Hi Erik,

Yes, it’s just a coincidence. Ball Packaging is a very big corporation, while our company is small-medium in size.

Regarding the database project, we always appreciated the quality of your work. Some researchers were very unreliable and gave us either very little or incorrect information. I’m very sorry that you found you were not earning enough. Because it varied between different countries how easy it was to get information from companies (depending on how accessible the relevant contact was, and how much information they put on their websites), it was difficult to judge how much time a researcher should spend per company and therefore what a fair rate per company was. So I’m very sorry to read that you – one of our most thorough and honest researchers – were struggling to make ends meet.

Have a nice weekend.

Tim

From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com]

Sent: 26 November 2010 13:30

To: Tim Sykes
Subject: Re: Sweets

Hi,

ok, so the Irina Ball at Packaging Europe and Ball Packaging Europe was just a coincident?

Yes, I was a bit stressed when I did the research, I tried to do the job properly, so I couldn't earn enough, from just the phone-calls.

I've also found out now, it seems I've been having gluten-allergy, that has been worse, in the UK, than in Norway, I think, due to that I've eaten a lot of toast etc.

So I wasn't really on top, when I worked on the project, but I tried to get it right at least.

I didn't know the tariff eighter, for company researchers.

I saw that the company in Denmark, mostly only added one product, for each company.

If I had done the job like that myself I could have earned five times as much, I think.

But I tried to do it quite thorowly, (at least before I saw how the agency-company did the job), and with only £1.30 for each company, with company information and product information, then I struggeled a bit.

But I think I did to thorowly, I should have done more like the agency did the research perhaps.

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog

On Fri, Nov 26, 2010 at 8:24 AM, Tim Sykes <tim@packagingeurope.com> wrote:

Hi Erik,

‘Ball Packaging Europe’ is the European subsidiary of ‘Ball Packaging’, which is based in the USA. It is a large packaging manufacturer, so we sometimes write about the company in our publication, but other than that we have no relation to it.

As for the information on our website, I’m afraid this is out of date.

However, I’m pleased to see that your company researching skills are as strong as ever!

Best wishes,

Tim

From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com]

Sent: 25 November 2010 17:16

To: Tim Sykes
Subject: Re: Sweets

Hi,

it still says Irina works as a News Editor, on your website:

News Editors: Elisabeth Skoda

Irina Ball
Patrycja Przelaczkowska

http://www.packagingeurope.com/ContactUs.aspx

And there's a company in Germany called Ball Packaging Europe:

http://www.ball-europe.com/382_281_ENG_PHP.html

Just for the fun of Company Researching of the old days of 2007 and 2008. 🙂

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog

On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 4:58 PM, Erik Ribsskog <eribsskog@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Tim,

no problem.

But I'm a Company Researcher, remember?

I seem to remember that your owner company were someone called Ball in Germany?

But that's no big deal anyway, and not something I researched about now, just something I seem to remember.

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog

On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 4:51 PM, Tim Sykes <tim@packagingeurope.com> wrote:

Hi Erik,

I don’t think it’s right for me to talk about the private life of a colleague. However, the surname of the owner of our company is Fraser.

Thanks again for your participation in our database project. I’d be happy to recommend you if you ever need references.

Best regards,

Tim

From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com]

Sent: 25 November 2010 16:42

To: Tim Sykes
Subject: Re: Sweets

Hi Tim,

ok, I thought she had the same last-name as the owner of the company, but maybe she god divorced?

She worked from home as well I guess?

But this is not any of my business.

After all, I haven't even met you and Irina etc., in person, when we co-operated on the Packaging Europe Database.

Since I live in Liverpool and you guys are in Norwich.

So I don't really know you, like if we had meetings etc., in person.

But that doesn't matter now anyway, since the Packaging Database-project is finished anyway.

But perhaps I'll get back to you when I start the business-projects again, regarding the packaging.

We'll see.

Thanks for the reply and the co-operation with the Packaging Europe Database anyhow!

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog

On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 3:59 PM, Tim Sykes <tim@packagingeurope.com> wrote:

Hi Erik,

I promise to share the sweets… I need to watch my weight.

Unfortunately, Irina no longer works at our company, so I won’t be able to share them with her. However, there are plenty of other people in the office and they will gratefully assist me with the task of consuming your sweets.

Whatever you choose to do with your businesses, I hope they go well.

Best wishes,

Tim

From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com]

Sent: 25 November 2010 15:02

To: Tim Sykes
Subject: Re: Sweets

Hi,

I understand, I thought about the cans, with 0.33 liters in them, at first.

But this is a project in the future, so it's maybe better I think about this later, and possibly get back to you about this.

I thought of starting as a home-business, but I seem to remember there are packing-services, who handle and pack the goods for a charge, so if the businesses are succesfull, then I could out-source the handling and the packing for a packing-service company, I thought.

I've been in contact with Fox's Confectionary, regarding buying from them, and I will later, when I have enough turn-over, to buy more than 20 boxes at a time.

But untill then, I'll just buy the cans of soda pop, in cash & carry-shops, which also Fox's mentioned as a possibility.

I'm also wondering about maybe starting with a Web Design-company, so I'm not sure if I'll start these companies, but they are like future projects I have on my mind now.

Say hi to Irina, who I co-operated with, on the Packaging Europe Database-projects.

Some of the sweets are for the people at the office/Irina, as well, don't eat all yourself!

Only joking.

Sorry about this!

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog

On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 2:40 PM, Tim Sykes <tim@packagingeurope.com> wrote:

Hi Erik,

My first thought with regard to exporting carbonated drinks is that if you ordered them in bulk quantities (e.g. several boxes each containing several bottles), you could reuse the packaging in which you received them to transport them safely to Norway. The other advantage is that you would be able to purchase the drinks at a lower cost and make a better profit. However, you would have to be confident there was a market for them before making the purchase yourself.

By the way, don’t feel you need to send any more sweets before you ask for advice! I’ll be happy to answer any packaging question if I know the answer.

Best wishes,

Tim

From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com]

Sent: 25 November 2010 14:30
To: Tim Sykes
Subject: Re: Sweets

Hi Tim,

well I have had some problems with hackers, and am now working on another website, to do with my blogs.

But I'll try again to set up a new webshop, besides my job-search, later this year, or in the new-year.

I thought I'd better send the glacier mints, or else I couldn't ask for packaging-advice again.

Only joking!

But I wondered, in Norway they don't sell the soda-pop brands Dr. Pepper and Coca Cola Cherry.

I wondered about selling them to Norway, in single boxes and 6-packs.

Have you please got some suggestion for the packaging?

(This is in the future, maybe next year, so it's no hurry).

Thank you very much again for the e-mail!

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog

On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 2:24 PM, Tim Sykes <tim@packagingeurope.com> wrote:

Hello Erik,

We have just received the packets of sweets you sent us. Many thanks! We shall enjoy them.

I hope your business is going well.

Best wishes,

Tim

From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com]

Sent: 11 October 2010 13:21
To: tim
Subject: Re: Hi Tim,

Hi Tim,

that sounds very smart.

I'll send some mints/sweets, that I sell to Norway, to your office, to Irina or something, as thank you for the help with the packaging/wrapping.

At least if the customers buy them all, at once 🙂

Only joking.

Thank you very much for the advice with this.

I'll check on Staples and places like that.

I'll put the crisps and the tortilla chips and the alcohol, in an own online Off Licence now, I thought.

So then I have some time to find the right packaging, before that online shop opens.

So I already have a spin off, on the sweets/mints-shop.

(Since they stopped selling Glacier Mints in Norway, for some reason.

And I've read that the customers miss them there).

But we'll see if someone buy them yet.

I haven't started marketing yet, on Google etc.

So I can't say for sure if it's going to be a success yet.

But if it is a success, then I'll think I'll subsribe to the Packaging Database, that I worked on, in 2007 and 2008, to find the best and most in-expensive packaging-solution.

We'll see.

Thank you very much for the help with the advice again!

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog

On Mon, Oct 11, 2010 at 12:40 PM, tim <tim@packagingeurope.com> wrote:

Hi Erik,

It’s good to hear from you. I’m pleased to hear about your venture and hope it proves a big success.

That’s an interesting question about the packaging. I agree that there would be a real risk of damaging the crisps in transit. You would definitely need an additional layer of packaging to protect them – maybe a light cardboard box, preferably small enough for the crisps package inside not to rattle around. This should be fairly cheap and is light but provides some rigidity to protect the crisps.

Best wishes,

Tim Sykes

Editor, Packaging Europe

Tel +44 (0)1603 414 444

Fax +44 (0)1603 406 543

tim@packagingeurope.com

www.packagingeurope.com

---

From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com]

Sent: 10 October 2010 20:17
To: tim
Subject: Hi Tim,

how are you?

Thanks for the co-operation, with the Packaging Europe-database, in 2007 and 2008.

I've now started a new webshop, specialising, in selling British food, to Scandinavia, (and Europe):

http://www.godtebutikken.net/

I have some problems with the packaging, for the crisps and the tortilla-chips.

I thought maybe it was ok, if I asked you, since you work in the packaging-industry.

I need a packaging, that is light-weight, (because I send with airmail), which is in-expensive, (since the products aren't that expensive), and which have room for the 6-packs of 30 grams crisps and tortilla chips, that are very popular, in the UK.

I sell mostly British sweets, but some customers have alse enquired about the crisps.

I used to work as a food shop-manager in Norway, so this is two of my fields, IT and groceries/food.

Since they have stopped selling the Glacier-mints in Norway.

So I thought I could sell them on the internet, since many people in Norway, miss the Glacier-mints.

(I've read on the internet).

I mostly use buble-envelopes.

But, I'm not sure if these are good enough, to send as air mail, without the crisps being broken into many pieces.

I understand this is not really packaging, but more like wrapping.

But I just thought about the packaging-job, when I thought about this, with the wrapping.

So I thought that maybe you would know about this.

Do you think it's possible to send the crips to Norway etc., without them being distroyed?

Hope this is alright!

Best regards,

Erik Ribsskog