Springfield Paper Company rolls with industry changes

Springfield Paper Company has weathered change in the local marketplace for nearly a century.

H.S. Jewell founded the business in 1906 with a handful of investors and a modest product line that included wrapping paper, butcher paper and related products.

According to company archives compiled by Ross Likins, an early employee and later a shareholder, Springfield Paper Company's clientele in its fledgling years consisted primarily of small grocers within city limits. Deliveries were made by horse and buggy, and the most formidable task the sales force encountered was convincing shopkeepers of the practicality of paper bags.

The current management credits much of the company's success to its ability to apply lessons gleaned from the past to modern business practices.

"We haven't changed this business a whole lot, we've updated equipment, changed buildings, but basically it's the same company," said Paul Todd, vice president.

Springfield Paper Company no longer manufactures its own paper, instead purchasing products from suppliers and distributing them throughout the area. What keeps the company competitive is that it sells everything related to paper: office supplies, janitorial supplies, hotel, restaurant and hospital supplies and wrapping paper. Individuals may purchase anything from the company's inventory without a minimum purchase, and free deliveries are made within a 150-mile radius.

President Tom Wells, great-grandson of Jewell, said the core of the business has always been to "give customers a good product and good service at a price that's at level with our competition."

While the mission of Springfield Paper Company remains simple, the market in which they compete is vastly more complex. The company must compete for a place in the market against much larger suppliers. While Wells admits that this is a challenge, he said the versatility of his company outweighs its relatively small size.

"We can be competitive with everyone else even though we're small," said Wells. "We are a dual paper house, meaning we sell coarse paper such as boxes as well as fine paper like fax paper and wrapping paper, and we're set up to help customers from Ma-and-Pa stores to hospitals."

With the ability to supply products to a variety of businesses, the management of the Springfield Paper Company regards the current growth rate of the Springfield area as a great opportunity.

"We cover about a 150-mile radius," said Todd, "and the growth in Springfield and Branson is unbelievable.

Any place that opens up and does business is good for us, because, more than likely, we will have something they will need."

Todd believes the company has the right mindset to compete with larger companies for accounts.

"Each one here knows that this company survives on them, so each one has to do all they can to make this company grow," Todd said.

Springfield Paper Company has a low turnover rate; both Wells and Todd have been employed at the company for several decades and believe that the success of the company depends on the staff's ability to work cooperatively.

"It's a very combined effort from salesmen to office to warehouse, and we all work together very well," Wells said.

Wells and Todd believe that working well within their community is an important part of their business, incorporating acts of charity into their strategy whenever possible.

"We're local people. We can't give the warehouse away, but the little things that we do have gained us a lot of friendship within the community. One of the things we are very proud of here is that we are home-owned and we don't have to answer to anybody but ourselves. That gives us a lot of freedom to help when we can," says Todd.

Said Wells: "We donate a lot of paper to different causes. We sent a few truckloads to Oklahoma during their flood, the humane society, the Kitchen; we're just happy to help when we can."

The management of the Springfield Paper Company is staunch in its belief that the company's small size and local roots are assets. They plan to continue in the tradition their predecessors established.

"We're just going to keep doing the same thing we always have: Search out new customers and find out what they need, and do what we can to serve them," Wells said.

As the company's success continues, the Springfield Paper Company has gained the attention of their competitors.

"We've had offers to sell the company here recently, but it's not for sale. We've been here since 1906, through good years and bad, and I think we're getting better every year," Wells said.