Horwitz --> About Us

Our Mission Statement

We strive to deliver extraordinary levels of value to the food service, industrial and environmental management departments of the Education, Healthcare, and Corporate Business Markets

While the basic concept of customer service has not changed, the tools available to meet these goals have changed. We keep a keen eye on technological advances and how they help us better serve our customers. Horwitz has evolved into a single resource for consultation, evaluation and realistic recommendations. In the field of janitorial maintenance. We don't just suggest the products that we feel will accomplish their goals, instead we use technology and highly skilled industry specialists. We put together a plan for a complete system that ultimately reduces our customer' costs and increased their productivity.

Horwitz Paper & Janitorial traces its beginning to Horwitz Bros., established in 1910 in Elmira, NY. Prompt delivery by bicycle and horse-drawn wagons started our commitment to strong service for our customers. Today a fleet of trucks and team of dedicated employees continue the tradition started by the Horwitz brothers.

Horwitz Paper grew steadily through the years, and in 1972 Robert K. Watkins and Oscar Mayes purchased the firm. At that time, Horwitz Paper's name was changed to Horwitz Paper & Packaging Co., Inc.

In 1974 we became a charter member of Affiliated Paper Companies, (APC). APC is now a member organization of over 280 paper and janitorial houses around the world that combine their buying power to outdistance even the largest chain distributors. All APC houses are independently owned and therefore able to service their clients on an individual basis with competitive prices and products.

The company continued to grow and quickly out grew its Church Street home. To continue a high level of service Horwitz Paper moved to a new office and warehouse complex in 1976 at 145 Philo Road West, Horseheads NY, our present location.

In 1989, Bob and Oscar retired, leaving their children to continue the business with Mark Watkins becoming the President of Horwitz, Dan Mayes its Vice President, and Margaret Mayes its secretary. Each family, Mayes and Watkins, retained 50% interest in Horwitz Paper & Packaging.

In February of 1992, Image Packaging by Horwitz, Inc. was started by the owners of Horwitz with Margaret Mayes Thoma being named its President.

In November of 1995, Mark Watkins resigned as President of Horwitz and the Watkins family sold their interest in Horwitz Paper/Image Packaging to Oscar Mayes. At this point Ted marks joined the firms as Vice President and purchased one third of the stock of each company. Dan Mayes became President of Horwitz Paper and Margaret Thoma continued as president of Image Packaging, each buying the remaining shares from their father so that they now own a third of both companies.

Throughout the Nineties, Horwitz Paper and Janitorial / Image Packaging continued to grow and become more diversified. In 2000 the decision was made to purchase the warehouse and offices at 340 Upper Oakwood Ave. in Elmira Heights, New York. Locally known as the “Flickinger Building”, it comprises of 286,000 square feet. It has 6000 square feet of office space. An additional 2200 square feet will be converted into a Training Room to keep our clients abreast of the latest in cleaning techniques and equipment. Outside the Training Room, we’ll have an indoor basketball court (quarter court). This will give Horwitz an area to train in the care and application of gym floor finishes. Nice for noon-hour games, too! Our Industrial Packaging Division will have a packaging equipment demonstration room. Horwitz has dedicated 4000 square feet to a Cash and Carry operation. The Cash and Carry will also be used for a “will-call” and special order pick-up area. Our sister company, Image Packaging, will consolidate and expand it’s operations in our old facility in Horseheads.