This year marks a momentous milestone for Plastics International (PI), as we celebrate 40 incredible years of business. From humble beginnings to becoming a trusted name in the plastic distribution industry, this journey has been an exciting one.
A legacy built on family and hard work
Minnesota Plastics was founded in 1985 by two brothers, Paul and Dave Carter. With a shared dream of matching the best customer service possible to an unyielding work ethic, they started the company with a simple mission: to be a large stocking distributor with a wide range of quality plastic materials, while building lasting relationships with excellent customers.
In the early days, the brothers operated out of a 1,500 square foot warehouse. They wore many hats, doing everything from attending tradeshows, calling leads and sourcing high quality manufacturers, to running the saws and delivering plastics directly to customers. Their hard work and passion, along with the dedicated employees who shared in their commitment to the mission, helped Minnesota Plastics slowly grow into a thriving business.
Over the decades, Minnesota Plastics expanded its inventory, service levels, customer base and facility (up to 50,000 square feet). To represent these steps forward, the company rebranded to Plastics International. A desire to continually improve and adapt while staying true to the core values have enabled PI to thrive and maintain a position as one of the top plastic distributors in the nation.
One of the most exciting chapters in our story is seeing a succession plan unfold with more family members joining the business. Today, Dave and Paul are proud to work alongside the next generation that includes Dave's children, Nikki and Tommy Carter, and Paul's son-in-law, Mateo Gutierrez.
Thank you
We recognize that our success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our customers, employees, and first-rate suppliers. Whether you've been with us since the beginning or joined us along the way, your trust and loyalty mean the world to us.
While we reflect on the past 40 years with pride, we are equally excited about the future. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers in the many years ahead!