# 240 - The Mark Howley/Flex Pack Show!

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2024-01-19
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/240-the-mark-howleyflex-pack-show

## Summary

Mark Howley, founder of Pacific Bag Inc. (later acquired by TricorBraun), details his career trajectory from inside sales at Fresco Systems to owning a flexible packaging company. He explains his strategy of sourcing high-graphic, short-run bags from Asia to serve the specialty coffee market, and discusses the valuation and sale of his company to TricorBraun Flex. Howley also highlights his 15-year investment in developing biodegradable 'BioTree' packaging and shares advice on building longevity in the packaging industry.

## Chapters

- [0:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show#t=54) Introduction: Mark Howley and his background
- [3:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show#t=192) Starting at Fresco Systems and Inside Sales
- [9:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show#t=590) Founding Pacific Bag and Sourcing from Asia
- [18:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show#t=1119) Valuation, EBIDTA, and Selling to TricorBraun
- [28:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show#t=1732) Sustainability: BioTree and Biodegradable Packaging
- [38:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show#t=2338) The Mark Howley Show and Contact Info

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Pacific Bag Inc. (company)
- Fresco Systems (company)
- Tetrapak (company)
- TricorBraun (company)
- BioTree (product)
- Specright (tool)
- Labl (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Osprey Packs: Mike Pfotenhauer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer) (How I Built This)
- [Herschel Supply Co.: Jamie and Lyndon Cormack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-16-herschel-supply-co-jamie-and-lyndon-cormack) (How I Built This)
- [Founder Feature: Lex Evan of Lexington Bakes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-01-founder-feature-lex-evan-of-lexington-bakes) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [89: Stretchy and Smudgy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-11-17-89-stretchy-and-smudgy) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Taking Networking & Tortillas to the Next Level with Henri Revel, Founder of Eureka Tortilla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-02-28-taking-networking-tortillas-to-the-next-level-with-henri-revel-founder-of-eureka) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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