Explore every episode of the podcast People of Packaging Podcast

Welcome to another exciting episode of the People of Packaging podcast! Host Adam Peek is back at it, coming to you live from the Label King studios.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Dustin Steerman, founder and CEO of Vert. Dustin shares his journey through the packaging world—from paper and labels to digital flex pack—and breaks down how he is building a 35,000-square-foot powerhouse facility in Longmont, Colorado.

Key Discussion Points:

* Industry Origins: Growing up around paper mills, early Philly roots, and leaving Philadelphia sports fandom on a high note after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win.

* The Digital Shift: How Dustin identified early gaps in digital flexible packaging around 2014 and launched Vert in 2023.

* Cannabis Packaging Realities: Navigating strict state-by-state regulations, multi-state operator (MSO) complexities, and how short-run digital printing solves artwork versioning headaches.

* Vert’s Scalable Model: Building out 35,000 square feet, running short to long-run pouch lines, and targeting 10–15 million pouches per month capacity.

* Expanding Verticals: Moving beyond cannabis into sports nutrition, pet treats, and the natural products epicenter in Boulder/Longmont.

* The Service Gap: Why exceptional customer service, 24-hour quote turnarounds, and direct communication are the ultimate business differentiators today.

Connect with Dustin Steerman:

* Dustin Steerman on LinkedIn

* Website: vertpack.com

Connect with Adam Peek:

* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

About the People of Packaging Podcast:

The People of Packaging Podcast dives deep into the stories of the human beings making the packaging world tick. Host Adam Peek interviews leaders, disruptors, and innovators across the industry to give you an insider look at what is happening today and where the market is heading next.

Welcome to another exciting episode of the People of Packaging Podcast! Adam Peek sits down with Kevin Selvy, Founder and CEO of Bôm Dia, to unpack the wild, 3.5-year journey of bringing Brazilian sparkling wine to North America in both screen-printed bottles and portable cans.

Bom Dia’s packaging design is almost as good as the sparkling wine!

Key Takeaways & Highlights

* From Finance to Fermentation: How Kevin transitioned from stock trading in Europe to brewing, winemaking, and mastering beverage packaging.

* The “Two Hardest Things”: Why carbonation and cardboard are hands-down the toughest hurdles in the industry.

* Cracking the Brazilian Bubble: Brazil is a top 10 sparkling wine producer globally, yet Bôm Dia became the very first canned wine exported out of the country.

* Bottles vs. Cans Science: How Kevin re-engineered the fermentation process so the wine tastes identical whether popped from a glass bottle or cracked open from a slim can.

* Ditching Paper Labels: Why Bôm Dia opted for direct screen-printed glass to avoid peeling, bubbling, and label headaches during humid ocean freight transit.

* Mid-Ocean Curveballs: What it was like getting hit with a surprise 50% import tariff while shipment containers were literally floating on the water in month two of business.

* Creative Details That Pop: From jaguar wire cages on the corks to custom-shaped barcodes inspired by a cider can from an African road trip, proving even UPCs can be creative.

Connect with Bôm Dia

* Website: bomdiabubbles.com

Connect with Adam Peek

* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

In this episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, Adam Peek sits down with Olivia Abrams, CEO and Co-Founder of TickMitt, to chat about turning personal adversity into an innovative, life-saving product line! 🧤🕷️

Episode Overview

After contracting Lyme disease on her family’s hay farm in New York, Olivia teamed up with her dad, Steve, to create TickMitt—a chemical-free fabric mitten designed to swipe ticks right off skin, clothes, and pet fur before they bite. They later expanded with the Tick Sidekick, built a raving customer base, braved the waters of Shark Tank, and mastered the complex world of retail packaging.

Key Highlights & Takeaways

* The “Why” Behind the Brand: How a personal bout with Lyme disease sparked a family mission to protect pets and families naturally.

* Tasting the Waters on Shark Tank: What it was like pitching on Mark Cuban’s final episode, getting two offers, and having the courage to turn them down based on valuation.

* Packaging Built for D2C & Retail: How TickMitt balanced lightweight materials for low D2C shipping costs with clear windows, pegboard hooks, and high-visibility “warning yellow” for retail shelves.

* Retail Scaling & PDQ Magic: Transforming shipping boxes into ready-to-display counter stands (PDQs) for small local stores, and later shrinking package dimensions to maximize sales per square inch.

* Navigating 136-Page Compliance Manuals: Real talk on the hidden complexities of big-box retail packaging rules, label placement, and distribution requirements.

* The Power of Human Connection: Why asking for help from your immediate network can fast-track product development faster than any search algorithm.

Connect with Olivia & TickMitt

* Website: tickmitt.com

* Social Media: @tick.mitt

* Where to Buy: Amazon, Petco, and Bass Pro Shops

Connect with Adam Peek

* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

Beyond the Die Line: Unfiltered Founder Life, Building a Brand Empire, and No-Bread PB&Js with Jake Karls 🍫🚀

Welcome back to Beyond the Die Line, hosted by Tom Seymour from Bison Bag! In this high-energy episode, Tom sits down with the wild, authentic, and unstoppable Jake Karls, co-founder of Mid-Day Squares.

Jake gives an unfiltered look at what it really takes to build a disruptive CPG empire alongside his sister and brother-in-law. From hand-making chocolate bars in a condo kitchen from 5 AM to 5 PM, to getting rejected by 26 co-manufacturers, to building their own manufacturing facility producing 150,000 squares a day—this episode is packed with real talk on scaling, packaging, and going on offense during a crisis.

🌟 Key Highlights From the Episode

* The Condo Kitchen Hustle: Jake recounts the early days of launching on August 4, 2018. The three co-founders spent 5 AM–5 PM making 50 bars a day by hand, packaged them from 5 PM–6 PM, and hand-delivered them to customers from 6 PM–10 PM with handwritten notes.

* Radical Social Media Transparency: Instead of just showcasing a polished product, Mid-Day Squares documented everything—the chaos, founder arguments, and even team therapy sessions. This raw storytelling created an emotional connection that turned customers into superfans.

* 26 Co-Packer Rejections & Building Their Own Plant: Every co-manufacturer told them their formula was impossible to scale without changing the ingredients. Refusing to compromise their product, they built their own custom manufacturing plant that now cranks out ~150,000 squares daily!

* Turning Crisis into Offense: When lockdown hit and sales plummeted 70% overnight, they didn’t play defense. They donated thousands of bars to hospital workers, shifted momentum, hired aggressively, and turned it into one of their biggest growth years.

* Winning the Refrigerated Aisle: Why build a refrigerated bar in a world of dry snack aisles? Jake explains the strategy behind avoiding the overcrowded “sea of sameness” in traditional snack aisles and taking over the high-growth, fresh-snacking fridge space.

* The No-Bread PB&J Innovation: Born out of a global cocoa price surge 2.5 years ago, Mid-Day Squares pivoted to create their viral “No-Bread PB&J” line (Strawberry and Grape)! At 130–170 calories, it delivers nostalgia without the sugar crash.

📌 Links & Resources Mentioned

* Explore Mid-Day Squares: Find your nearest fridge or order directly at middaysquares.com.

* Connect with Jake Karls: Follow Jake’s entrepreneurial journey on LinkedIn.

* Brought to you by: Tom Seymour and the packaging pros at Bison Bag.

📲 Connect With Us!

For daily packaging breakdowns, manufacturing insights, and founder stories:

* LinkedIn: Connect with Adam Peek at www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: Follow along @thelabelking

Episode Summary

In this episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, host Adam Peek sits down with Adam Page, VP of Reports at Smithers, to dive deep into the world of packaging market research. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Adam Page shares valuable insights on why true market intelligence requires human expertise, the limitations of relying solely on AI, and how rapid changes in e-commerce and sustainability regulations are reshaping the packaging landscape.

Key Takeaways & Timestamps

* 01:40 – Global Footprint: Discover where Smithers is located—spanning London, Akron (Ohio), and Suzhou (China)—and their legacy stemming from PIRA (Printing Industry Research Association).

* 02:50 – The Hogwarts Debate: A quick detour into the magical world of Harry Potter. Is it Gryffindor or Hufflepuff?

* 04:45 – The Real Value of Human Research: Why desk research and AI aren’t enough. Adam explains the art of “triangulating” data from multiple industry stakeholders to uncover the real truth.

* 06:30 – The Paradox of the Consumer: Consumers say they want sustainability, but they also want it cheap and delivered to their doorstep in 24 hours. How do brands navigate these conflicting demands?

* 10:40 – E-Commerce & Corrugated Trends: How the rise of AI-driven “right-sizing” packaging technology at companies like Amazon is actually shifting corrugated volume demand.

* 11:50 – The PCR Crunch: Major brands have massive goals for Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content, but the global recycling infrastructure can’t keep up with the demand. Where will the material come from?

Notable Quotes

“AI is wonderful for problems that have already been solved and already understood... But when you’re trying something that is unknown, where there are ambiguities and uncertainties, AI falls into the mistake of being too certain about its answer.”

— Adam Page, Smithers

##🔗 Connect with Us!

If you want to stay on top of the latest packaging trends, make sure to follow and connect with our host across social media:

* LinkedIn: Connect with Adam Peek on LinkedIn to see daily insights and industry commentary.

* TikTok: Follow the “Label King” himself on TikTok @thelabelking for behind-the-scenes content and quick packaging breakdowns.

To learn more about the market reports discussed in this episode or to connect with the team at Smithers, visit Smithers.com.

Welcome to another episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, recorded live right here at the Label King Studios in Salt Lake City. I am your host, Adam Peek, and today we are diving deep into the future of packaging design, consumer psychology, and artificial intelligence.

Our guest today is Ankit Dhawan, the founder of Bluepill.ai. Ankit has an incredible background, moving from India to the United States to complete his masters at Cornell before leading product for the global marketing team at Amazon. With over seven years of deep experience in AI, Ankit is solving one of the most frustrating, expensive, and analog processes in our industry: consumer insights and package testing.

In this episode, we run a live demo of the Bluepill.ai software using a real-world test case: Miss Essie’s BBQ Sauce, a fantastic local brand here in Utah.

Here is what we cover:

* The Matrix Motivation: The story behind the name Blue-pill.ai and why taking the blue pill means choosing to stay in a perfectly simulated consumer environment.

* The $140 Billion Problem: Package testing and market research traditionally cost fifteen thousand to twenty-five thousand dollars per study, taking anywhere from four to eight weeks. Bluepill.ai drops that down to under ten minutes.

* Digital Twins and Micro-Personas: How the software uses real human behavioral data, qualitative interviews, and purchase signals to predict exactly how specific demographics will react to your package on the shelf.

* The Miss Essie’s Shelf Test: We look at the actual heatmap data comparing Miss Essie’s to heavy hitters like Sweet Baby Ray’s and Stubbs, highlighting packaging strengths like practical dispensers and areas to improve like pale illustrations.

* Ironclad Data Security: Why testing your proprietary designs with AI is actually much safer than human panels, ensuring your upcoming product launches never leak to your competitors.

We also have some fun debating geography, including my infamous shouting match at the Delhi airport over whether a city of five hundred thousand people actually exists.

Ankit’s tool changes the game from subjective guessing to objective, data-driven decision-making, allowing brands to iteratively test text orientation, visual clutter, and ingredient transparency for a fraction of traditional costs.

Check out the full episode to see the future of package testing in action.

Connect with Adam:

* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

Connect with Ankit Dhawan:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhawanankit/

* Website: https://blue-pill.ai/

Hey packaging people!

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to just completely packaging-nerd out on an episode! Today, I am honored and blessed to be joined by Tatiana Chamorro, the CMO and founding team member of Toucan Cocktails. Not only is she a seasoned marketing pro and entrepreneur, but she’s also a fellow podcast host!

In this episode, we dive deep into some of the most innovative packaging I have ever seen in my life. The ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail industry has been exploding, but Toucan Cocktails realized a huge problem: pre-mixed drinks sitting on a shelf lose their magic and sometimes start to taste a little funky without heavy preservatives.

Their solution? Keep the spirit and the mixer completely separate until the exact moment you are ready to drink it!

Tatiana takes us on the wild design and engineering journey of bringing this product to life. We talk about:

* The transition from early leaky 3D-printed prototypes to their incredibly sleek final product.

* Why they chose a 360-degree pop-top tin can (it opens like a tennis ball can!) for the spirit.

* The genius of using a universal black top can across all flavors to simplify supply chain and demand planning.

* Moving away from annoying shrink sleeves (specifically those pesky zipper perfs!) and opting for direct digital UV inkjet printing for a premium, tactile feel.

* A live, on-screen demo of how to properly snap, shake, and pour a Toucan Margarita and Espresso Martini—complete with real cocktail foam!

If you love packaging design, structural engineering, and a genuinely good cocktail, you cannot miss this episode!

Connect with Adam! LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek TikTok: @thelabelking

Check out Toucan Cocktails & follow their journey: Website:

https://toucancocktails.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toucancocktails

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toucancocktails

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toucancocktails

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Dieine, hosted by Tom Seymour from Bison Bag! In this episode, Tom sits down with his close friend Dr. Juan Salinas, a doctor of food science, master of sports nutrition, competitive bodybuilder, and the brilliant founder of Pnuff Crunch.

Juan shares his incredible journey from engineering to formulating iconic snacks for global CPG giants, before taking a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. He drops absolute gold on the realities of scaling a food brand, navigating the treacherous waters of packaging inventory, and what really happens when you rip off a lab coat on national television.

Key Highlights From the Episode

* The Corporate Launchpad: Juan talks about his years doing serious time at massive CPG companies like Nabisco, Kraft, and Nestle. He shares how working on legacy brands like Oreos and Ritz—and watching the birth of the OG Power Bar—fueled his passion for functional nutrition.

* The Shark Tank Savior: Juan recounts his viral appearance on Shark Tank. After stunning the Sharks by ripping off his doctor’s lab coat to reveal his bodybuilding physique, the laughter caused him to completely forget his lines. Mark Cuban stepped in to save the pitch and ultimately became an investor in the company.

* Dumbbells and Discipline: Tom and Juan break down a powerful analogy comparing gym culture to business growth. You cannot just start lifting the 75-pound weights on day one without hurting yourself; business, just like muscle growth, requires trusting a disciplined progression.

* Packaging Pitfalls: Juan candidly admits his early founder mistake of tying up massive amounts of cash in cheap, long-run packaging film rolls, only to be stuck with obsolete inventory when branding and market trends changed. Tom drops expert advice on using digital printing early on and designing smart with common plates to keep costs low.

* Sustainable Solutions: What do you do with 50,000 dollars worth of unused packaging rolls sitting in a warehouse? Tom explains how brands can leverage TerraCycle’s advanced recycling methods to separate complex film layers, keeping commercial waste out of landfills while protecting their brand’s reputation.

* Clean Snacking Without Sacrifice: Pnuff puffs are scientifically formulated to deliver 20 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and a low glycemic response per bag to keep you full longer without the sugar crash.

Links and Resources Mentioned

* Get Shredded: Download Dr. Juan’s 34-Day Fitness and Diet Program and unlock the exact science-backed methods he uses for bodybuilding.

* Try Pnuff: Grab a bag of original, barbecue, cheddar jalapeno, cinnamon, or cocoa puffs at pnuff.com or find them on Amazon.

* Brought to you by: Tom Seymour and the flexible packaging experts at Bison Bag.

Connect With Us!

For more behind-the-scenes packaging breakdowns, industry insights, and entrepreneurial truth-bombs, make sure to follow along:

* LinkedIn: Connect with Adam Peek at www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: Follow the journey and catch daily videos with @thelabelking

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE GS1 CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS, JUNE 9-11. Register by clicking the link!

Get out your glasses, packaging nerds! 🤓 In this episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, host Adam Peek sits down with Ned Mears, Senior Director of Global Standards at GS1 US. They dive deep into the massive industry shift from traditional 1D barcodes to multi-dimensional 2D barcodes—coined “Sunrise 2027.”

Ned shares his incredible journey from an RFID subject matter expert to leading the charge on modern product identification. Learn how adding dynamic data elements, like expiration dates, can help retailers dramatically reduce food waste by up to 40%! Whether you are a brand owner wondering how to adapt or a self-proclaimed tech geek, this conversation maps out how a simple upgrade in barcoding unlocks infinite digital experiences between brands and consumers. 📦✨

Connect with us!

* Follow Adam on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* Check out Adam’s TikTok: @thelabelking

* Learn more about global barcoding standards at GS1 US or search “Sunrise 2027.”

Ever wonder why that protein shake has a “Supplement Facts” panel instead of “Nutrition Facts”? Or why your favorite craft soda’s label layout looks a very specific way? It is not just design—it is federal law.

In this episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, Adam Peek sits down with Lauren Rockteacher, the founder and principal reviewer at Proof and Panel. With a background in food science and regulatory affairs, Lauren is the “label whisperer” that brands call before they hit the shelves.

We dive into the high-stakes world of regulatory compliance, exploring why a beautiful design does not always equal a legal one. Lauren breaks down the 200+ checkpoints she uses to ensure brands do not face massive fines, recalls, or the nightmare of throwing away thousands of dollars in printed packaging.

In this episode, we discuss:

* The Wisconsin Life: Cheese curds, cross-country ski marathons (The Birke!), and why Wisconsin is a packaging powerhouse.

* Food vs. Supplement: The subtle (and legally massive) differences in how you claim health benefits.

* The AI Trap: Why you should not trust ChatGPT to write your regulatory claims and the funny mistakes it makes.

* Conditional Labeling: How one “voluntary” claim can trigger a waterfall of mandatory requirements.

* Saving Your Brand: Why regulatory review is an investment, not just a hurdle.

Do not let a “catchy” claim turn into a legal catastrophe. Tune in to hear how to bridge the gap between food science, graphic design, and the FDA.

Connect with us:

* Adam Peek on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* Adam Peek on TikTok: @thelabelking

* Lauren Rockteacher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenrockteacher/

* Proof and Panel Website: www.proofandpanel.com

Episode Title: Grow-NY with Jenn Smith

Host: Adam Peek Guest: Jenn Smith, Director of Food and Ag Innovation Programs at Cornell University and Director of Grow-NY

Summary: In this episode, Adam sits down with the multi-titled Jenn Smith to talk about all things food, agriculture, and innovation in Upstate New York. Jenn dives into the Grow-NY competition, a $3 million business competition that draws startups from around the world to compete for top prizes—including a whopping $1 million! They chat about the importance of sustainability, the circular economy, and how even packaging companies can get in on the action. Plus, find out why Adam has been rocking rope sandals for 30 years!

Key Takeaways:

* What is Grow-NY? A global business competition focused on food and agriculture innovation, funded by New York State.

* The Prizes: A $1 million grand prize, two $500k prizes, and four $250k prizes. It’s an equity investment, not just a grant!

* Sustainability Matters: Grow-NY looks for startups that think holistically about sustainability—from soil science to innovative packaging solutions like Living Ink‘s algae-based black ink.

* Eligibility: Early-stage startups (7 years or fewer in operation) that are willing to grow their business and contribute to the Upstate New York economy.

* The Deadline: Applications are due by May 15th!

Links:

* Grow-NY Website: grow-ny.com

* Adam’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* Adam’s TikTok: @thelabelking

Time Stamps:

* 0:00 - Introduction & Jenn’s “Longest Title Ever”

* 5:23 - The Ren Fair & Adam’s 30-Year-Old Rope Sandals

* 8:20 - Jenn’s Role at Cornell & Extension Agents

* 10:33 - Holistic Sustainability in Packaging & Farming

* 13:40 - The History & Mission of Grow-NY

* 16:20 - Past Winners: Living Ink & Algae-Based Ink

* 18:40 - Eligibility & Application Process

* 21:20 - What Does “Upstate” New York Actually Mean?

* 22:40 - Final Wrap-Up & Application Deadline

In this episode of the People of Packaging podcast, Adam Peek sits down with Kate McLamb and Lauren Alexander, the visionary co-founders of Sistine Spritz. They dive deep into how they built a brand that’s about much more than just a drink—it’s about “romantic rebellion,” community, and intentional design.

The Vision Behind the Spritz 🎨

Kate and Lauren didn’t just set out to make another beverage; they wanted to create an entire world. Drawing from Lauren’s 20-year bac

kground in apparel design and Kate’s experience in video production and business development, they approached the brand like a fashion house. Before the liquid was even finalized, they were building mood boards, crafting Spotify playlists, and defining the “Sistine” aesthetic.

Key Highlights from the Episode:

* Intentional Packaging: The duo explains why they chose a 750ml champagne bottle with a hand-applied blue wax seal to stand out in a crowded retail landscape.

* The “Sexy” Can Challenge: Transitioning from an elegant glass bottle to a 222ml slim can wasn’t easy. They discuss the technical hurdles of maintaining their brand’s “sexy” vibe while adhering to canning standards.

* Natural Vibrancy: The striking ruby-red color of the drink isn’t artificial—it’s derived entirely from beets and carrots to match their computer-generated “ideal” hue.

* Building Community: From hosting intimate dinner parties in LA to creating curated playlists for “spritz-worthy” moments, Sistine is built on the power of being present with others.

Connect with the Guests:

* Kate McLamb: kate@sistinespritz.com

* Lauren Alexander: lauren@sistinespritz.com

* Website: sistinespritz.com

* Instagram: @sistinespritz

Connect with the Label King:

* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

Show Notes: Beyond the Dieline with Keith McCullough

In this episode of Beyond the Dieline, host Tom Seymour sits down with Keith McCullough, the founder of Junebar, to discuss his fascinating pivot from a 20-year career in video game development to the world of CPG 🎮➡️🍏. Keith shares the “level-up” moments and the glitches he faced while building a brand focused on clean, fiber-rich, and functional nutrition.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

* The Pivot to CPG: How Keith transitioned from leading a 50-person gaming studio to founding a plant-based snack brand.

* Transferable Skills: Why making a “mean spreadsheet” and managing technical operations in tech is surprisingly similar to managing inventory and co-packing in food.

* The Power of Fiber: Why fiber is the “unsung hero” of 2026 nutrition trends, competing with protein for the top spot in consumer health priorities.

* Packaging Pitfalls: Why start-up founders should start with small pouch orders and “hand-sealers” before jumping into high-speed automation.

* Founder Grit: How to handle the emotional rollercoaster of being a founder—from “imposter syndrome” to managing critical consumer feedback.

Key Highlights:

“I spent 20 years making entertainment software... but my interest shifted. I wanted to do something more present, less in the ‘ether’ of the digital world, and more in reality and my community.” — Keith McCullough.

* The “June” in Junebar: Keith reveals the personal meaning behind the name—it’s his favorite month and the birth month of his second daughter ☀️.

* Fiber > Protein? Tom and Keith discuss the “protein fatigue” in the market and how fiber is finally gaining its own “cool factor” for metabolic and gut health.

* The Village Mentality: Why having a mentor and a supportive “village” is the secret sauce for any successful entrepreneur.

Connect with the People of Packaging:

* Follow Adam Peek on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* Watch Adam on TikTok: @thelabelking

Check out Junebar: Visit junebars.com to try their all-natural, high-fiber bars or find them in local retailers across Rochester, Buffalo, and beyond! 🍎✨

This week on People of Packaging, we’re coming to you from the CERM User Group in Dallas, Texas! 🤠 I’m sitting down with Trent Bremer, the VP of Operations & Finance at Grand Rapids Label.

Trent isn’t just a numbers guy; he’s helping steer a company that’s been around for a staggering 142 years. We dive into what it’s like to maintain a family legacy that is now entering its 5th generation—a feat that less than 1% of family businesses ever achieve! 🚀

In this episode, we discuss:

* The 142-Year Legacy: How Grand Rapids Label evolved from printing Harry Houdini posters to becoming a leader in durable automotive and food-safe labels. 🏷️

* Durable vs. Disposable: The fascinating world of labels that have to survive under a car hood or on a plane wing. 🏎️✈️

* Direct Food Contact: The science and certifications behind those ice cream cone sleeves you take for granted. 🍦

* AI & The Future of MIS: Trent shares their journey of moving from a 40-year-old homegrown system to implementing Serm and exploring AI for forecasting and EDI mapping. 🤖

* The Grand Rapids Scene: Why you need to visit The Elbow Room for the best bar burger in town if you ever find yourself in Michigan. 🍔🍻

Trent’s background in finance and operations brings a unique perspective to the “grit” required to stay independent and innovative in an era of massive consolidation.

Connect with us!

* Guest: Trent Bremer, Grand Rapids Label

* Host: Adam Peek

* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: @thelabelking 👑

Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and leave a review! ✨

I had such a blast recording this episode. It’s not every day you get to talk about a brand that is both deeply committed to the planet and also named… well, Big Dick’s Banana Whiskey.

I’m joined by a repeat guest, the brilliant Manya Rubinstein, CEO of Isco Spirits and Providence Distilling. If you missed our first conversation back in 2024, go check out Episode 295. But today, we’re talking about Isco’s “naughty little sibling” brand.

🎧 Episode Summary

Manya joins me from Rhode Island to pull the curtain back on one of the most playful (and provocative) launches in the spirits world. We talk about how Big Dick’s went from a riff-session joke to a high-quality, real-ingredient bourbon that’s taking over the golf courses and bars of New England.

We dive into the “dualism” of running a serious, sustainability-focused company like Isco while also making room for a brand that just wants to make people laugh. From “fruit-style” stickers on real bananas to the challenges of shipping alcohol to Utah, this episode is a reminder that business is better when you don’t take yourself too seriously.

🔥 Key Takeaways

* Humor as Community Building: Why a “naughty” brand name is actually a great way to build community and spark joy in a serious world.

* The “Short-Circuit” Quality: Even with a funny name, the product comes first. Manya explains why using real, less-processed ingredients makes a “silly” drink taste incredible.

* The Americana Aesthetic: A look at the 1950s Americana branding and the creative collaboration with designer Kiki Schulo.

* Marketing Outside the Box: How they are using everything from 6-inch banana stickers to QR codes to drive brand engagement.

🍌 The Product Breakdown

* The Liquid: A banana-flavored bourbon whiskey that is “silly delicious” and smooth enough to drink straight or in an Old Fashioned.

* The Sizes: We look at the 100ml “nip” and the upcoming 1-liter bar launch.

* The Laugh Factor: The power of pulling a bottle of “Big Dick’s” out of your pocket on the 9th hole.

🔗 Connect with Manya and Big Dick’s

* Manya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manyakay/

* Website: www.bigdicksbanana.com

* Instagram: @bigdicksbanana

Are you a “The Label King” regular? Make sure to follow me on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek and catch the highlights on TikTok @thelabelking.

Note from Adam - This episode was prerecorded on January 26, 2026 as noted with the conversation about the snow storm. A lot as happened in the Middle East since this recording. There are some very powerful segments like this one about the importance Benita places on bridging cultural and political differences around the table:

Enjoy the episode!

🧀 Beyond the Dieline Ep. 2: From Pharma Sales to Syrian Cheese Pioneer

What happens when a global pandemic shuts down your career in pharmaceutical sales? If you’re Benita Kasbo, you don’t just pivot—you preserve a culture.

In this episode of Beyond the Dieline, Tom Seymour sits down with the founder of Kasbo’s Market to discuss the “grit” required to introduce an entirely new category to the American dairy aisle.

💡 The Big Takeaways:

* The Power of the Pivot: Benita moved from a 15-year career in pharma to launching a CPG brand during the 2020 lockdowns.

* The Secret Ingredient: Ever heard of Mahlab? It’s a spice made from the pits of St. Lucy cherry trees, giving Syrian cheese its nutty, aromatic signature. Benita is currently working with Cornell University to see if these trees can be grown right here in New York.

* Retail Reality Check: Benita shares why being “your own biggest fan” is a requirement, not an option, when you’re pitching to buyers who have never heard of your product category.

* The “Chobani” Blueprint: Just as Hamdi Ulukaya transformed the yogurt aisle with Greek yogurt, Benita is on a mission to move Middle Eastern cuisine beyond the “Mediterranean” label and into its own authentic spotlight.

🕒 Key Moments:

* [04:45] – The transition from sampling medicine to sampling cheese.

* [09:20] – What exactly is Mahlab, and why is it a game-changer for flavor profiles?

* [22:15] – The “9 No’s for every 1 Yes” mentality in CPG sales.

* [38:40] – Finding a spice supplier in Lebanon via TikTok (yes, really!).

It was a blast having the “MIS King” himself, Esteban Garcia from CERM, in the studio! We dove deep into the belly of the beast: MIS implementation. If you’ve ever switched software, you know it’s not just “plug and play”—it’s a journey.

Here are the highlights and key takeaways from our conversation:

🎙️ Key Takeaways from the CERM On-Site Session

* Why CERM? It wasn’t about the sales pitch. It was about the roadmap. Most fast-growing, successful label companies in the US are using CERM, and their testimonials spoke louder than any brochure.

* The “Why” Matters: Implementing a new system is hard. Esteban was transparent from day one that it would take longer than I thought—and he was right! But understanding the “why”—having a single source of truth for estimating, production, and scheduling—makes the heavy lift worth it.

* Automation vs. “People-ing”: We want computers to compute so people can people. By automating invoicing, pre-press, and material tracking, we free up our team to focus on complex decision-making and interpersonal communication—the things humans are actually good at.

* The Power of On-Site Support: Shoutout to Dean from CERM. Having an expert physically in the building to help “break things” now so we can fix them before they matter is a game-changer. It compresses 8 weeks of back-and-forth emails into one productive week.

* Fall in Love with the Problem: My dad always told me: “Fall in love with your customer’s problems, not your company’s solutions.” That’s the driving force at Label King—using CERM to solve real-world bottlenecks like lead times and data transparency.

🔗 Connect with the Guest

* Esteban Garcia: LinkedIn Profile

* CERM: www.cerm.net

👑 Connect with The Label King

* LinkedIn: Adam Peek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

* Email: apeek@thelabelking.com

It was a total blast recording this episode with Evelio Mattos and the incredible founders of Perro Verde Mezcal, Juan Santiago Rodriguez and Mariana Carvajal.

This wasn’t just a conversation about spirits; it was a masterclass in how brand story, heritage, and “un-compromised” design come together to create something truly rare—or as they say in Spanish, a Perro Verde.

🎧 Episode Summary

In our first-ever bilingual episode, we bridge the gap between the traditional palenques of Oaxaca and the luxury spirit market in the U.S. Juan and Mariana share their journey from the worlds of CPG and high fashion to the mountains of Mexico, where they discovered a 120-year-old family legacy and decided to bring a smoother, more approachable mezcal to the world.

We dive deep into the tension between “rustic” tradition and “pristine” production, and how every single element of their packaging—from the 3D-printed glass to the raw wood stoppers—was a conscious decision to respect the planet while honoring the liquid inside.

🚀 Key Takeaways

* The Meaning of Perro Verde: Why being a “Green Dog” is the ultimate compliment for a unique brand.

* Design Without Compromise: Mariana’s journey in creating luxury packaging that remains sustainable and “short-circuit” produced entirely in Mexico.

* The “Rustic” vs. “Premium” Balance: How Perro Verde uses innovation in distillation to create a smooth sipping experience without losing the smoky heart of traditional mezcal.

* The Power of Narrative: Why packaging is the primary storyteller for a brand before the bottle is even opened.

📦 Packaging Highlights

* Tactile Storytelling: The debossed logos and unique textures on the rigid board box.

* Innovation in Glass: A look at the 3D-printed branding directly on the bottle—eliminating labels and adding a premium, permanent feel.

* The Scent of Tradition: Evelio’s obsession with the “charred wood” aroma of the raw stopper (seriously, he wants to wear it as a fragrance).

🔗 Connect with Perro Verde

* Website: www.perroverdemezcal.com

* Instagram: @perroverdemezcal

Love this episode? If you’re a packaging nerd or a brand builder, make sure to follow me on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek and catch the highlights on TikTok @thelabelking.

Hey, packaging fam! Adam Peek!

I just had a total “fanboy” moment listening back to this conversation between my good friend Tom Seymour and the absolute powerhouse that is Jessica Kwong. If you aren’t following Jessica yet, fix that immediately. She’s a Cornell food scientist turned founder who is literally redefining what’s possible in the CPG space with Jack & Friends Jerky and Moka Energy.

Tom and Jessica go deep on the “behind the scenes” of the founder journey—the stuff that isn’t always pretty but is totally necessary.

Check out the show notes below for the highlights!

Episode Highlights: Beyond the Dieline with Jessica Kwong

The Origin Story: From Food Science to Founder

Jessica didn’t just wake up and decide to make jerky. Her journey started at Cornell University, where she led product development teams and entered national competitions. The inspiration for Jack & Friends actually came from a personal place: her father developed severe food allergies later in life.

“I saw firsthand how difficult it was for him to essentially upend his whole lifestyle... I wanted to make his life easier and find a solution for him.” — Jessica Kwong

The “Unfiltered” Founder Reality

One of the most refreshing parts of this episode is the honesty about the early days. Jessica talks about:

* The 3 AM Kitchen Shifts: Working the most affordable (and most exhausting) shifts in commercial kitchens to bootstrap the brand.

* DIY Design Woes: Designing her first packaging in Photoshop, only to realize (at 2 AM!) that professional packaging requires vector artwork in Illustrator.

* The NYT “High-Low”: Getting featured in the New York Times was a massive win, but it also meant hand-packing orders for four straight weeks to meet the demand.

Packaging & Partnerships: The Secret Sauce

As a packaging guy, I loved hearing Jessica talk about her refresh with Wagon Design Studio. She emphasizes the importance of custom-printed packaging from the start.

* Pro Tip: Don’t be the “most expensive label applicator” by doing it all yourself. Custom printing looks more professional and saves you time to work on your business, not in it.

* The Power of “My Bad”: In manufacturing, things will go wrong. Jessica and Tom discuss how the best partners are the ones who own their mistakes and work to fix them immediately, rather than “ducking and covering”.

What’s Next? Moka Energy

Jessica isn’t stopping at jerky. She’s also a co-founder of Moka Energy, applying everything she learned from Jack & Friends to a new category. It’s a testament to the power of a “village” of proven operators coming together to build something great.

Connect with Jessica & Tom

* Jack & Friends: jackandfriendsjerky.com

* Moka Energy: mokaenergy.com

* Tom Seymour: Follow him on LinkedIn for more Beyond the Dieline episodes!

* Jessica Kwon: Connect on LinkedIn

Want more content like this? Make sure you’re following me on LinkedIn and over on TikTok @thelabelking.

🎙️ Show Notes: The “Prepackaged” Truth Behind the MCC Bankruptcy

What is going on, everybody! Welcome back to the People of Packaging. Today, we’re digging into the weeds of one of the biggest stories in the industry right now: the Multi-Color Corporation (MCC) Chapter 11 filing.

Last week, I made a post that stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest. I got a lot of “Adam, you didn’t do your research” comments regarding what a “prepackaged” bankruptcy actually is. Well, friends, I did the research. I went through the 241-page court filing on my own and used AI to help as well. Both resources are listed below.

In this episode, we’re breaking down the macroeconomics, the management “Project Optimus” strategy, and the real reason why the global leader in prime labels is currently navigating a restructuring.

I state this in the episode, I 100% THINK OUR INDUSTRY IS BETTER WITH A SOLID AND GROWING MCC. The people at the company are great (at least the one’s I know) and we are better when the big companies are thriving. Period. Full Stop.

🕒 Key Timestamps:

* 00:00 – Welcome to the show! Big week with the launch of “Beyond the Dieline” with Tom Seymour.

* 02:30 – Addressing the comments: What exactly is a “Prepackaged” Chapter 11? (hint, it’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy…the same thing essentially)

* 05:00 – The Data: Breaking down the 241-page filing from Garrett Gabel (Chief Restructuring Officer).

* 10:15 – Macroeconomics: Inflation, raw material constraints, and the “COVID boom” hangover.

* 18:00 – Project Optimus: MCC’s plan to fix operational inefficiencies and bolster customer loyalty.

* 25:40 – The Debt Problem: Converting $4 billion in debt to equity.

* 35:00 – Advice for Customers: Why you need to know your vendors’ financial health.

📝 Key Takeaways:

* It’s Not Just “Business as Usual”: Despite the rhetoric, having a Chief Restructuring Officer means significant changes are happening internally.

* The Revenue Drop: MCC saw a 14% decrease in revenue from 2022 through year-end 2025.

* Project Optimus: A holistic transformation plan intended to fix metrics like OTIF (On-Time In-Full), which had dropped significantly.

* Customer Attrition: The long onboarding cycles in prime labels (12-24 months) mean that once you lose a customer, it takes a long time to get them back.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

* Official Court Filing: Download the full PDF here.

* Case Summary: Detailed breakdown via Bondoro.com.

* Connect with Adam: www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* Follow on TikTok: @thelabelking

People of Packaging Podcast: Rooting Your Sales Journey in Truth

In this episode, host Adam Peek takes us on a deep dive into his new book, Sales Exegesis: A Pastor’s Journey into Packaging Sales. Drawing from his unique background as a pastor and his decade-plus career in the packaging industry, Adam explores why so many sales professionals feel disconnected from their work and how to find dignity and integrity in the sales process.

Key Discussion Points:

* The Dignity of Sales: Adam discusses how the “manipulative salesperson” stereotype has stripped the dignity from the profession. He shares his passion for helping others rediscover that dignity and find wholeness in their roles.

* Integration of Self: Learn how Adam bridged the gap between his personal life as a father and pastor and his professional life in sales, finding that he could be his whole self in every environment.

* Exegesis vs. Eisegesis in Sales: * Eisegesis: Sales driven by emotional fear and subjective assumptions (e.g., “They won’t want to talk to me” or “Our prices are too high”).

* Exegesis: Sales rooted in objective truth and observable data. Adam explains the importance of starting with facts about the prospect and their business before making interpretations.

* The Power of Objective Truth: Discover a practical process for gathering “observable facts” about your prospects to build a solid foundation for your sales strategy, free from “head trash” and self-defeating talk.

Memorable Quotes:

“Integrity comes from the word ‘integer,’ which means to be whole. I wanted to be whole in my job—to bring my full self as a father, husband, and pastor into my sales work.”

“When you root your sales process in objective truth rather than emotional fear, you’re on a much firmer path to success.”

Resources Mentioned:

* Buy the Book: www.salesexegesis.com

* Connect with Adam Peek on LinkedIn: Adam Peek

* Learn more about Label King: www.labelking.com

Guest: Tom Seymour, CPP, Business Development and Marketing Manager at Bison Bag & Founder of Moka Energy

Host: Adam Peek

Episode Overview

In this intro to Tom Seymour, new host of the “Beyond the Die Line” series, Adam Peek sits down with Tom Seymour to discuss the human side of the packaging industry. Tom shares his journey from a “C-student” football player to a certified packaging professional, his philosophy on servant leadership, and the exciting launch of his new venture, Moka Energy.

Key Takeaways

* The Power of Partnership: Tom emphasizes that 75% of his day involves solving problems that have nothing to do with packaging. By focusing on the total supply chain and being a true partner, the packaging opportunities naturally follow.

* Servant Leadership: The core of Tom’s career is a love for people and problem-solving. He discusses the “law of the universe”—that doing good things for others without expectation leads to long-term success.

* The Science of Packaging: Beyond the business relationships, Tom nerdily dives into the “polymer science” behind flexible packaging, explaining why different foods require specific barrier levels and respiration rates.

* Material Agnosticism: A balanced look at the sustainability debate (Paper vs. Plastic) and the importance of using data and science rather than public opinion to make environmental decisions.

* Entrepreneurial Spirit: Tom details his 2-year journey to launch Moka Energy, a “portable cup of coffee” in the form of a whole-bean coffee bar.

Featured in this Episode

* Bison Bag: A family-based flexible packaging converter located in the Buffalo, NY area.

* Moka Energy: Tom’s new company featuring clean-label, vegan, and gluten-free coffee bars.

* IoPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals): Where Tom and Adam first connected.

* SUNY Brockport: Tom’s alma mater and the place where he transformed his academic career.

Links & Resources

* Visit Moka Energy: www.mokaenergy.com

* Connect with Tom Seymour on LinkedIn: Tom Seymour, CPP

* Bison Bag Official Site: www.bisonbag.com

Notable Quotes

“Our motto is: Your success is our success. But that’s not just based on packaging.” — Tom Seymour

“Time is socialist. Everybody has the same amount... it’s about who can lean into the value of that time.” — Adam Peek

The People of Packaging: How Wims! is Changing the Game

In this episode of The People of Packaging, host Adam Peek sits down with Lauren Miller, co-founder of Wims!, to discuss their innovative approach to beverage packaging and the cannabis industry. Lauren shares the fascinating story of Wims!, from its family roots in North Carolina to its unique portable packaging solution.

One note, they discuss an amazing Dry January advent calendar since this was recorded in November…it’s not too late to get one! www.wims.world

Inside the Episode:

* The Origins of Wims!: Wims! is a family-owned business co-founded by Lauren and her father, Ken. The journey began in 2016 with a passion for CBD and industrial hemp farming in rural North Carolina.

* The Shift to THC Beverages: During the pandemic, Lauren discovered the appeal of low-dose THC seltzers as an alternative to alcohol, which offered relaxation without the morning-after hangover.

* A Portable Solution: Recognizing the inconvenience of traditional canned beverages for on-the-go social situations, Lauren and her father developed a hyper-portable THC liquid concentrate.

* Innovative Packaging: Wims! features a unique “Snap, Squeeze, Stir” packet. This single-use, pre-portioned concentrate can be easily snapped and mixed into any drink, providing a seamless and discreet way to enjoy low-dose THC.

* The Wims! Experience: The product’s design focuses on user experience and social acceptability, offering a consistent and manageable dosage that complements existing drinking habits.

* Sustainability and Future Outlook: Lauren discusses the industry’s shift toward more sustainable practices, such as reducing the environmental impact of shipping liquid-heavy beverages.

Connect with Wims!:

Visit their website at wims.world to learn more and explore their current product offerings, including variety packs and their festive advent-style calendar for dry January!

🍪 Episode Highlights: From Dorm Room to the “Diner-Retro” Shelf

Sabrina Clebnik isn’t just baking brownies; she’s re-engineering the entire consumer experience in the cannabis space. In this episode, we dive into how she turned a college pivot into Clebby’s, a brand that’s solving the two biggest headaches in edibles: predictability and shelf-life.

🛠 The “A-Ha” Moment: The Kit Strategy

Sabrina realized that shipping fresh-baked edibles is a logistical nightmare (mold, staleness, regulations—oh my!). Her solution? Don’t ship the brownie; ship the kit.

* The Secret Sauce: By separating the non-infused mix from the infused oil, Clebby’s bypasses the “shelf-stable edible” taste problem.

📦 Packaging Nerd-Out: High Intention, High Style

We spend a lot of time on the look because Sabrina didn’t just grab stock bottles and slap a label on them.

* Modern Retro: The design is inspired by 1950s neon diners. Note the “three light” lines that carry through from the bottle neck to the box.

* The Square Bottle: Chosen intentionally for premium shelf presence and to make applying compliance labels easier for her team. (Flat surfaces = happy production lines!)

* The “Glue Flap” Innovation: Sabrina showed off a custom corrugated insert with a built-in “arm” that locks the glass bottle into place, ensuring it survives the USPS “kick test.”

🎓 Educating the “Canna-Curious”

Packaging isn’t just a container; it’s a teacher.

* Clebby’s uses QR codes prominently to link users to a Dosage Calculator.

* Transparency over everything: Sabrina advocates for over-compliance, providing more warnings and lab-test access than required to build trust with a skeptical consumer.

Hey everybody! Welcome back to another rad-tastic episode of the People of Packaging podcast. Today, I’m sitting down with Jamie Lo, the co-founder and CEO of Laibl.

We’re diving deep into the massive “chasm” that exists between legacy packaging manufacturers and the modern brands who need them. If you’ve ever felt like procurement is a slow-moving dinosaur, this episode is for you. Jamie is building a platform that doesn’t just match brands with suppliers—it uses AI to fix the broken behaviors that have been holding our industry back for decades.

🎧 In this episode, we talk about:

* The Procurement Pain Point: Why traditional sourcing (think: trade show handshakes and “Contact Us” forms) is high-risk and slow.

* The “Digital Mindset”: It’s not just about buying a digital press; it’s about mirroring the B2C buying habits we use in our everyday lives.

* Forced Innovation: How government regulations (EPR, tariffs, etc.) and consumer inflation are creating a “perfect storm” that forces brands to diversify their supply chains.

* Laibl in Action: A live demo of how AI matches brands with over 4,000 pre-vetted North American suppliers in minutes, not months.

* Outcome as a Service: Why Jamie’s model of only getting paid when a transaction happens is a game-changer for building trust in the packaging community.

🔗 Connect with Jamie and Laibl:

* Website: laibl.co

* LinkedIn: Jamie Lo

🚀 Join the Community:

If you’re a brand looking for the fastest way to source packaging, or a supplier ready to prove your excellence, go check out Laibl. And as always, let’s keep that same energy—packaging is the front line of your brand, so let’s treat it that way!

Before we get to the show notes, please go pick up a copy of my new book, Sales Exegesis, available on paperback and Kindle TODAY!

🤖 AI, “Augmented Intuition,” and the Future of Packaging w/ Xavier Joseph

Hello everybody! Welcome to another episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, coming to you live from the Label Kingdom! 🦆👑

Today, we are doing something a little different. Instead of just talking shop, we are tackling the Top Questions Asked on Google about AI and Packaging.

To help me answer these, I’m joined by a true heavyweight in the industry: Xavier Joseph, the VP of Global Marketing, Innovation, and Business Development at Aptar Beauty. Xavier joins us from just outside of Paris, bringing over 25 years of experience from giants like L’Oréal and Beiersdorf (Nivea).

We dive deep into how Artificial Intelligence is shifting the industry from a “world of constraints” to a “world of possibilities.” Plus, we discuss why my Duolingo French lessons failed miserably.

🎧 In This Episode, We Discuss:

* Sustainability via Simulation: How AI is simulating raw material interactions to save time, reduce physical waste, and predict mechanical properties before a single mold is cast.

* “Augmented Intuition”: Xavier’s brilliant concept of balancing AI’s generative power with human sensitivity and creativity. AI should be part of the brainstorming team, not the leader of it.

* The Engine vs. The Shell: How Aptar standardizes the “engine” (the pump mechanics) while using generative AI to endlessly customize the “shell” (the outer aesthetics) for brands.

* The Risks of AI: Why “Garbage In, Garbage Out” applies to packaging data, and the massive risk of IP leakage when using public AI models for confidential product launches.

* De-Risking the Launch: How Aptar uses AI models to predict pump and formula compatibility (viscosity, rheology) to cut down physical testing from 10 pumps to 2.

💡 Quotable Moments:

* “I wish I would have known that packaging is a world of possibilities instead of a world of constraints.” — Xavier Joseph

* “Make AI agents part of the brainstorming team, but don’t let them take control of the whole consumer experience.” — Xavier Joseph

* “Imagine 3D printing a bottle based on the contour of a user’s face... that’s where AI meets customization.” — Adam Peek

🔗 Connect & Learn More:

* Connect with Xavier on LinkedIn: Xavier Joseph

* Check out Aptar Beauty: www.aptar.com

* Connect with Adam (The Label King): www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* Follow me on TikTok: @thelabelking

If you enjoyed this episode, please hit subscribe and leave us a review! And remember to keep your AI protected and your intuition augmented!

What’s up, everybody! Today is a huge day, December 5, 2025. I’m recording and releasing this on the exact same day because I just couldn’t wait to share the news: my new book, Sales Exegesis: A Pastor’s Journey into Packaging Sales, is officially out!

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how this book actually came to be. I’m a verbal processor (you guys know I talk better than I type), so I’m sharing the unique process I used to get these thoughts out of my head and onto paper involving 14 years of LinkedIn content, voice memos during my commute to Label King, and training an AI ghostwriter to help structure my “pastor brain” for a sales world.

We’re talking about building your sales strategy (and life!) on a foundation of observable, objective truth, not lies. Whether you’re in packaging, printing, or just trying to navigate life and parenting, this process of Observation, Interpretation, Correlation, and Application is for you.

Grab a copy, leave a review, and let’s get real about sales.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

* What is Exegesis? Breaking down the sermon-prep process I used as a pastor and how it applies perfectly to modern sales (and even parenting!).

* Truth Over Hype: Why we need to stop lying to ourselves and our prospects, and start operating from a foundation of observable facts.

* The “AI Ghostwriter” Method: How I used voice memos during my 30-minute commute and decades of social content to write a book without sitting at a keyboard for months.

* The Cover Story: The hidden meaning behind the Vanilla Ice (”Ice-egesis”) vs. DMX (”X-egesis”) graphics on the cover.

* Who is this for? It’s not just a sales manual; it’s a tangible guide for anyone looking to build credibility and solve problems authentically.

Mentioned Resources:

* Book: Sales Exegesis: A Pastor’s Journey into Packaging Sales (Available on Amazon in Kindle & Print!)

* Company: Label King

Connect with Adam:

* LinkedIn: Adam Peek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

* Podcast: People of Packaging

If you pick up a copy, it would mean the world to me if you left a review. Let me know what you think!

Welcome back to the mic, Adam Peek here! That was a fantastic chat with Clara and Benoît from Lactips. They’re doing some seriously innovative stuff over in France, tackling the microplastics problem head-on with a bio-based, water-soluble, and fully biodegradable material made from milk protein.

If you’re in the packaging space, this is the kind of game-changing innovation you need to be paying attention to. It hits the trifecta: Performance, Planet, and Policy.

Here’s a breakdown of what we discussed and why Lactips is a company to watch:

🎙️ Episode Highlight: Raging Against the Microplastic Machine with Lactips

Clara and Benoît joined us from the Southeast of France to dive into their mission to clean up the packaging industry. They’re not just creating a ‘better’ plastic—they’re offering a natural, protein-based alternative that completely dissolves and leaves behind zero microplastics.

🥛 The Science Behind the Solution

* The Origin Story: Lactips was founded by Frédéric Prochazka, a researcher who investigated the potential of bio-based materials. He discovered that Casein, one of the main milk proteins, was an ideal base.

* The Raw Material: They produce a raw material (pellets) that manufacturers can use to create films, coatings, and small injection-molded parts.

* The Key Differentiator: Water-Solubility. This isn’t just “biodegradable” in a perfect industrial composter. Their material is fully biodegradable in all environments and, crucially, is water-soluble.

♻️ Solving Real Packaging Problems

* Food Contact: This material is food-contact safe, providing both grease barrier and sealability to paper products.

* The Cookie Box Problem: Think about that plastic film on a typical cookie box—or worse, a box where the fat seeps right through! Lactips offers a plastic-free barrier solution for dry and fatty products (like those beloved cookies, cereal bars, or even teabags).

* Improving Recycling: Since the material dissolves during the re-pulping phase of paper recycling, it acts as a recycling facilitator, leading to significantly higher fiber recovery compared to traditional polyethylenes (PE). This makes the end product fully recyclable in the paper stream.

🌍 The Global Push for Sustainable Materials

* Regulations are Driving Change: We discussed how regulations like the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive and the upcoming PPWR in the EU are creating an economic incentive for brands to seek alternatives to plastic.

* Cost & Competition: While Lactips might be a higher-cost material than traditional plastics initially, new taxes and mandates (like the UK Plastics Tax or various EPR laws) will increasingly create a cost-competitive delta, making advanced solutions like Lactips the smart business choice.

* Collective Awareness: Consumer and industry knowledge about microplastic pollution is at an all-time high, pushing brands toward visibly and verifiably sustainable solutions.

💡 Actionable Takeaways for the #PeopleOfPackaging

* Stop Fighting the Fat, Start Dissolving the Plastic: If you’re designing packaging for dry/fatty food products and are struggling with plastic barriers for grease/seal, look into water-soluble protein-based solutions like Lactips.

* Follow the Regulations: What starts in the EU often comes to the US. Proactively investing in non-plastic alternatives now will help you future-proof your product against incoming EPR mandates and plastics taxes, potentially turning a regulatory cost into a competitive marketing advantage.

* Connect with the Innovators: The Lactips team is ready to talk about your specific challenges.

🔗 How to Connect with Lactips

* Website: Head over to www.lactips.com and hit the “Contact” form—they are a small team and promise a quick response!

* LinkedIn: Search for Lactips and give them a follow. You can also connect directly with Clara and Benoît.

Thanks again to Clara and Benoît for sharing their incredible vision and technology. Let’s keep working to make the packaging world cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable!

I’m Adam Peek, and you’ve been listening to the People of Packaging Podcast.

🎙️ About the Episode

In this must-listen episode, The Label King, Adam Peek, welcomes Tom Stone, Senior Packaging Development Controller at Bakkavor, one of the world’s largest fresh prepared food manufacturers.

The conversation pivots from the emotional narrative of sustainability to the objective data required for real-world change. Tom shares insights from the UK, which is ahead of the curve on legislation like the Plastics Tax and EPR, and explains how global businesses are navigating the challenges of food waste, material science, and future-proofing their brands against constantly changing regulations.

This is critical listening for anyone in the CPG, fresh food, or packaging development industries, especially those who need to understand how UK/EU lessons apply to the evolving US market.

🔑 Key Takeaways You Will Learn

* The Big Picture on Food Waste: Why food spoilage is arguably a greater environmental problem than many packaging choices, and how the industry must balance consumer demands with the reality of shelf-life extension.

* UK’s Legislative Head Start: A breakdown of the impact of the UK’s Plastic Tax and the upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, and how this is forcing a methodological, data-driven approach to packaging development.

* The Future-Proofing Strategy: How Bakkavor uses a holistic assessment process—analyzing material, production, transit, and disposal—to create packaging formats that are aesthetically pleasing without compromising recyclability or increasing food waste.

* Data Over Dogma: Why packaging developers must be brutally honest and transparent about the pros and cons of any material switch to ensure the business makes a decision based on objective data, not just public opinion.

* US Market Application: How global learning can be applied to the US market, where EPR is taking hold state-by-state, and why this is an opportunity to elevate the aesthetics of US retail packaging.

🔗 Connect With Our Guest

Tom Stone

* LinkedIn: Link

👑 Connect With Your Host

Adam Peek

* LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adampeek

* TikTok: @thelabelking

DEAL: If you’re looking for custom socks for your company, event, or sports team, go to hippyfeet.com, fill out the custom inquiry form, and mention the LABEL KING podcast. Michael will give you 15% OFF your first custom order! www.hippyfeet.com

🎙️ From a Traumatic Brain Injury to a Brand That Changes Lives: The Hippy Feet Story with Michael Mader

I am SO fired up for this episode. This is why I do this podcast.

I’m talking to Michael Mader, the founder of Hippy Feet. I first connected with Michael when I needed custom socks for the Label King grand opening, and his team absolutely crushed it. He, the founder, jumped on a call with me personally to make it happen.

But the story behind why this company exists... man, it’s on another level.

This isn’t just some slick marketing. Michael’s “why” is 100% real. We get into the whole thing, from his life-changing accident to the sourcing struggles of finding American-made manufacturers, and why a “buy one, give one” model wasn’t enough.

Find the Brand:

* Website: hippyfeet.com

* The Custom Sock Form: hippyfeet.com/pages/custom-socks-and-knitwear

💥 The “Why”: A Support System in Sock Form

This is the core of the whole conversation. This is not a brand built to just sell socks; it’s a brand built to be the support system that so many people lack.

* The Accident: During his senior year of college, Michael suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a skateboarding accident. He fractured his orbital bone and his skull, leaving him bedridden for a month.

* The Support System: His friends and family rallied. They paid his rent, bought his groceries, and literally got him back on his feet.

* The “Aha!” Moment: Michael realized that without that support system, homelessness would have been his “most likely outcome”. He felt this was incredibly unfair and wanted to build a business that could act as that support system for others.

📈 The Mission & The Pivot (This is so smart)

I love this part. Michael didn’t just stick with an easy, marketable mission. He listened and adapted to make a real-world difference.

* Phase 1 (2016): The company launched with a “buy one, give one” sock donation model, similar to Toms or Bombas.

* The Problem: While doing street outreach, Michael realized he was giving socks to the same people every week. He was treating a symptom, not the underlying cause. As he says, “You can give somebody... millions of pairs of socks, and unfortunately, they are not going to be able to use that as a tool to get out of homelessness.”

* Phase 2 (2018): They pivoted to an employment program. They hired homeless youth (ages 16-24) to run their entire warehouse—fulfillment, packaging, screen printing, embroidery, all of it.

* Phase 3 (2022): They analyzed the program and found that less than 7% of the youth were finding self-sufficiency. Why? Because they were bouncing between 5-6 different nonprofits to get all their needs met (a job here, housing there, mental health counseling somewhere else).

* The Current Mission: Today, Hippy Feet donates 50% of its profits to “one-stop-shop” charities that provide all those services—housing, healthcare, education, and employment—under one roof.

* The Impact: They’ve generated over $200,000 in total impact (through wages and donations) since 2016. Let’s go!

📦 The Product & Packaging Angle

We get into the fact that you can have the greatest mission in the world, but if your product sucks, you’re not going to be in business long.

* “Buy Once, Cry Once”: Michael lives by this. He’s passionate about making high-quality products that are meant to last, not cheap junk that ends up in a landfill.

* Real Sustainability: It’s not just about the process; it’s about the lifespan. A product that falls apart in a year isn’t sustainable, no matter what it’s made of.

* American-Made Sourcing: This was a non-negotiable. Michael tells a wild story about trying to find a US manufacturer. The industry is built for massive accounts (think Walmart or the US Military) that don’t want to stop production for a college kid with a startup.

* The Banging-on-the-Door Strategy: After getting hung up on 30+ times, he bought a plane ticket, flew to North Carolina, showed up at a mill, and basically said, “I am not leaving until you make my socks.” And it worked. That’s passion.

🔥 DON’T MISS THIS!

Michael is incredibly stoked about their new line of 100% ultrafine Merino wool sweaters sourced from Italy, dropping in November. He’s also (rightfully) obsessed with his Merino wool hiking socks.

And he gave us a deal. This is unreal.

DEAL: If you’re looking for custom socks for your company, event, or sports team, go to hippyfeet.com, fill out the custom inquiry form, and mention the LABEL KING podcast. Michael will give you 15% OFF your first custom order!

Seriously, go support this brand. This is what it’s all about.

Show Notes: From Kitchen Idea to Paradise in a Can: The Hawaiian Soda Co. Story with Gina Ho!

Man, I am SO stoked for this episode. This is why I do this podcast.

I’m talking with the amazing Gina Ho, who co-founded Hawaiian Soda Co. with her husband, Caesar. And let me tell you, this isn't just another craft soda. The story behind this brand is incredible.

They’re on a mission to bring back the real history of soda in Hawai'i—back when it was made with real fruit juice and natural cane sugar, not the high-fructose "dirty word" we think of today. Their "why" runs deep in the family, and it’s led to this amazing product that is exploding.

We get into the whole journey, from a kitchen idea in 2020 to scaling to the mainland, and OF COURSE, we do a deep dive on the packaging.

Find the Brand:

Website: hawaiiansodaco.com

Instagram: @HawaiianSodaCo

Where to Buy: Check their site, find them at World Market, or get it shipped from HouseofManaUp.com!

🌴 Key Takeaways:

The "Dirty Word": We talked about how "soda" has become a negative term. But Hawaiian Soda Co. is flipping that by going back to the roots—like Gina's husband's family, who used to mix fresh juice with soda water.

Real Ingredients (No, Really): This isn't "hint of fruit." We're talking 40-50% real fruit juice in every can. There's NO added sugar, and it's all-natural and caffeine-free.

The Mission: "Paradise in every sip." They are 100% delivering on this promise.

INSANE Growth: This is wild. They went from that kitchen idea in 2020 to launching with a major retailer in July 2023. In just over two years, they've scaled to over 1,500 doors and 6,000 points of distribution. That is serious speed.

The Pronunciation: Big takeaway for me! I finally learned how to say it correctly: Hah-vy-ee. (Gina was super gracious about my "Aloha" intro... 😅)

📦 Packaging Deep Dive: The Sleek Can Strategy

You know this is my favorite part. I am obsessed with their packaging strategy.

The 12oz Sleek Can: This was 100% intentional. Gina said when they looked at the local market, everyone was using the same standard can.

Differentiation > Operation: They chose to make it operationally harder on themselves (they have to bring the sleek cans in from out-of-state) just so they would look completely different on the shelf. That’s how you win.

Sleeves to Print: They started with shrink sleeves (the classic startup move!) and are now big enough to be transitioning to direct-print cans. We love to see that CPG journey.

🔄 The Role Reversal: Gina Interviews Me!

This was awesome. Gina flipped the script and asked me a killer packaging question.

Her Question: "We're thinking about 4-packs and variety packs. What are the things we need to consider for retail?"

My Take:

Start with your Co-Man: Don't design something in a vacuum. Find out what your contract manufacturer can actually run. Paper rings? Auto-bottom boxes? That's your starting point.

The Power of the Box: I’m a huge fan of the rigid 4-pack folding carton. It gives you massive brand real estate.

Stop the Spin!: Most importantly, a box stops the cans from spinning on the shelf. You control the branding, so the customer always sees your logo, not the nutrition panel.

We even brainstormed a wild 4-can-across concept. You’ll have to listen for that!

This was such a fun conversation. Go check out hawaiiansodaco.com, give them a follow, and go try this soda.

Let's goooo!

Big thanks to Matthew Allen from NSF for joining the show as we talk about certifications and what they mean for us in packaging!Key Takeaways (The Juicy Stuff):

* The Origins of Safety: NSF started 80 years ago (around the 1940s) out of a need to create scientifically-backed standards for new public consumption—think soda fountains, public swimming pools, and the rise of mass food processing. It all started with simple standards that are now the bedrock of safety regulations.

* Safety & Sustainability Are Linked: This is the core theme. The drive to make packaging lighter (for a smaller transport carbon footprint) immediately challenges the original food safety testing and compliance that was based on thicker, older materials. Every change in packaging material requires re-testing to ensure it’s still safe and effective.

* The Global Compliance Nightmare (and how NSF helps): As supply chains globalize, a product’s packaging has to comply with different regulations and standards in Texas, Germany, and Kuala Lumpur. NSF provides the testing, certification, and advisory services to navigate this complex, ever-changing landscape of national and international standards.

* The Microplastics Connection: NSF’s focus extends to the interaction of materials with food and health, touching on hot topics like microplastics originating from materials like kitchen cutting boards—showing just how deep their mandate goes.

* The Complicated Reality of Compostability: We hit on the difficulty of certifying what is truly “home compostable” for a hobby farmer like Matthew versus what works in a suburban setting. We also discussed the challenge for commercial composting facilities that may not want packaging, even if it’s certified, as it can degrade the quality of their final compost product.

* Why You See the NSF Mark: The NSF logo is a mark of trust—often seen on kitchen equipment, water filters, and food containers—mandated by elevated safety standards in food service and retail to ensure material quality and sanitation.

Guest Info & Call to Action:

* Guest: Matthew Allen, Global Managing Director of Consulting, Training, and Sustainability at NSF (NSF.org).

* Connect: If you’re a food packaging pro, you need to understand the standards that govern your industry. Check out NSF.org and connect with Matthew to keep your compliance game tight.

* P.S. We might have another episode on the future of compostable packaging soon!

Yo, what's good, packaging people? Adam Peek here, and you know how we roll—we're diving deep into the real talk behind building a brand. On this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Jack McNamara and Yash Banthia, the co-founders of Tru Energy Drinks. These guys aren't just making a great-tasting, better-for-you beverage; they're building a brand with a purpose, and their story is a masterclass in hustle and smart business decisions.

From the Dungeon to DrinkTru.com

Jack and Yash's journey is the kind of scrappy startup story you love to hear. We're talking about a a literal dungeon—the basement of a Jiu-Jitsu gym—and a mindset of relentless improvement. We got into the nitty-gritty of their brand's evolution, from the early days of a crazy-expensive, custom-designed shot bottle that customers didn't even understand, to their current sleek, pre-printed cans. It's a prime example of why you can't be afraid to kill your darlings and embrace change, even if it means moving away from your original, most "creative" idea.

The Power of Packaging Evolution

This is where the real value bombs were dropped. We broke down:

* The Cost of Creativity: Why a custom-molded bottle wasn't the right move for them early on, and how tooling costs can crush a new brand's cash flow.

* The Sprint to Scale: The massive leap from a small, local co-packer to a national one, and the significant 35% savings they unlocked by switching from shrink sleeves to pre-printed cans. This is a crucial lesson in understanding your supply chain and the economies of scale.

* Reading the Room (and the Shelf): How a simple redesign, like moving the brand name to the top and adding a clear flavor stripe, can make all the difference in a competitive retail environment. We talked about consumer behavior and why you've got two seconds to communicate what your product is.

Products with a Purpose

One of the coolest things about Tru is their commitment to giving back. I had to call them out for not leading with their charitable contributions—they're just out there doing good because it's the right thing to do. We discussed their partnership with the Trevor Project and how building a brand with a strong mission, even when you're not yet profitable, can be a huge motivator for the team.

Big shout-out to Jack and Yash for their time and their transparency. If you're out there building a CPG brand, trying to figure out your packaging, or just need a dose of entrepreneurial inspiration, this episode is for you.

Check out Tru's full product line at drinktru.com and grab a can or a powder pack to fuel your next big idea. Don't forget to look for them at stores like Market Basket, Wegmans, and H-E-B.

And hey, if you're ever in Salt Lake City, hit up Harmons and tell 'em Adam sent you! And yes, a special shout-out to my parents, Ed and Lydia Peek, and Jack's toddler. Thanks for listening, everyone!

Yo! What is going on, everybody! Short quick episode here…

I am absolutely JACKED for this episode. I'm letting you in on one of the biggest decisions we've made for our new label printing business and announcing a huge trip.

Next week, I'm heading to Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona, Spain!

But here's the twist: I'm not primarily going as "The Label King" content creator. I'm going as a business owner and a partner. I'll be spending my time at the CERM booth, and in this episode, I break down exactly why.

Choosing the software backbone for your company—the MIS system—is one of the most critical decisions you can make. It's the central nervous system that dictates how everything flows. Get it wrong, and you're dead in the water. Get it right, and you create a small, powerful advantage that can change the game.

Tune in to hear:

* The massive mistake private equity-backed companies make with their MIS after an acquisition.

* Why "winning on the margins" is the only thing that matters in business (shoutout to my buddy Rob Jeppsen for the wisdom).

* How my connection to CERM goes back to my very first days in the label industry.

* Why we're choosing to partner with a "tech-first" company in a not-so-sexy industry.

* My big goal: Creating 50+ high-quality jobs right here in our Utah community and how the right technology partner makes that possible.

This isn't just a software choice; it's a foundational piece of our strategy to build a legacy.

Find Me at Labelexpo Europe!

* Who: Me and the CERM team

* Where: Hall 3, Exhibition Stand G43

* When: Tuesday & Wednesday of the show

Come say hi, ask questions, and let's talk about the future of the label industry.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

* CERM: Learn more about their game-changing MIS system at cerm.net. If you're looking at your own system, you HAVE to check them out.

* Labelexpo Europe: The biggest label show on the planet.

Let's go! 🚀

What's up, People of Packaging!

On this episode, we dive into a corner of the packaging world that most people never see, but it impacts millions of lives every single day: medical device and pharma packaging. I'm joined by Keith E. Smith, President of Vonco Products, and we get into the nitty-gritty of how flexible packaging is evolving in one of the most highly regulated industries out there.

We talk about everything from the challenges of sterilizing materials to the massive push to get away from PVC. And you know me, I love a good sustainability story. Keith drops some serious knowledge about Vonco's game-changing tech that's helping companies innovate without having to replace millions of dollars in equipment. It’s a huge deal!

What We Covered 📦

* The Hidden World of Medical Packaging: We break down the difference between a package and a single-use "device" (like an IV bag) in the eyes of the FDA.

* The Big PVC Problem: Why has PVC been the standard for so long in things like blood bags, and what are the sustainability challenges that are forcing a change?

* Welding Wizardry: Keith explains the difference between RF (radio frequency) welding and heat welding and how Vonco developed a proprietary way to use traditional RF equipment for modern materials like polypropylene. This is a game-changer, folks!

* Sustainability & Supply Chains: We discuss how tariffs on materials like foil and the push for EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) are driving innovation toward more sustainable, cost-effective packaging solutions.

* The Future is Refills: We touch on the rise of refill pouches and concentrates for consumer goods as a way to drastically reduce plastic waste and shipping emissions.

This was one of those conversations that reminds me why I love this industry so much. The innovation happening behind the scenes is just incredible. Huge thanks to Keith for coming on and sharing his expertise!

Connect & Learn More 🔗

* Guest Spotlight: Check out the amazing work Keith Smith and his team are doing at Vonco. They are true problem-solvers in the flexible packaging space.

* Website: www.vonco.com

* Connect with Keith: Keith's LinkedIn Profile

* Sponsor Shout-Out: This episode is brought to you by the folks who help make sense of all this complexity.

* Specright: Tired of managing your specs in spreadsheets? Digitize and take control of your product and packaging data. Learn more at www.specright.com.

As always, thanks for taking some time out of your day to listen! Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss a thing.

Guest: Kerry Sanders, Digital Press Guru at EFI

Hosts: Adam Peek, The Label King (@thelabelking on TikTok)

This podcast is sponsored by awesome packaging solutions that get us fired up like Specright!

Get ready to have your mind blown! In this episode, Adam is joined by EFI's Kerry Sanders to unveil a packaging innovation so cool, it's going to change the game. We're talking about the incredible collaboration between EFI and Packsize that brings digital printing and right-sized packaging together in one seamless, on-demand solution.

Adam shows off a box that was designed and printed in minutes—a process that used to take weeks. We dive deep into how the EFI Nozomi press, in partnership with Packsize, is completely disrupting the corrugated packaging industry. This isn't just about making a box; it's about turning every package into a marketing asset, a communication tool, and a brand-building billboard.

Key Takeaways:

* On-Demand Printing is Here: Forget pre-made plates and long lead times. The EFI Nozomi press can create and print a custom box in a matter of minutes, right on the production line.

* Goodbye to Waste: This solution drastically reduces waste by printing on-demand and creating the right-sized box every single time. It's a win for sustainability and your bottom line.

* Your Box is a Billboard: We discuss the game-changing concept of "On-Box Advertising" (OBA). With digital printing, you can instantly create personalized, regionalized, or seasonal campaigns on your packaging—all without extra costs or lead times.

* The Power of Personalization: Variable data printing allows you to add unique names, messages, or even QR codes to each box. Imagine a birthday box that says, "Happy Birthday, [Customer's Name]!" This is how you build a connection with your customers.

* Beyond E-Commerce: The benefits extend far beyond direct-to-consumer. We explore how this technology can be a game-changer for CPGs and brands looking to streamline their repacking processes and reduce manual labor.

A Special Invitation!

Don't miss the full deep-dive! Join Adam, Kerry, and two other industry experts for an exclusive webinar on this groundbreaking technology. They'll be talking more about the insane possibilities for brands, retailers, and 3PLs.

Date: September 3rd, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM EST

Can't make it live? No problem! As long as you register, you'll get access to the recording to watch on your own time. Click here to sign up!

How to Connect:

* Kerry Sanders: Connect with Kerry on LinkedIn or email him at kerry.sanders@efi.com

* Adam Peek: Find Adam on LinkedIn and TikTok (@thelabelking)

* EFI: Learn more about the EFI Nozomi press and their other digital solutions at www.efi.com

* Packsize: Explore Packsize's right-sized packaging solutions at www.packsize.com

This podcast is sponsored by awesome packaging solutions that get us fired up like Specright!

Welcome back to the People of Packaging Podcast! In this exciting episode, Adam Peek, the host and now co-owner of Label King SLC, sits down with the man himself, Robert Parker, the original Label King.

SIGN UP FOR THE GRAND OPENING IN UTAH ON 8/28/25 FROM 11-1

Adam and Robert share the story behind their new partnership and the launch of Label King's second location in Salt Lake City, Utah. They discuss:

* The Power of Consistency: Robert's journey from a young salesman to a seasoned entrepreneur who built a thriving business on a foundation of hard work and dedication.

* A Leap of Faith: The incredible story of how Robert and his wife Kim started the business with two young kids and a vision.

* The Importance of a Great Team: The value of investing in your employees and creating a company culture where everyone wins, from the front office to the production floor.

* Building on a Legacy: Adam shares how he's leveraging Robert's 23 years of experience and established reputation to bring a new level of service and quality to the Utah market.

* A Call to Action for the Community: Adam explains how even a simple request for a quote helps them refine their systems and better serve the industry.

Special Announcement:

Adam and Robert are thrilled to announce the official Grand Opening and Open House for Label King Salt Lake City on August 28th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

They invite everyone in the packaging community to come celebrate this new chapter. There will be giveaways, facility tours, and a chance to meet the team. Join them to see the new operation and connect with other industry professionals!

Click here to RSVP for the Grand Opening event.

Every Wednesday you have a chance to win a CAN WE SOLVE IT? Shirt in partnership with SmartSolve! Join us at 8:30 am MST every M-F for the best packaging content on the internet

Dissolvable Packaging with Dana Prenger

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we sit down with Dana Prenger from SmartSolve to talk about a truly innovative solution to the global packaging waste problem: dissolvable packaging. We're joined by packaging expert Evelio Mattos to dive deep into what SmartSolve is, how it works, and its potential to revolutionize industries from retail to food and beverage. Dana explains the science behind their water-soluble materials, the variety of applications, and the incredible journey from a single-product idea to a full-scale sustainable packaging solution. We discuss the challenges of "greenwashing" in the industry, the importance of real, verifiable sustainability, and the future of packaging where the material simply disappears.

Key Discussion Points:

* The SmartSolve Origin Story: How SmartSolve began with a single water-soluble product and evolved into a wide range of dissolvable packaging solutions.

* The Science of Dissolvability: Dana explains the unique composition of their materials and how they safely dissolve in water without leaving behind harmful microplastics.

* Beyond the Box: We explore the diverse applications of SmartSolve's technology, from retail tags and laundry pods to food packaging and medical supplies.

* The Power of Verification: The conversation tackles the issue of "greenwashing" and why SmartSolve's certified, verifiable sustainability claims are so important for brand trust.

* The Future of Packaging: A look at where SmartSolve is headed, including new material innovations and their vision for a world where packaging doesn't have to be a permanent part of the waste stream.

* A Collaborative Approach: The episode highlights the partnership between SmartSolve and their customers, working together to develop custom solutions that meet specific sustainability goals.

Guest Information:

* Dana Prenger: Dana is a key member of the team at SmartSolve, a company on a mission to combat plastic pollution with their water-soluble, dissolvable packaging materials.

* Evelio Mattos: A well-known expert in the world of packaging design and sustainability, Evelio brings his vast knowledge to the discussion, providing valuable context and insights.

Important Timestamps:

* [0:00] -: Introduction to the guests and the topic of dissolvable packaging.

* [5:15]: Dana shares the founding story of SmartSolve and its mission.

* [12:40]: Discussion on the technical side of the dissolvable material and its safety.

* [25:00]: Evelio and Dana discuss the problem of "greenwashing" and the importance of certified sustainable products.

* [35:30]: The future of SmartSolve and new product development.

Links & Resources:

* SmartSolve Website: https://smartsolve.com/

Call to Action:

If you're a business looking to reduce your environmental footprint, or just a curious individual interested in the future of sustainable products, this episode is a must-listen! Subscribe to our podcast for more conversations with innovators who are changing the world, one dissolvable package at a time. And be sure to check out SmartSolve's website to see their incredible products in action.

In this episode of the People of Packaging podcast, host Adam Peek sits down with Michael Houston, President & CEO of Future Blue Group and Co-founder of Shower Pouch, for an insightful conversation that delves into his extensive career in packaging and his passion for innovative, sustainable solutions.

Michael's Journey: From Corporate Giants to Entrepreneurial Ventures

Michael shares his impressive career trajectory, starting with his time at major CPG companies like Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson, where he gained invaluable experience in packaging R&D and operations. He later transitioned to companies like Beachbody, where he began to focus on helping smaller businesses navigate the complexities of product development and market entry. His experience also includes roles at Unilever, working with beauty brands like Murad, Dermalogica, and Kate Somerville, and contributing to the Honest Company's IPO. This rich background has fueled his current entrepreneurial pursuits.

Introducing Shower Pouch: The On-the-Go Hygiene Solution

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Shower Pouch, a product born from a personal problem statement. Michael recounts how his father, serving in Afghanistan, highlighted the need for a better hygiene solution than just baby wipes. Collaborating with his business partner, Omar Jimenez (a talented chemist), they developed Shower Pouch – a high-quality, durable, and highly absorbent non-woven wipe designed to clean an entire body with just one product. The conversation touches on:

* The Problem: Addressing the need for convenient and effective hygiene solutions for military personnel, hospital patients, and even active individuals on the go.

* The Innovation: The use of a specialized non-woven material that is highly absorbent and durable, allowing for efficient cleaning.

* Sustainability Focus: Shower Pouch is designed as a durable good, emphasizing reusability and minimizing waste. The packaging even suggests washing and repurposing the wipes.

* Convenience: The product can be used on its own or heated for a more comfortable experience.

* Availability: Shower Pouch is available on Amazon Prime and through their website, theshowerpouch.com.

Future Blue Group: Driving Sustainable Packaging for CPG Brands

Michael's consultancy, Future Blue Group, leverages his deep industry knowledge to assist CPG brands in various aspects of packaging. The discussion highlights:

* Key Areas of Focus: Future Blue Group helps brands with cutting-edge technical packaging solutions, cost reduction, enhancing packaging aesthetics, improving customer experience, integrating sustainability principles, optimizing supply chain operations, and accelerating market entry.

* Industry Successes: Michael notes significant success working with brands in the supplement space, where he helps optimize packaging for shelf stability and manufacturability, moving beyond generic stock options. He also finds considerable success in the personal care, masstige, and prestige categories, where he navigates complex material and formulation challenges to ensure both aesthetics and functionality.

* The Importance of Data: Michael emphasizes the critical role of data in making informed packaging decisions. He advocates for a scientific, objective approach to sustainability, starting with verifiable data rather than relying on "greenwashing" or gut feelings. This is where tools like Specright.com and Trayak become invaluable.

Sustainability in Packaging: A Call for Clarity

Michael offers crucial advice for brands tackling sustainability:

* Define Your Sustainability: He stresses the importance of clearly defining what sustainability means for your specific brand – whether it's compostability, recyclability, durability, or a combination. A clear definition allows for quantifiable goals and avoids being "all over the place."

* Embrace Material Science: Understanding the materials you're working with, their manufacturing processes, and their environmental impact is key to making truly sustainable choices.

* Beyond Greenwashing: Move past superficial claims and commit to science-based decisions that genuinely reduce environmental impact, particularly focusing on reducing CO2 emissions.

Connect with Michael Houston:

* LinkedIn: Michael Houston

* Future Blue Group: Find them on LinkedIn

* Shower Pouch: theshowerpouch.com

* Email: michael.houston@futurebluegroup.com

About the Guest(s):

Fred Hart is a prominent figure in the branding and design industry, known for his strategic insights and creative solutions. He is a contributing writer at the Dieline, a strategic advisor for Drum Roll Snacks, and the owner of Hart Brands. Hart is celebrated for his unique approach to branding, focusing on strategy-led design that challenges traditional norms within the consumer packaged goods sector. He is a thought leader who frequently shares his expertise on LinkedIn, where he engages with a community interested in the future of food and beverage branding.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, host Adam Peek sits down with branding expert Fred Hart to explore the dynamic world of food and beverage branding. The conversation unravels the buzzing trends within the industry and how design is shaping consumer choices. Starting with the beverage scene, Fred Hart dives into the rampant "grams gone wild" phenomenon, where protein content is becoming a vocal marketing strategy. He critically examines how this trend is commoditizing products rather than distinguishing brands, sparking a discussion on the balance between highlighting product benefits versus maintaining brand identity.

As the episode unfolds, Fred and Adam transition into examining broader trends in food packaging and branding. The discussion covers the evolution of unconventional design elements such as utilizing multiple fonts and vibrant color schemes to disrupt traditional branding narratives. Fred highlights innovative companies like Graza, which have reimagined olive oil packaging to make it more accessible and relatable. He emphasizes that while design innovation is crucial, it should always aim to challenge the category, not the consumer, facilitating a connection that is both appealing and functional.

Key Takeaways:

* Protein Marketing Dilemma: The beverage industry is increasingly focusing on protein content as a key marketing strategy, but this trend may lead to a commoditization of products rather than differentiation.

* Design Innovation: Brands are experimenting with bold colors, multiple fonts, and unique packaging styles to disrupt traditional market perceptions, such as Graza's squeeze bottle olive oil.

* Influencer-Driven Brands: There is a growing trend of influencers launching their own brands, leveraging their audiences to introduce unique, niche products in the food and beverage sector.

* Community and Branding: Building a strong community is essential for brands. Personalized branding stories and community engagement are key components for modern successful brands like Midday Squares.

* Evolving Consumer Packaged Goods: The industry is continuously changing with brands like Limo and hiQ utilizing direct-to-can printing to create standout packaging that resonates with younger, more design-conscious consumers.

Notable Quotes:

* "Simplify to amplify is one of the things I like to say." – Fred Hart

* "Challenge the category but not the consumer." – Fred Hart

* "We're not adults. Everyone knows that." – Fred Hart on branding decisions and humor in packaging.

* "All brands need community. They need people. Brands are in service of people." – Fred Hart

* "The industry's grappling with what have the big companies traditionally done and what are ways of disrupting that?" – Fred Hart

Resources:

* Fred Hart LinkedIn

* The Dieline

* Graza Olive Oil

* Midday Squares

* Limo Sparkling Beverage

* hiQ Drink

* Packaging Peaks in a Sticky Situation by Adam Peek

For an insightful and entertaining dive into the world of food and beverage branding, tune in to this episode and stay engaged for more episodes that promise to deliver more industry insights and thought-provoking discussions.

About the Guest(s):

Jim Birch is the CEO of Salsa Queen, a thriving salsa business based in Salt Lake City, Utah. With a rich background in tech and finance, Jim has successfully leveraged his skills to grow Salsa Queen from a local endeavor into a substantial player in the food industry. His leadership has facilitated the brand's expansion into major retailers like Costco and Kroger, while also pioneering innovative products like freeze-dried salsa.

Episode Summary:

Join Adam Peek as he delves into the flavorful journey of Salsa Queen with guest Jim Birch, the CEO of the salsa company that’s taken tastebuds by storm. From humble beginnings in Salt Lake City to expansive growth across major retail outlets, Salsa Queen's story is as spicy as it gets. Discover how Jim, alongside his wife, the eponymous Salsa Queen—who legally changed her name as a testament to her passion—transformed a homemade salsa hobby into a celebrated brand renowned for its innovative packaging and commitment to flavor.

In this episode, the discussion navigates through the founding story of Salsa Queen, highlighting the role of farmers markets and the effective use of social media to build a customer base. The episode provides insights into the challenges and milestones encountered as the brand scaled from local to national markets. Moreover, Jim introduces a revolutionary product—freeze-dried salsa—that stands to reshape how we think about culinary convenience in the culinary world. This pioneering innovation dramatically enhances logistics and shelf life, positioning Salsa Queen as a leader in sustainable packaging and product development.

Key Takeaways:

* Discover the entrepreneurial journey of Salsa Queen, launched by Jim Birch and his wife, including its dynamic transition from local markets to national chains.

* Learn about the strategic growth tactics that propelled Salsa Queen into retailers like Costco and Kroger.

* Explore the innovative freeze-dried salsa product, which offers significant advantages in shipping, shelf life, and consumer convenience.

* Understand the impact of sustainable and efficient packaging solutions in the food industry.

* Hear Jim Birch discuss the importance of hiring skilled personnel to drive growth and meet industry certifications.

Notable Quotes:

* "My wife legally changed her name to Salsa Queen… no one would ever say her real name."

* "We were like salsa dealers… meeting people at parking lots and selling salsa."

* "Freeze-dried candy has become a whole… and I thought her salsas would be perfect for it."

* "You can feel how light it is… shipping that's a game changer."

* "We've become the world's largest producer of freeze dried salsas."

Resources:

* Salsa Queen Official Website: salsaqueen.com

* Harvest Right (Freeze Dryers): harvestright.com

Discover the entire flavorful journey and innovative breakthroughs of Salsa Queen by tuning into the complete episode. Stay tuned for more captivating stories and insights from the world of packaging and business innovation in upcoming episodes.

Hey! No AI generated notes, but you should join us every morning at 8:30 am MST on Youtube and LinkedIn on the Packaging Today Show. Enjoy this episode and be sure to join us!

https://www.youtube.com/@packagingunboxd is where you can find the show

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comment live and we even have chances to win shirts and stuff from PackagingFashion.com

About the Guest(s):

Steve Pyfrom is the Head of Strategy and Sales at The Nine Digital, a forward-thinking digital marketing agency specializing in the manufacturing industry. With an extensive background in pastoral ministry, Steve effortlessly transitioned to a sales career where he helps businesses flourish in the digital age. Leveraging over two decades of experience within the digital marketing realm, Steve and his team focus on innovative SEO strategies, website development, and comprehensive B2B marketing solutions to elevate brands and drive growth.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of the People of Packaging podcast, host Adam Peek invites Steve Pyfrom from The Nine Digital to delve into the dynamic world of digital marketing and sales. Both sharing unique backgrounds in pastoral ministry, Adam and Steve explore how their experiences have shaped their capabilities in navigating business landscapes. As they discuss contemporary digital strategies, listeners will be drawn into the significance of digital transformation in the manufacturing sector.

Steve Pyfrom highlights the pivotal role of SEO, website development, and predictive marketing strategies in helping manufacturing entities thrive online. Through an insightful dialogue, Steve shares his approach to positioning The Nine Digital as a leader in the digital marketing space by prioritizing client needs and focusing on tailored, people-first solutions. Key takeaways emphasize the transformative potential of digital marketing, strategic partnerships, and the importance of maintaining an effective online presence in a competitive market. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking to understand the intersection of traditional business practices with modern digital strategies.

Key Takeaways:

* Digital Marketing Transformation: Marketing in the manufacturing sector is vital for staying competitive. Steve emphasizes the importance of entering the 21st century with effective digital strategies.

* SEO and Website Development: Underscoring the need for state-of-the-art, functional websites and predictive SEO strategies is crucial to long-term digital success.

* Client-Centric Approach: The Nine Digital focuses on understanding client vision and solving their specific business problems, placing a strong emphasis on discovery and strategy.

* From Pastoral to Sales: Steve describes how skills gained from a pastoral background, such as negotiation and crisis management, have been instrumental in his sales career.

* Detachment from Outcomes: Developing a non-attached attitude toward sales outcomes allows for more authentic client interactions and long-term relationship building.

Notable Quotes:

* "I want to come alongside what their vision is, what they're trying to accomplish, and then see if I can help them."

* "If I know that walking into a situation, I'm A, not going to get offended, B, not going to get thrown off, and C, I kind of know what to do."

* "We're building the foundation first before you build your house anywhere else."

* "For us, the goal is in SEO strategy, you want to have branded traffic and non-branded traffic."

* "You could say that I've always been in the business of conversion."

Resources:

* Steve Pyfrom on LinkedIn: Connect with Steve

* The Nine Digital Website: Explore The Nine Digital

Stay tuned for more insightful conversations on the People of Packaging podcast, where industry leaders and innovators share their expertise and vision. Listen to the full episode for an enriching journey into the transformative power of digital strategies in modern business landscapes.

About the Guest(s):

John Chweya is the President of the Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association, an organization that unites over 36,000 waste pickers across Kenya to advocate for their rights and welfare. Growing up in Kisumu, Kenya, John started his journey as a waste picker at the tender age of 13, driven by financial necessity. He has been recognized globally for his inspiring work, including being named in Time Magazine's Next 100 and engaging with the United Nations. John has dedicated his life to transforming the waste picking industry and improving conditions for the workers he represents.

Specright eBook - How to define sustainable packaging strategies!

* Gartner Report

* Packaging Pros eBook

* Home Page

* Book a demo with Specright

Meyers has some incredible sustainable packaging options!

* Get the 2023 Sustainability Report

* Meyers Packaging EPR eBook - it is FREE!!

New sponsor is Label King! Check them out at www.thelabelking.com

Book a demo with Trayak (LCA’s on demand!)

SmartSolve has water soluble label and paper materials. Learn more!

The Scrapp App is going to revolutionize home and corporate recycling. Download for your device today!

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode, Adam Peek speaks with John Chweya, a prominent figure in the sustainable waste management sector in Kenya. John's story is a compelling narrative of resilience, perseverance, and significant social impact. He shares his personal journey from being a child waste picker facing discrimination and stigmatization to becoming a global advocate for waste pickers' rights.

The conversation delves deep into the vast network and economic significance of waste pickers in Kenya, with John highlighting the critical roles they play in the recycling industry. Adam and John discuss the challenges waste pickers face, such as stigmatization and inequitable pricing by aggregators, and explore John's efforts to drive policy change. Through his leadership, waste pickers are now forming associations to advocate for fair prices and better working conditions. They also discuss John's initiative to acquire a truck to improve economic empowerment for the community by enabling direct sales to recyclers.

Key Takeaways:

* John Chweya, once a child waste picker, now leads over 36,000 waste pickers in Kenya to advocate for fair practices in the recycling industry.

* Waste pickers face significant challenges, including stigmatization and exploitation in pricing by aggregators.

* Collaborations with policymakers and organizations aim to highlight the essential role of waste pickers in sustainable waste management and plastic pollution control.

* John's fundraising initiative to acquire a truck is seen as a key step toward economic empowerment and a sustainable solution for the community.

* There is a pressing need for equitable trade practices to replace charity models in supporting global waste management efforts.

Notable Quotes:

* "We are not only like, people who have nothing to lose. Actually, most of us have a lot of things to lose because we are human beings that also have families and kids." - John Chweya

* "One of the things that I've been fund mostly fundraising on is for on PPEs. But that is not sustainable, Adam." - John Chweya

* "This is something that I know for sure that if we can attain, then it would mean that over time we, through one track, the sustainability aspect of it would be that one, we are capable of getting more clientele." - John Chweya

* "For first, for the first time in this sector that a customer walks in a supermarket and then decides the price to which they want to buy the, the product that they already have in a supermarket." - John Chweya

* "Trade, not aid, right? And you mentioned that it's not sustainable. Just keep going and asking for money all the time." - Adam Peek

Resources:

* GoFundMe for Kenya Waste Pickers

* Time Magazine Next 100 Article Featuring John Chweya

Tune in to this episode to discover the human stories behind the recycling industry in Kenya and learn how John's inspiring leadership and innovative solutions aim to transform lives and the sustainable waste management landscape. Don't miss out on this and more insightful discussions from the People of Packaging podcast.

About the Guest(s):

Lauren Saidel-Baker is a seasoned economist at ITR Economics, a division of CROW LLP. Known for her data-driven and objective approach, Lauren specializes in economic forecasting and consulting, helping businesses and industries navigate economic changes. With a strong academic background from Wellesley College, where she double-majored in Economics and Religion, Lauren brings unique insights into the economic sector, making her a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Specright eBook - How to define sustainable packaging strategies!

* Gartner Report

* Packaging Pros eBook

* Home Page

* Book a demo with Specright

Meyers has some incredible sustainable packaging options!

* Get the 2023 Sustainability Report

* Meyers Packaging EPR eBook - it is FREE!!

New sponsor is Label King! Check them out at www.thelabelking.com

Book a demo with Trayak (LCA’s on demand!)

SmartSolve has water soluble label and paper materials. Learn more!

The Scrapp App is going to revolutionize home and corporate recycling. Download for your device today!

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of [Podcast Name], host Adam Peek converses with Lauren Saidel-Baker, an economist from ITR Economics, about the complexities and current impact of tariffs on the U.S. economy, with a spotlight on the packaging industry. Lauren delves into the macroeconomic trends, providing data-backed insights into how tariffs affect imports, exports, and consumer behavior. This episode promises to equip listeners with a robust understanding of economic principles and future trends.

Lauren highlights the shifting tides of globalization and nationalism, articulating the nuanced effects of tariffs as merely one facet of broader economic movements. She emphasizes the influence of these policies on business investment and timing, underscoring the resultant uncertainty. With concrete examples like the aluminum market, Lauren illustrates the intricate relationship between tariffs, inflation, and consumer prices. Throughout the episode, she dissects the economic indicators that businesses and individuals should track to make informed decisions, painting a clear picture of current and future economic climates.

Key Takeaways:

* Impact of Tariffs: Tariffs primarily function as taxes designed to protect domestic industries by making imported goods more expensive, yet they introduce significant uncertainty into business planning.

* Potential Economic Downturn in 2030: Lauren projects a potential depression due to demographic shifts, government overspending, and fiscal imbalances, suggesting strategic preparation for long-term financial health.

* Consumer Spending as Economic Strength: The robustness of the U.S. economy is largely bolstered by consumer spending, which continues to rise due to increasing wages and employment levels.

* Importance of Economic Indicators: Businesses should focus on industry-specific economic indicators and adjust strategies based on macroeconomic trends and forecasts provided by reliable resources.

* Preparing for Future Opportunities: The advice includes living below one's means, planning for better investment opportunities post-downturn, and not heavily leveraging current assets.

Notable Quotes:

* "If you remember back, the Biden administration put tariffs on certain items and goods too, so everyone can do tariffs again."

* "The fundamental support for our economic growth is people. Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of GDP."

* "We are looking at another four or five years of pretty steady growth… but have a plan because come 2028, 2029, we'll see those leading indicators start to roll over."

* "The big impact that I'm watching, that I'm concerned about, is just the uncertainty that this is bringing up."

* "We don't see a recession in 2025… Even if through some weird quirk of the math that were to happen, this is not what a business should react to as a recession."

Resources:

* ITR Economics: Stay updated with their economic insights and resources at itreconomics.com

* Blog and Video Content: Explore economic indicators and forecasts tailored for various sectors on ITR Economics’ website.

* Laura Saidel-Baker's Work: Follow her insights on LinkedIn and other social media platforms associated with ITR Economics.

Listen to the full episode for an in-depth exploration of current economic paradigms, strategic insights from Lauren Saidel-Baker, and a comprehensive understanding of how tariffs and broader economic trends affect businesses and individuals alike. Stay tuned to [Podcast Name] for more insightful content.

About the Guest(s):

Jason Christensen is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in various industries. He previously founded a home security and automation company which he scaled to become one of the largest in the nation. After selling his first company to private equity, Jason transitioned to academia, becoming an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University, where he teaches entrepreneurial management. Today, Jason is the co-founder of Blue Unicorn, a distinctive CPG brand known for its innovative line of protein bars, bridging his passion for entrepreneurship and health-focused consumer products.

Specright eBook - How to define sustainable packaging strategies!

* Gartner Report

* Packaging Pros eBook

* Home Page

* Book a demo with Specright

Meyers has some incredible sustainable packaging options!

* Get the 2023 Sustainability Report

* Meyers Packaging EPR eBook - it is FREE!!

New sponsor is Label King! Check them out at www.thelabelking.com

Book a demo with Trayak (LCA’s on demand!)

SmartSolve has water soluble label and paper materials. Learn more!

The Scrapp App is going to revolutionize home and corporate recycling. Download for your device today!

Episode Summary:

In this vibrant episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, host Adam Peek sits down with Jason Christensen, co-founder of Blue Unicorn, to explore the intriguing journey of entrepreneurship from security systems to the food industry. With roots in Utah, Blue Unicorn has quickly gained attention for its uniquely delicious and nutritious protein bars. As they dive into the complexities of launching a CPG brand, Jason shares insights into product development, packaging, and the strategic decisions that come with transitioning industries.

The conversation unfolds with Jason providing a narrative on the bar’s creation, a serendipitous collaboration with Dr. Luke Talley, a food scientist responsible for the bar’s formulation. Highlighting the conceptualization and branding process, the episode captures the essence of innovation with the development of the bar’s mascot—a unicorn inspired by the fluffy delicacy of alpacas. Amidst conversations about their creative journey, Jason discusses the hurdles and triumphs of producing a compelling product, managing production logistics, and meeting regulatory standards, underscoring the entrepreneurial resilience instilled through his professor role at BYU.

Key Takeaways:

* Jason Christensen's journey from the home security industry to co-founding Blue Unicorn highlights the versatility and expansiveness of entrepreneurial ventures.

* Despite challenges in production and logistics, Blue Unicorn maintains a strategic control over product quality by producing their bars in-house.

* The product's uniqueness stems from its low sugar content and incredible taste, positioning it as a standout in the crowded protein bar market.

* Creative branding, including the creation of a unicorn mascot, plays a pivotal role in Blue Unicorn’s market differentiation and consumer engagement.

* Distribution strategies are evolving as Blue Unicorn seeks to expand its retail presence while managing online direct-to-consumer sales and shipping logistics.

Notable Quotes:

* "When I tried it, I was just completely blown away. I was like, this is like a treat." - Jason Christensen

* "I described it as a unicorn because it was like, off the chart…this isn't real." - Jason Christensen

* "Despite the variety in the market, our product stands out with its unique taste and nutritional profile." - Jason Christensen

* "We had to learn a lot about packaging, measuring the bars, determining the box sizes, and ensuring everything was regulation compliant." - Jason Christensen

* "We're evolving rapidly, adapting to the growing demand, and finding new ways to reach our customers." - Jason Christensen

Resources:

* Blue Unicorn: blueunicorn.com

* Brigham Young University Entrepreneurial Management Department

* Super Top Secret — Creative agency involved in Blue Unicorn's branding

In this enlightening episode, Adam Peek and Jason Christensen carve out the intricacies of maneuvering through different industries. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, packaging innovation, or just the fascinating story of Blue Unicorn, this episode delivers engaging insights. Tune in for more captivating episodes of the People of Packaging podcast, where the stories behind the scenes are brought to the forefront.

About the Guest(s):

Shea Coakley\ Shea Coakley is the CEO of Green Street Beverages, bringing over 16 years of entrepreneurial experience in the food, beverage, and health and wellness industries. With a focus on innovative product development, Coakley has been instrumental in positioning Green Street as a leader in the burgeoning market of THC-infused beverages. His passion for creating socially conscious products is evident in his advocacy for clean and functional ingredients.

Josh Grab\ Josh Grab serves as the Chief Revenue Officer of Green Street Beverages, leveraging over 25 years of experience in the beverage industry, primarily within Bev Alk. With a strong background in sales and operations, Grab has been essential in scaling Green Street's presence across key markets, ensuring product accessibility and compliance with emerging regulations in the THC beverage sector.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the podcast, host Adam welcomes Shay Coakley, CEO, and Josh Grab, CRO of Green Street Beverages, to dive deep into the exciting evolution of THC-infused beverages. This lively conversation covers their path from transitioning out of traditional alcohol consumption into pioneering the budding THC beverage market, addressing the pivotal role that packaging plays in this newly forming industry. The duo's rich experiences illuminate various facets from operational challenges to consumer perceptions in this dynamic space.

Shay Coakley and Josh Grab unpack the complexities surrounding the manufacture and distribution of THC drinks. Fueled by the opportunities following the 2018 Farm Bill, Green Street Beverages is strategically positioned to become a leader akin to the Diageo or Pernod Ricard of THC beverages. As beverage veterans, they emphasize the importance of branding and packaging, pointing out challenges like regulatory compliance across states and the need for child-resistant packaging. Their transition from alcohol to THC signifies a broader movement towards healthier, functional, and socially engaging consumption trends.

Key Takeaways:

* Green Street Beverages is at the forefront of the THC-infused beverage industry, capitalizing on legislative changes that allow for broad distribution.

* Packaging is not just functional but strategic, playing a crucial role in consumer perception and retail success in the THC beverage landscape.

* Overcoming regulatory challenges is pivotal for scaling operations, necessitating adaptable supply chains and compliance with evolving state-specific laws.

* The industry shift from alcohol to THC-based drinks represents a significant lifestyle change, aligning with wellness and mindful consumption trends.

* Partnering with co-packers experienced in both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages is essential in navigating the complexities of this new market.

Notable Quotes:

* "We're really looking to show people that social cannabis consumption can be a part of their repertoire and in some cases even replace alcohol." - Shea Coakley

* "Everything we do, we do through co-packers, right? We don't own our own facility." - Josh Grab

* "This transition from the recreational cannabis market to hemp based really opened up a world." - Shea Coakley

* "Packaging goes from something that is really not very relevant to super important." - Shea Coakley

* "It's bringing people into this whole new world of THC and cannabis and it's a great time to be in this market." - Josh Grab

Resources:

* Green Street Beverages Website

* Connect with Shea Coakley and Josh Grab on LinkedIn for further insights into the industry.

* Explore the various brands and products offered by Green Street Beverages at their website.

Indulge in this episode to uncover more about the transformation of THC into everyday beverages and how Green Street Beverages is leading this change. Keep tuning in for more compelling discussions on the intersection of innovation and industry breakthroughs right here on this podcast.

About the Guest(s):

Corey Carlson is an accomplished executive coach, podcast host, and keynote speaker known for his expertise in leadership development and work-life balance strategies. He is the host of "Win at Home First" and the co-founder of the Rise community, an initiative aimed at supporting faith-driven men in integrating family and professional success. Corey is also the author of two influential books, "Win at Home First" and "Rise and Go," which delve into personal and professional growth through overcoming challenges and achieving success at work and home.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, host Adam Peek welcomes guest Corey Carlson, who shares insights from his dynamic journey from corporate success to becoming a transformative executive coach and community builder. Adam and Corey discuss the interconnectedness of personal and professional life, emphasizing the importance of 'winning at home first' to achieve overall success.

The conversation delves into Corey’s experiences as outlined in his books, "Win at Home First" and "Rise and Go." Through these works, Corey advocates for leaders to integrate family values into their professional lives, proposing that true effectiveness stems from a healthy personal life. Corey discusses practical strategies for improving relationships, including daily reflections on loved ones' positive traits and rising above challenges to grow personally and professionally. Both books offer strategies and insights that resonate across varying career levels, from machine operators to executive leaders, solidifying the significance of personal fulfillment in professional excellence.

Key Takeaways:

* Importance of Family Life: Successful professional life begins with maintaining healthy personal relationships; prioritizing family impacts leadership effectiveness.

* Winning with Intentionality: To improve challenging relationships, practice daily reflections to focus on positive attributes of family members and colleagues.

* Resilience and Leadership: Corey's second book, "Rise and Go," emphasizes resilience, encouraging leaders to rapidly recover from setbacks with actionable strategies for personal growth.

* Community and Coaching Benefits: Corey underscores the value of coaching and community, providing support networks crucial for overcoming leadership loneliness.

* Transformative Leadership: Effective leadership requires balancing corporate goals with personal fulfillment, offering holistic development opportunities at all career levels.

Notable Quotes:

* "What we focus on expands, and by writing down what you love about someone, you start seeing more of those traits in them."

* "All leaders get knocked down; it's just the great leaders get back up quicker."

* "The work wins don't offset the losses at home."

* "Life can get lonely, even if you’re leading a company or operating a machine. Coaching helps reveal that you're not alone."

* "Put your thoughts out in the world; you never know who might benefit or relate."

Resources:

* Corey Carlson on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile

* Corey's Podcast: "Win at Home First"

* Books by Corey Carlson:

* Win at Home First on Amazon

* Rise and Go on Amazon

* The Rise Community: Learn more about joining this faith-integrated leadership community.

* Adam Peek’s LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile

Tune in to the full episode to uncover actionable insights on balancing personal and professional realms to elevate all areas of life. Stay connected for more inspiring discussions in future episodes of the People of Packaging Podcast.

About the Guest(s):

Paul Rice is the founder of Fair Trade USA, an organization committed to the principles of ethical sourcing and global sustainable development. With a passionate background in international development and social justice, Paul has dedicated over two decades to promoting fair trade practices that empower farmers and workers worldwide. His work in Nicaragua shaped his vision and inspired the creation of a large network of fair trade projects, achieving measurable impact on poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. Paul is also the author of the book "Every Purchase Matters," which explores the positive influence of conscious consumerism and fair trade.

Specright eBook - How to define sustainable packaging strategies!

* Gartner Report

* Packaging Pros eBook

* Home Page

* Book a demo with Specright

Meyers has some incredible sustainable packaging options!

* Get the 2023 Sustainability Report

* Meyers Packaging EPR eBook - it is FREE!!

New sponsor is Label King! Check them out at www.thelabelking.com

Book a demo with Trayak (LCA’s on demand!)

SmartSolve has water soluble label and paper materials. Learn more!

The Scrapp App is going to revolutionize home and corporate recycling. Download for your device today!

Episode Summary:

In this riveting episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, host Adam Peek engages with Paul Rice, founder of Fair Trade USA, in a conversation tunneling into the transformative power of fair trade practices. The discussion unfolds with anecdotes from Paul's inspiring journey, revealing how his upbringing and international experiences ignited a lifelong commitment to economic and social justice. Rice shares insights into how fair trade revolutionizes supply chains, highlighting it as a vital solution that marries profitability with sustainability, effectively driving social impact through business.

Delving deeper, the episode uncovers the ethos and mechanics behind Fair Trade USA's certification model, explaining how businesses and consumers alike can partake in creating global change. As the conversation unfolds, Rice emphasizes that every purchase — from ordinary groceries to thoughtful gifts — has the potential to contribute to ethical sourcing and sustainability. As listeners navigate these nuanced discussions, they'll discover how harmonizing economic models with social responsibility can collectively uplift communities and ensure long-term business resilience.

Key Takeaways:

* Fair trade is not just an ethical choice but a strategic business approach that de-risks the supply chain and ensures long-term sustainability.

* Businesses integrating fair trade practices can foster resilience against market fluctuations while supporting global poverty alleviation.

* Conscious consumerism enables individuals to significantly influence sustainable practices and fair labor conditions through everyday purchases.

* Fair Trade USA's rigorous certification standards empower farmers by ensuring they receive equitable compensation, enabling communities to invest in development projects and preserve local ecosystems.

* Despite challenges, substantial progress and growing consumer demand for sustainable products suggest a positive trajectory for fair trade initiatives.

Notable Quotes:

* "Trade not aid, which I dare say is more relevant than ever right now during these times."

* "We are harnessing the power of companies and consumers to enable a journey of sustainability in communities."

* "My belief is that we are powerful. Each of us as individuals, we are powerful and have the ability to change the world through the purchases that we make."

* "Business can and must be a force for good in the world."

* "Every purchase matters because when you go to the store, you have a chance to vote for a product that you know is organic or fair trade… that has measurable, verified benefit for the planet and for people."

Resources:

* Paul Rice's Website: paulrice.org

* Fair Trade USA: Fair Trade USA Official Website

* Book Mentioned: "Every Purchase Matters" by Paul Rice, available on Amazon and other major bookstores.

Listeners are encouraged to delve into the complete episode to fully grasp the engaging discussions and inspiring narratives. Stay tuned for more illuminating content on the impact and innovation within the packaging and sustainability realms.

About the Guest(s):

Melanie Yermack is a seasoned Managing Director at Mesirow, where she co-heads the packaging practice. With over 14 years at the firm, Melanie has developed deep expertise in investment banking focused on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the packaging sector. She started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and has been instrumental in navigating complex financial landscapes to deliver substantial value in packaging M&A deals.

Rick Weil has dedicated 24 years to Mesirow as a Managing Director, specializing in M&A advisory. He has extensive experience in working with entrepreneur-owned businesses, providing them with tailored solutions and guidance through every facet of M&A transactions. His comprehensive understanding of both strategic and emotional components makes him a trusted advisor in the packaging industry.

Nitay Laor serves as a Vice President at Mesirow, supporting Rick and Melanie in their packaging endeavors. Transitioning from an accounting background, Nitay has immersed himself into M&A in the packaging industry for the past eight years. His role involves deep analysis and strategy formation for complex, multi-year client engagements aimed at maximizing business valuation and market positioning.

Episode Summary:

Join Adam Peek in this insightful episode of the People of Packaging podcast as he delves into the world of mergers and acquisitions within the packaging industry with experts Melanie Yermack, Rick Weil, and Nitay Laor from Mesirow. This episode unveils the intricate dynamics of preparing a business for sale, understanding market valuations, and the pivotal role private equity plays in the packaging sector. With over 40 years of combined experience, these guests shed light on how investment banking operates within this field and project what the future might hold for packaging M&A.

This episode unpacks the resilience of the packaging industry through tumultuous periods such as COVID-19 and economic uncertainties. Melanie emphasizes the importance of longevity in client relationships, underpinning the need for understanding not only market trends but also the unique value propositions of individual businesses. The team discusses the vital role of investment and strategic planning in making businesses attractive to buyers. Rick adds a perspective on the often unspoken psychological aspects of these transactions that aid family-owned businesses in preserving legacies while embracing strategic growth opportunities.

Specright eBook - How to define sustainable packaging strategies!

* Gartner Report

* Packaging Pros eBook

* Home Page

* Book a demo with Specright

Meyers has some incredible sustainable packaging options!

* Get the 2023 Sustainability Report

* Meyers Packaging EPR eBook - it is FREE!!

New sponsor is Label King! Check them out at www.thelabelking.com

Book a demo with Trayak (LCA’s on demand!)

SmartSolve has water soluble label and paper materials. Learn more!

The Scrapp App is going to revolutionize home and corporate recycling. Download for your device today!

Key Takeaways:

* The importance of crafting a well-structured and competitive process when approaching mergers and acquisitions to maximize business valuation.

* Sustainability initiatives and automation are becoming significant drivers of value in the packaging industry, attracting private equity interest.

* The packaging sector exhibits strong resilience and steadiness, even amidst global uncertainties such as tariffs and economic fluctuations.

* M&A is a people-centered business that blends sales, finance, and psychology to guide family-owned businesses through pivotal transitions.

* Engaging in long-term relationships with financial advisors can empower business owners with strategic foresight for future readiness in selling their business.

Notable Quotes:

* "Packaging companies killed it during COVID by demonstrating immense resilience and growth." - Rick Weil

* "The essence of M&A in packaging is a blend of sales, finance, and psychology." - Rick Weil

* "Sustainability is on the top of everybody's mind, and it's achieved in many ways like recycled content and recyclable packaging." - Melanie Yermack

* "There's a massive pent-up demand in private equity awaiting the right packaging opportunities." - Rick Weil

* "A lot of our clients, it's not just about valuation; it's about culture, employee care, and legacy." - Melanie Yermack

Resources:

* Visit Mesirow’s website for more information: www.mesirow.com

* Listen to the My First Million podcast mentioned during the episode for insights on leveraging technology in business.

To experience the nuance and depth of this conversation, tune into the full episode of the People of Packaging podcast. Gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of M&A within the packaging sector, and keep exploring further with Adam Peek and his fascinating guests. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from the series!