre-portioning foods during Covid celebrations) - as gift basket bases (use without the lid for larger products or make smaller gift sets with the lid on) The possibilities are endless, just get a little creative! So what would you use them for??

Welcome to the EP Mini Store!! Hmmmmm what's that?? While we'd hoped to open the Store to personal shopping this month, we feel this new hybrid concept will be best and safest for everyone.... What's stayed the same? You you can still see all the product samples like before and we'll still pick your order for you. You can also call, email and place your order online with free in-Store pick up. What's changed? You can now personally shop for some of your favourite products! Tissue paper, cello bags, ribbon, basket shred, and more are now stocked up for you in the Mini Store! We're really excited to have you come by and see it for yourself! Got questions? We're always here to help #epministore

Enjoy the beautiful long weekend, everyone! #beautifulbritishcolumbia #bcday Just a reminder we'll be CLOSED on Monday for the holiday but back open on Tuesday!

Same but different... A few weeks ago, we made a change to our website. It was a small but rather significant change. Did you notice?... See, the header on our homepage used to read "your gift packaging experts" because that's who WE are. But we started thinking that it should reflect WHO we serve instead. And 2 words immediately popped up... SMALL BUSINESSES. Yes it's true, we have a broad range of customers including brides and Moms, teachers and non profits but our main customers are... SMALL BUSINESSES. They might be Makers doing their first craft markets, realtors thanking their new home owners or entrepreneurs opening their first brick and mortar locations. So to thank the small businesses that are the backbone of our small business, we changed our header... SMALL BUSINESS PACKAGING EXPERTS. Thank you all so much. We wouldn't be here, celebrating 25 years in business, without YOU!

25 years. Wait, WHAT?!?! Yup, David and I have owned Essential Packaging for 25 YEARS!!!! I can't even wrap my head around that, I must've been a child when we started ... We're super proud to be here 25 years later, doing what we love and amazingly still married And we're ready to celebrate with all of you! However, a certain pandemic came along and changed our original plans to throw a big party at the Store. Now we need some new Covid-friendly ideas so we're reaching to all of you. What would you like to see us do to celebrate this milestone next month? Is it a fabulous giveaway, promo or something else?? Drop your creative ideas in the comments below, thanks!!

Charcuterie 101. Charcuterie is probably the biggest thing going right now, besides that pandemic thing of course What is it? ... Well, technically it's a type of French cuisine that traditionally includes a selection of meats arranged with complimentary foods such as olives, figs and nuts. To me, it's like a mini buffet of my favourite things! The cool part about charcuterie now is that it can be customized to include ANYTHING you want. It can be made vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, all dessert or anything else you'd like. And with social distancing, putting together an individual charcuterie box is a perfect way to "share" the love of good food. So what supplies do you need to put together your own charcuterie box? - the box (available with or without a window, in various sizes, depending on how generous you want to be!) - the dry wax liner sheets (keeps food stains from seeping through the box) - some details (add ribbon, a tag or some wooden utensils to gift it up a bit) Now you're ready to add all the delicious food! Be sure to check out our Stories for some up close video of these supplies. Still got questions? Ask us, we can help

Getting creative...sort of. Well after a few months (!) I FINALLY got around to changing our front window display. The samples were faded, the giftwrap we'd featured was sold out and it was pretty depressing to look at every day. It was overdue for a change. I was inspired to flex my creative muscles and create something AMAZING!!... Well... Turns out my creative muscles are as limp as my actual muscles! I guess after a few months off of anything remotely creative, I found it challenging to put it all together. *sigh* That's ok. I managed to get it done and it's bright and cheerful. And that's as good as it gets this time around. The next one will be EPIC

It's a win-win!! It's almost inventory time and we keep finding random, one-of, and discontinued items that we just don't want to count! Sooooooo...... Here's the win-win part...we get rid of some stuff and you get a fabulous deal,yay!! So check our Facebook or Instagram Stories each day to see what's there. If you see something you like, message me here, DM on Insta or call us at the Store 604-575-1117.

Is it time yet?? We made this little section of our Store the sample wall and for the past month and a half, it's been our "Store". We're grateful to ALL of our customers who've come in and made their purchases, in these less than ideal circumstances. And thank you for your understanding when we explained that you couldn't go around the Store.... But now that we're in Phase 3 of re-opening, we're looking at the possibility that we might be able to fully open the Store. I'll follow that with a cautious...YAY!! We're working on how that will look, with safety measures in place for our staff and customers. I'm trying not to get too excited but I'd REALLY love to see our Store back to its former creative self! So tell me, how would you feel about having the Store fully open again? Are you ready to come in and browse??

Have a safe and relaxing Canada Day everyone!! #iamcanadian

Throwback Monday?? Sure why not Throwing it back to last Christmas (I know, groan) when the gang was all here.... When I came across this photo, it made me pause. It feels like eternity since we've all been together. I miss them a lot. It's our time together, the fun we have and the stories we share that I miss the most. Can't wait to take a new photo of us, all together again #togethersoon

I need some help... On my Stories today, I asked for help in re-doing some of our displays since we're now sold out of that giftwrap. And, of course, we used it EVERYWHERE!! Ugh.... But on the flip side I get to decide, with your help, what new colours will go with the new giftwrap, yay!! So I've chosen our soft yellow and and now YOU get to pick one of the 2 NEW COLOURS to go with the yellow... Is it PEACH? Or is it AZURE?? Vote for your favourite below or in my Stories...there MIGHT be something in it for you

My Dad I'm lucky to have 49 years worth of amazing memories of my Dad. So many stories, so many adventures... Some of my fondest memories are of our Mexican vacations. I love our little traditions there...the cappuccinos for breakfast, our favourite spot by the pool and the MANY photos we take of every palm tree on the resort!... We were there for spring break this year when the pandemic hit and despite all the anxiety and stress surrounding us, my Dad stayed calm through it all. That's just how he is. And maybe that's what I love most about him. He's calm, dependable and always provides a safe refuge when things are unpredictable. Thanks so much for everything you've taught me and done with me. Most of all, thanks for being my Dad

Gift-to-go! One thing I've noticed during our "new normal" is how creative some local businesses have become. For Mother's Day, the Joseph Richard Group had put together "Breakfast-to-go" kits, including all the ingredients you'd need to make a fabulous breakfast at home.... Recently, Glass House Estate Winery has started making "Charcuterie-to-go" boxes so you could enjoy a nice meal at the winery or anywhere else. And retailer, The Local Space has some sweet "Teachers-box" gifts filled with local products. Scroll through Instagram and you'll also notice some "Brunch-to-go", "Party-in-a-box" and "Decorate-your-own-cookies" kits. And despite the current pandemic putting a damper on gatherings, special events will still happen. There will still be a Father's day. People will still have birthdays. So, if you're not super creative, consider supporting a local business that's done the heavy lifting for you. Or, if you're feeling like you want to give it a try, we can help you put together your own amazing gift box!

Thinking INSIDE the box... Even before we got these corrugated mailers in last month, I was trying to think of what else they could be used for. Well it didn't take long... A few minutes on Pinterest netted me A LOT of great ideas including this one, which is perfect for Father's Day!... Just add some shred in the bottom of the box, tuck in a few of Dad's favourite things and viola! And because the box is a white matte finish, you can customize the outside with paint, markers, stickers or anything else you can think of. A super quick, easy and unique way to package up something awesome for Dad...you're welcome #fathersdaygiftideas Father's Day cards by A paper life available in Store

Work in progress... Last week, I quietly went about working on the new sample wall. It felt right to be quiet so I could listen and learn. And as I worked, it occurred to me that this wall was also a good metaphor for how things are in life.... We all have work to do and we all have to start somewhere. And we are all...a work in progress

The gift of food... I think one of the things we miss about not be able to gather for celebrations is the food. Am I right?? Oh sure, the people and the occasion are probably good reasons too but let’s face it, the food is right up there!... And even though we might not be able to share celebrations (with food!) all together yet, we can still share gifts of food. We saw it before Mother’s Dayso many customers coming in to get packaging for their gifts of baking, cooking, soup/cookie mixes, jams and so much more. I remember helping a Mom who wanted to package gifts of food that she was making for her grown kids! It was her Mother’s Day gift to them! Well today I wanted to thank two very special people, Lynn and Teresa, who’ve done so much more than I could possibly ever thank them for. They’re two of the trainers at our fitness studio, who despite the studio being closed due to Covid, kept our clients moving with their livestream workouts, all on their own time. You're both SUPERSTARS! These beautiful, healthy and yummy charcuterie boxes made perfect gifts for them and something that could still be shared at home with their families (or not, no judgement!). Food makes us smile and warms our hearts And that makes it a pretty awesome gift, don't you think? What kinds of food gifts do you like to give? Thank you so much gourmet.graze for the fabulous boxes!!

Small business life. As owners, we put our whole lives into our businesses. We’re invested emotionally, financially, mentally and physically. If we added up all the hours we’ve put in, I’m sure we’d be making pennies per hour in compensation. But for most of us, it's so much more than just financial reward. It might be the flexibility of more family time, or the ability to travel more, or maybe the pure joy and satisfaction of knowing that we'd created something amazing.... And while the pandemic is making small business life more challenging, there's one trait that all of us small business owners have and that’s RESILIENCE. We have that ability to weather storms and come out the other end, maybe a little battered but ready for whatever comes next. I'm really fortunate to meet so many of you incredible small business owners through Essential Packaging! So I'd like to share a virtual toast with you because you're all AMAZING!! Tag some small businesses that you love and let's send some to remind them #yougotthis! A paper life Forever Yours Lingerie The Handpicked Home Spa Utopia Rice Family Chiropractic Little White House & Co. The Rustic Rooster Inc. Short & Sweet Patisserie and Bakery Sugar Patisserie La Belle Fleur Floral Boutique A Passion for Flowers Bella & Wren

Not according to the plan... So waaaay back in January, the "plan" was to expand into shipping supplies this coming fall. Many of our small business customers had been asking for it and we thought it would be a good fit for us. Well, it's now May, we're in the middle of a pandemic and we're introducing shipping supplies...yup, NOT according to the plan!... But so many of our small business customers have had to change how they do business too, moving more online and shipping a lot more than ever before. Maybe you've experienced it too? Maybe the timing is just right? So, the "new plan" is to roll out various shipping products over the next few weeks, stay tuned! Our first items, which are now up on the website, are shipping boxes, bubble mailers and corrugated mailer boxes. Check out our Facebook/Instagram Stories for more behind the scenes info about these new items including some "cute" little boxes! https://essentialpackaging.com//shop-shipping-supplies.html

I hope you enjoyed the nice long weekend For us, we stayed home this year. I got to work in my veggie garden, enjoy my chickens, those final lilac blooms and time with friends around the fire pit. It's been kind of nice slowing life down a little and really enjoying those simpler pleasures. ... Anyone else have a laid back long weekend?? As nice as this has been though, I'm pretty excited about the week ahead...busy with new stock coming at the Store and also getting ready to re-open our fitness studio, yay!! I'm glad I had the long weekend to recharge In the meantime, I think I'll sit here on the deck a little longer and smell those beautiful lilacs. Enjoy your evening, everyone!

Stay safe and carry on... With a lot of businesses getting ready to open soon, indoor social distancing practices will be a must. And with proper signage, you can be sure everyone will stay safe! That's why we're really excited about our new line of social distancing signs coming in THIS FRIDAY!!... These vinyl floor signs are perfect for any retail, restaurant or grocery businesses. They'll help to remind people about social distancing in lineups. It's a simple and effective way to keep customers and employees safe! These MADE IN CANADA signs are now available for PRE-SALE with stock arriving this Friday! This is our first shipment and we expect it'll sell out quickly. Pre-order now and orders will be filled as our next shipments arrive. https://essentialpackaging.com/categ/covid-19-products.html Got questions?? Reach out to us by phone or email and we'll help in any way we can!

Opening...soon-ish?!?! Well,there's a lot of talk about things opening back up again in the next couple of weeks. Some people are excited about it, some aren't. Most of us probably fall somewhere in the middle...undecided.... I've had numerous customers ask when we're reopening. The simple answer? Not yet. The long answer? When we figure out how to make sure everyone is safe and our products stay hygienic. But believe me, we're working on it. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts about us reopening. Are things ok the way they are with online/phone orders, curbside pickup, us doing your in-store shopping while you wait? Or are you ready to have it back to you doing your own personal shopping, with some changes, in the Store? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!!

Matt. Thank you for teaching me so much about life. Since before you were even born, you taught me patience. You took your time coming into my life, almost 12 long years before you felt the time was right. That's ok, you were worth the wait.... When you were little, you taught me to slow down and enjoy the little things. Playing in the dirt or making Lego buildings seemed to fill endless hours. That's ok, I got to do it with you. When you got older, you taught me that life should be lived in colour and it doesn't have to match or be perfect. One day, you decided to dress yourself. I'd never seen 8 different colours and 4 different patterns in one outfit before. That's ok, you're the rainbow in my life. And now that you're a teen, you've taught me that it's ok to be silly sometimes. Like when I want to get a photo of us. The first one is usually something goofy and then we eventually get the "nice" one. That's ok, the goofy one is really the best one anyways. Thanks for making me your Mom. Love you to the moon and back Wishing all of you a very special Mother's Day!

It's beginning to look a lot like... MOTHER'S DAY!!! Yup, in case you haven't looked at a calendar lately Mother's Day is coming up THIS WEEKEND!... We've certainly noticed it these last couple of weeks by all the orders going out. And what's been one of the most popular products?? BAKERY BOXES!!! It so awesome to see all the bakers out there creating some amazing baked treats for the rest of us to enjoy! And while we have all of our bakery box sizes listed on the website, comparing all the sizes can be a bit challenging. So I did a series of Stories on Instagram comparing the sizes and what they can be used for (the Stories are in the Highlights, see the second photo) HOW TO GET YOUR BAKERY BOXES- Ok so we've had A LOT of inquiries about how to shop with us so here are your options- 1. You can order online and select curbside pickup. NOTE that the minimum order for these bakery boxes on the website is 25 of a size. Here's the link-https://essentialpackaging.com/cake-cupcake-and-pie-boxes-/ 2. YES, you can also come by the Store and get any quantity you need!! Please keep in mind that we aren't able to let you in the Store to shop around. We'll pull your order and bring it to you. ALSO keep in mind that we've had lineups at certain times of the day. 3. You can also place your order over the phone (604-575-1117) with us and select curbside pickup. PLEASE NOTE- WE'RE OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY, 10am to 4pm. We're CLOSED ON SATURDAYS.

THEY'RE HERE!! THEY'RE HERE!! I was soooooo excited to get these in this week, that I literally did a happy dance when I opened the first case!! I know, total packaging geek, right?! But these new windowed bakery boxes are a real game changer for a few reasons-... 1. They're shallow making them the PERFECT size for charcuterie boxes, assorted baked goods and curated gift packs 2.They have a window!! That's just what you need to see all the fabulousness inside!! (yes, that's a word!) 3. They're available in 3 of the most ideal sizes: 8"x8"x2.5", 9"x9"x2.5" and 10"x10"x2.5" Hmmmm maybe we should rename it to AWESOME WINDOW BOX??? Want to see these boxes in action? Check out the Stories I did over on our Instagram account saved under the NEW ITEM! highlight. If you've got any questions about these boxes, just message me here or DM through Instagram. Otherwise, give us a shout tomorrow at the Store. We're there from 10am to 4pm. I know these boxes are going to be crazy popular and I can't wait to see all the creative ways you're going to use them! So tell me, what would YOU use these windowed boxes for??

The silver lining... I've noticed something over the last few weeks and maybe you have too. During this pandemic, our communities have really rallied to support each other...families helping families, small businesses helping small businesses.... But something caught my eye the other day that was truly inspiring. I was so moved when I saw this story about London Drugs on Global News the other day. They're clearing some shelf space in their stores so that local small/home based businesses can sell their products!! IN THEIR STORES!! AMAZING!! When London Drugs offered to sell the Girl Guide cookies in their stores I thought that was awesome. But this? Unbelievable!! I do hope that many of our local small businesses take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!! So thank you London Drugs, for providing some much needed silver lining https://globalnews.ca//london-drugs-helping-small-busines/

A few more introductions... So yesterday I introduced David and myself (thank you for all the love!!) but it occurred to me that you may not know the rest of our awesome team. Since they aren't currently here, I had to use some artistic flair in creating these photos. I think you'll agree the likenesses are pretty accurate ... It still feels weird going in to work each morning and not seeing them there...it's like they're on a really long lunch break or something! I know they're probably cringing at the thought of David and I holding down the fort and "winging it" each day. Don't worry too much though, we have the utmost faith that you'll be able to fix all of our messes when you get back!! You guys are AWESOME and we miss you all so much!! #loveourstaff