Second generation helps inject new enthusiasm into Poly-Tainer

For the family that runs Poly-Tainer Inc., dinner time is no time to discuss work.

And lunch time is rarely the time either.

Founder Paul Strong, who started the company in 1971, knows the importance of not mixing family and work life.

“We manage as a family to have dinner at least once a month with the kids. We do not discuss business,” he said. “At work, we each lunch all together, and rarely talk business.

“You have to take a break some particular time, although you can never forget the business is always there in a family business,” Strong said.

Strong has largely stepped away from the extrusion blow molding and injection stretch blow molding company with his daughter Julie Williams now serving as president, and son-in-law Tim Williams as chief financial officer. Stephanie Strong, Paul's wife, is vice president.

“We all understand the problems and issues of running a small family business. Any initial conflicts are combated by frank and open discussion,” he said.

“My daughter worked from the ground up in my company and I knew when it was time to let the reins go. Initially I left her alone for a few months, but I got bored so I decided to return just to oversee,” Strong said.

He said he now, as chairman, keeps in the background of the business.

Strong is now the big picture guy. “My function really is to see the forest from the trees. When you are running a 24/7 multiple plant operation, there are so many distractions. You need to have at least somebody to look at the long term,” he said.

The main advantage, he said, of running a family owned business is “pretty much a guarantee of employment and doing what you like to do and the pleasure derived from achieving successes and the lessons learnt from failures.”

The main disadvantage, he said, “is that at quitting time you just can't walk away and forget the activities of the day.

“To be truly successful, it has to be with you most of the time,” Strong said.

Even with his decades of experience at the helm of the company, he said the transition from one generation to the next did provide some unexpected results.

“The second generation brings in younger and fresh talent with new and dynamic ideas with a renew interest in growing the company. The second generation's enthusiasm has grown the company and accomplished growth that I was unable to do after 35 years at the helm and growing the business,” he said.

The Simi Valley, Calif.-based company expanded about 10 years ago to include a location in Greenwood, Ind., something Strong said he probably would have not done now that he has a lower tolerance for risk as he's gotten older.

“They have grown the business substantially more than I would have been able to do,” he said.

Poly-Tainer now has about 260 employees between both locations and serves the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and specialized molding markets.

“We've had numerous opportunities to sell,” Strong said. “As a family we decided we don't want to give up this baby. It's satisfying what we are doing.”

Read an overview of family-owned businesses and find links to other profiles.