"Erika Imports" being the name of a small business that Franzen worked for in high school, which was owned by a German couple. I think the main takeaway is that the work seemed very "personal" in the sense that he got to know his bosses too well. pretty forgettable
Franzen, J. (2003). Erika Imports. In Franzen, J. How to Be Alone. Picador, pp. 139-142
a Latin word often translated as "ever upward" or "still higher" / NORTH AMERICAN: softwood shavings used for packing fragile goods or stuffing furniture.