Petra & Holum

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Petra & Holum Since 1933, Petra & Holum has been Chicago’s trusted name in packaging and contract sewing. Every project is designed and made in the USA, ensuring quality.

Petra & Holum delivers tailored solutions that elevate brands through form, function, and finish. Petra and Holum is a custom manufacturer of a broad variety of packaging, promotional, presentation kits and POP products. We offer custom product development, manufacture rigid boxes, sales kits, sewn bags and cases and related products. We have the ability to combine those products and services, offering unique award-winning packaging. Our extensive custom capabilities include traditional RF heat sealing to produce vinyl ring binders, pad holders and calendar covers as well as die-cutting/scoring of rigid poly materials to produce binders, marketing totes, fan decks and headers. Our automatic case making equipment allows us to convert offset printed stock, cloth and high-end materials into unique binders, boxes, and specialty packaging. What sets us apart from the competition is our large format case maker – we can automatically wrap and line a single panel of 50′ x 26.5′ with “Euro-Crease” or multiple board panels up to 26.5″ and 54″. In addition, we can screen print, foil stamp, deboss and emboss a wide variety of substrates. Our 6-station screen press is ideal for tight registration or multiple spot colors. We take your concept from a vision to a reality and our proofing process allows you to view your design before production ever begins. Because we emphasize our “Made in USA” manufacturing capabilities we can offer our customers unparalleled flexibility with numerous production options and fast turnarounds. We operate an 80,000 square foot facility just west of downtown Chicago, Illinois. Our central location near major highways and airports allows us to handle national and international distribution efficiently and effectively.

Your packaging speaks before your product ever does.When companies think about press kits, they often focus on what's in...
10/01/2026

Your packaging speaks before your product ever does.

When companies think about press kits, they often focus on what's inside. But the packaging itself shapes the first impression.

A well-designed custom press kit does more than protect samples and marketing materials. It tells your brand story, builds anticipation, and creates an experience your audience remembers.

One insight that stood out while speaking with Petra & Holum's Account Specialist, Raul Lopez, is that the best press kits aren't one-size-fits-all.

For example:
• Rigid press kits create a premium, luxury presentation with hidden magnetic closures.
• Paperboard press kits offer a lighter, cost-effective option that's ideal for many promotional campaigns.
• Specialty coverings like linen, book cloth, and lithographic printed papers help reinforce your brand's identity from the moment the box is opened.

As Raul explained, "The rigid version may have magnets, while paperboard versions often use Velcro." The right solution depends on your goals, audience, and budget.

Whether you're launching a new product, sending media kits to journalists, or creating executive presentations, thoughtful packaging can make the difference between being noticed and being remembered.

What's the most memorable product presentation or press kit you've ever received?

https://petraandholum.com/custom-press-kits/

Most people think great packaging starts with a beautiful design.It doesn't.It starts with asking the right questions.Be...
09/24/2026

Most people think great packaging starts with a beautiful design.

It doesn't.

It starts with asking the right questions.

Before a prototype is built, experienced packaging partners want to understand:
• What are you protecting?
• How will customers interact with the package?
• What experience do you want to create?
• What manufacturing challenges should be avoided?

As Petra & Holum Co-President Richard Holum explains, taking time upfront helps eliminate surprises before production begins.

Norman Hoffberg shares a similar philosophy. The goal isn't simply to make a box. It's to understand the customer's objectives first and recommend the right solution.

When brands invest in the packaging design process early, they reduce costly revisions, improve efficiency, and create packaging that performs as beautifully as it looks.

What's the biggest packaging challenge you've faced before production?

https://petraandholum.com/packaging-design-process-planning/

Your customers start judging your brand before they ever open the box.The unboxing experience begins the moment a packag...
09/17/2026

Your customers start judging your brand before they ever open the box.

The unboxing experience begins the moment a package arrives.

The weight. The texture. The finish. The anticipation.

Every detail sends a message about your brand.

At Petra & Holum, we've spent decades helping brands understand that premium packaging isn't just about protecting a product. It's about creating an experience that customers remember.

As Michael Quintos says, "Packaging is the first physical touch point with a customer."

And as Norman Hoffberg reminds us, opening a beautifully designed package should feel like opening a birthday present.

When strategy and emotion come together, packaging becomes far more than a box. It becomes a powerful extension of your brand.

How much thought are you putting into your customer's first physical interaction with your brand?

https://petraandholum.com/unboxing-experience-packaging-strategy/

The customer experience doesn't start with your product.It starts with your packaging.At Petra & Holum, we've spent near...
09/10/2026

The customer experience doesn't start with your product.

It starts with your packaging.

At Petra & Holum, we've spent nearly a century helping brands understand that packaging is much more than protection. It's the first physical interaction a customer has with your company, and that first impression matters.

As our Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Michael Quintos, says:

"Customers don't buy products, they buy experiences. Packaging isn't a box, it's a brand moment."

That philosophy influences every decision we make, from structural engineering to finishing techniques.

Co-President Richard Holum puts it another way:

"I can make you the package, but let's create your identity, let's get it noticed, let's give it the wow."

And as Co-President Norman Hoffberg reminds us, lasting customer relationships are built on expertise, honesty, and trust.

When those ideas come together, packaging becomes more than a container.

It becomes part of your brand story.

If you're investing heavily in your product, make sure your packaging delivers the same premium experience.

How much does packaging influence your perception of a brand?

https://petraandholum.com/packaging-customer-experience/

Experience matters long before production begins.Every successful packaging project benefits from years of engineering k...
09/03/2026

Experience matters long before production begins.

Every successful packaging project benefits from years of engineering knowledge, manufacturing expertise, and problem solving.

As Michael Quintos says, "People are paying me for all that knowledge."

The right packaging partner doesn't just make your vision possible. They help make it better.

https://petraandholum.com/packaging-expertise/

Manufacturing experience isn't about how long you've been in business.It's about how many problems you've learned to sol...
08/27/2026

Manufacturing experience isn't about how long you've been in business.

It's about how many problems you've learned to solve.

As Norman Hoffberg says, "If you have a 93-year history, you've had 93 years of experience."

That experience helps brands move from great ideas to successful product launches with confidence.

https://petraandholum.com/manufacturing-experience-packaging

The best packaging decisions rarely start with a quote.They start with questions.Not: "How many boxes do you need?"But:•...
08/20/2026

The best packaging decisions rarely start with a quote.

They start with questions.

Not: "How many boxes do you need?"

But:
• What's inside?
• Who's receiving it?
• What experience are you trying to create?
• What's your timeline?
• What happens if this launch gets delayed?

That shift in thinking is what separates a packaging supplier from a true packaging partner.

As Michael Quintos, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Petra & Holum, puts it: "We always start with inside out. I need the item that's going inside the box because we build from the inside out."

When you understand the product first, you make better decisions about structure, protection, presentation, and production. That means fewer surprises, fewer revisions, and a smoother path from concept to delivery.

The best packaging isn't just beautiful.

It's engineered to help your project succeed.

https://petraandholum.com/luxury-packaging-protects-your-brand

Why do creative agencies keep the same packaging partners for years?It isn't because they make the cheapest boxes.It's b...
08/13/2026

Why do creative agencies keep the same packaging partners for years?

It isn't because they make the cheapest boxes.

It's because they make agencies look good.

Creative teams already have the vision.

They know the brand standards.

They know the campaign objectives.

What they need is a partner who can turn those ideas into reality without missing deadlines or sacrificing quality.

Michael Quintos, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Petra & Holum, says it best: "Packaging really is part of marketing."

When packaging becomes part of the campaign, ex*****on matters just as much as creativity.
That's why agencies value partners who communicate clearly, solve problems quickly, and consistently deliver premium results.

One successful project often turns into many more because trust is earned, not assumed.

https://petraandholum.com/packaging-for-marketing-agencies/

The companies that last the longest aren't the ones that resist change. They're the ones that embrace it.For nearly 100 ...
08/06/2026

The companies that last the longest aren't the ones that resist change. They're the ones that embrace it.

For nearly 100 years, Petra & Holum has continually reinvented itself to meet changing customer needs. What began as a manufacturer of handcrafted book covers has evolved into one of America's leading custom packaging manufacturers.

As Richard Holum says:
"You either grow and change with the times or die."

That philosophy has guided every generation of our company. From investing in new technology to expanding into luxury packaging, we've never stopped looking ahead.

Innovation isn't about abandoning tradition. It's about building on it.

https://petraandholum.com/custom-packaging-manufacturer-innovation/

Nearly 100 years ago, Arthur Holum made a decision that would shape generations to come.In 1933, during the Great Depres...
07/30/2026

Nearly 100 years ago, Arthur Holum made a decision that would shape generations to come.

In 1933, during the Great Depression, he left the security of a steady job to start making book covers in a basement after work. Armed with little more than determination, craftsmanship, and a vision, he built the foundation for what would become Petra & Holum.

Today, that same entrepreneurial spirit still drives everything we do.
While our products have evolved from handcrafted book covers to premium luxury packaging, our commitment to quality has never changed.

As Richard Holum puts it:
"You either grow and change with the times or die."

That philosophy has helped our family business thrive through changing markets, new technologies, and nearly a century of innovation.
When you choose Petra & Holum, you're partnering with a company built on generations of experience, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.

https://petraandholum.com/family-owned-packaging-company-history

Address

6600 W Armitage Avenue
Chicago, IL
60707

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 5pm
Tuesday 7am - 5pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

(773) 622-1475

Website

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