Legacy Meets Innovation: Ben Urquhart on Two Centuries of Packaging Evolution
From woodenware to high-speed digital printing — few companies have balanced legacy and innovation like New Packaging & Display.
In this episode, President Ben Urquhart joins hosts Ken Theriot and Randy Kessler to unpack nearly 200 years of evolution in corrugated packaging.
In this episode, President Ben Urquhart joins hosts Ken Theriot and Randy Kessler to unpack nearly 200 years of evolution in corrugated packaging.
Ben shares how his seventh-generation family business continues to thrive in a changing market from navigating tariffs and technology to building sustainable operations that stand the test of time.
If you’re passionate about packaging, manufacturing, or how legacy brands stay modern, this episode is for you.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro: From Woodenware to Packaging Innovation
01:15 – Meet Ben Urquhart, President of New Packaging & Display
02:00 – Rebranding a Legacy Company for a Modern Market
04:00 – Early Career & Path Back to the Family Business
06:00 – Nearly 200 Years of History in Corrugated Packaging
09:00 – The Impact of Tariffs on U.S. Manufacturing
12:00 – Shifting Demand, Offshoring, and Domestic Opportunity
14:10 – Inside the Facility: Scale, Operations & Materials
15:45 – Sustainability as a Core Value and Certification Standards
18:10 – Customer-Driven Innovation and Regional Market Differences
20:00 – How E-Commerce Changed Packaging Design
23:00 – Real-World Example: Fast Turnaround and Two-Sided Print
25:00 – On Marketing and Brand Stewardship vs. Ownership
28:00 – Lessons from COVID: Resilience and Gratitude
32:00 – Investing in People and Machinery
36:00 – How New Packaging Decides on New Equipment
39:00 – The Role of Trade Shows and Vendor Relationships
44:00 – Workforce Development and Internal Advancement
48:00 – The Challenge of Retaining Skilled Workers
50:00 – Industry Consolidation: Independents vs. Integrators
53:00 – Associations and the Power of Learning (AICC)
54:30 – Excitement About EFI’s Single-Pass Digital Printing
56:00 – Favorite Brands and Lessons from History
58:45 – Dramatic Reading of a 19th-Century Accounting Letter
1:02:00 – Closing Thoughts on Leadership and Legacy
01:15 – Meet Ben Urquhart, President of New Packaging & Display
02:00 – Rebranding a Legacy Company for a Modern Market
04:00 – Early Career & Path Back to the Family Business
06:00 – Nearly 200 Years of History in Corrugated Packaging
09:00 – The Impact of Tariffs on U.S. Manufacturing
12:00 – Shifting Demand, Offshoring, and Domestic Opportunity
14:10 – Inside the Facility: Scale, Operations & Materials
15:45 – Sustainability as a Core Value and Certification Standards
18:10 – Customer-Driven Innovation and Regional Market Differences
20:00 – How E-Commerce Changed Packaging Design
23:00 – Real-World Example: Fast Turnaround and Two-Sided Print
25:00 – On Marketing and Brand Stewardship vs. Ownership
28:00 – Lessons from COVID: Resilience and Gratitude
32:00 – Investing in People and Machinery
36:00 – How New Packaging Decides on New Equipment
39:00 – The Role of Trade Shows and Vendor Relationships
44:00 – Workforce Development and Internal Advancement
48:00 – The Challenge of Retaining Skilled Workers
50:00 – Industry Consolidation: Independents vs. Integrators
53:00 – Associations and the Power of Learning (AICC)
54:30 – Excitement About EFI’s Single-Pass Digital Printing
56:00 – Favorite Brands and Lessons from History
58:45 – Dramatic Reading of a 19th-Century Accounting Letter
1:02:00 – Closing Thoughts on Leadership and Legacy
🎧 Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
📦 About Unpacking the Brand
Join hosts Ken Theriot (TheRiot Agency) and Randy Kessler (Labels & Labeling) as they dive into the intersection of business, branding, and innovation. Discover how leading brands adapt, evolve, and thrive in today’s fast-moving world of marketing, packaging, and design.
Subscribe to stay ahead of what’s next in business storytelling, print technology, and sustainable branding.
#UnpackingTheBrand #Packaging #Manufacturing #Leadership #Innovation #FamilyBusiness #DigitalPrinting #Sustainability
Creators and Guests
Host
Kenneth Theriot
Ken Theriot is a brand strategist with over 20 years of experience in marketing, storytelling, and audience engagement. As the founder of TheRiot Agency, he has worked with businesses across industries to craft compelling brand narratives and build meaningful connections with their audiences. With a deep understanding of both creative storytelling and data-driven strategy, Ken brings a unique perspective to Unpacking the Brand, diving into how brands differentiate, evolve, and thrive in an ever-changing market.
Host
Randy Kessler
Randy Kessler is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, and brand strategy. As a key member of Labels and Labeling, he has built lasting connections across the print and packaging industry, working closely with businesses to understand their challenges and opportunities. With a deep knowledge of branding, customer engagement, and industry trends, Randy brings a thoughtful and conversational approach to Unpacking the Brand, exploring how brands evolve and connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.
Producer
Joshua Long
Joshua Long is a feature film, commercial and new media producer with more than a decade of experience. His experience in digital content production, planning and resource management provide tremendous value to TheRiot Agency’s production capabilities. He also manages TheRiot Agency’s subsidiary, Greenlit Entertainment.
