As the first quarter comes to a close we all must reflect upon all that is going on around us. Just look at what we are bombarded with each and every day:

• The Economy: You cannot pick up the paper, turn on the TV or the radio without reading, seeing or hearing about how bad things are.

>   The Stock Market: Up today and down tomorrow

>   Banks and Brokerage Houses: Are they strong or over leveraged?

>   The Dollar internationally is a real problem if you import.

• Politics: Who is going to be our next President? Will it be a Republican or Democrat? What will their real agendas be?

• Globally: The Middle East is a mess, as usual. Iron Ore increased 65% March 1^st, 2008. Labor rates for Chinese workers will double March 30, 2008.

As business owners, aspiring business owners and buyers we must keep an eye on local and global activity, although we cannot influence many of these issues directly. As leaders in our businesses we must all look toward the future and make the best decisions we possibly can knowing our individual and corporate strengths and weaknesses. 

Just remember a few concepts:

• Good companies and capable individuals make money and are successful in good times and bad times.

• Independent Can Company’s first operating year was 1929. This was an interesting time to start a new business

• Today is tomorrow’s good old days.

 Let’s look at the opportunities we each have in front of us and find out how to improve our world, our businesses and those things we can control.

What’s going on around Independent Can Company?

As a company we have an annual meeting which includes all of our operational managers and the sales force. We call this meeting our Sales Production Meeting. This year was the 30^th year for this meeting and I must say that this meeting is one of the major reasons we are and have been as successful as we are today. We had all 5 of our locations represented (Belcamp, MD, Wilkes Barre, PA, Fort Madison, Iowa, Conneaut, OH and Ontario, CA). There were a total of 50 of our team members in attendance. We share the successes and failures that we experienced the previous year and make sure that we build on the successes and learn from the failures. 

We also include speakers so that all of our people know how the global markets are affecting our business. Zippo Manufacturing, Mittal Steel and Titan Steel were our speakers this year and the subject could not have been more timely. These 3 companies buy, sell and manage businesses located around the world. Thank you to these gentlemen and for the time that they took out of their very busy schedules.

                      The Group                             Zippo Mfg, VP Dave Mellon

       Arcelor-Mittal Steel, Steve Painter      Titan Steel, President, Peter Reid

Sharing A Meal Together

Please welcome our newest Sales Person

We want to welcome an addition to our sales force, Mr. Steve Wright. Steve will report to our distribution division that is based in Ontario, California. Steve will work out of his home in the Dallas, Texas area.

Steve Wright

Marketing = The art of identifying a need and then filling that need.

Independent Can Company has great people working on very exciting projects. Now is a great time to be in the can business. There is no better package then the metal can to meet all of the critical aspects of a retail product.

• The graphic that can be reproduced on metal has never been better then it is today.

• The perception of the lithographed metal tin, in the eyes of the consumer, is one of quality.

• The metal tin is made from steel which is one of the most easily recycled materials available.

 What is the value cost proposition when considering a decorative tin?

 The tin can is not inexpensive. As we all know there are many other alternative packages to the tin can.

 Should the longevity of the package be considered when buying a lithographed tin? Should you consider the advertising power long after the product is consumed?

 What package other than a decorative tin can, will in 10 years, be in an antique store selling for 5-20 times the original purchase price? If you go to a Cracker Barrel Restaurant ™ or their web site you will see displays of memorabilia which include many tins.

 Now is the time to begin to develop your brand to it’s fullest extent. Let Independent Can Company help you develop an exclusive design for your brand. When the economy slows down it is time to promote, promote, promote. Now is the best time to start with your custom can.

 Below are a couple of marketing programs that we have presented to our customers:

How is 2008 going at Independent Can Company?

 I have been told that I am the eternal optimist and maybe that is true. 2008 has started out very well. Sales are up and income is following along nicely.

 The most important topic is that we have more opportunities for new and exciting projects for 2008 then we have had for many years. We have one new irregular shaped tool being built. We also have new can line being assembled for a significant increase in the annual volume of a standard tin to fill a new customers needs.

 We have committed to a sheet feed press in our Wilkes Barre, PA plant and new palletizer for Belcamp, MD. We will be attending the Metpack show in Essen, Germany to look at new equipment opportunities and to finalize the purchase of some equipment that we have been studying.

 I want to thank you for reading this What’s New section of our website and for being a loyal follower.

IPA:

We are a member of the International Packaging Association which helps us understand how global events affect our industry locally and to share technological changes that may help make us to become more competitive. If you would like to know more about this organization please Contact Me.