1998. It’s hard to believe that was now 26 years ago. Furbies and Beanie Babies were all the rage, and The Titanic was on track to become the first film in history to gross over a billion dollars at box offices. Britney Spears released her iconic “Hit Me Baby One More Time”, and Ed August sat in the living room of Paul and Sue Henkel, interviewing for an Account Manager position for a barcode label company.
“The business was growing, and Paul and Sue were cautiously building their team. That’s why they interviewed me at their house. They weren’t quite ready to announce to the entire company that they needed another AM. The business was still young.” Ed recounts that afternoon with a smile. “It was a memorable interview. I sat on their couch and they made me tea!”
And now, 26 years later, Ed August is retiring from his role as Account Manager. With a suitcase full of fond workplace memories and anecdotes, it’s a bittersweet goodbye. One of Ed’s favorite memories he’s carrying away is of the collection of unique coworkers he’s accumulated over the years. He relates his collection to a t-shirt a former colleague often wore.
“Dee-Dee retired a couple of years ago. She was the nicest person to work with. She loved Christmas and was always wearing Christmas shirts and playing carols on the communal music source every chance she got. I remember years ago she had a t-shirt with characters from the Island of Misfit Toys, and I think that’s kind of what we are like here at EIM. We’re all a little atypical, but we’re also valuable and able to accomplish the impossible when we work together.”
Ed recalls some of the most memorable changes he’s experienced at work during his tenure. Other than COVID (that one just turned everything upside down), he remembers when the company moved to a larger location. “It felt like a major upgrade when we moved into our current space.” And later, “When we got the first inkjet press and started doing the four-color process, that really opened up a lot of opportunities.”
Being a Label Expert for over 26 years is bound to impact one’s life. For Ed, he says, “What’s kept me here for so long is my customers. Because we serve so many different industries, and everyone needs labels, I’ve learned so much about this world that I never would have with any other job. Learning about what the different businesses do, I like to check out their websites, and hear from actual people in the field how they intend to use our labels… It’s been humbling to work with and talk to these people who are doing amazing processes in their work. The technologies out there are pretty wild!”
Ed has helped thousands of accounts find labels that stick over the years. And, while he’s had some of the largest accounts in EIM history to manage, some of his favorites are the occasional local businesses. Ed comments that he loves when a request comes through from a local business that he patronizes, for example, his favorite local ice creamery. “I love their product, and they love our product. How cool is that?!”
What might a retiring Label Expert do after 26 years of work? For Ed, it’s still to be determined. In the short term, he has plans to see a rock concert with his dad, tackle some “boring” projects around the house, travel with his partner, and help care for his parents. And maybe a weekly trip to the comic book shop…
Ed’s parting pearls of wisdom for the next generation of Label Experts: “Always be willing to learn new stuff and always wear black shirts (to hide any barbeque sauce drips).”
Thank you, Ed, for your dedicated service, your intelligence, your humor, and your friendship over the years. You have been a big part of shaping and growing EIM, and we are grateful for all you have done throughout your years here!
