Market trends

Sales success depends on knowing your customer’s ‘why’

Akanksha Meena — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 05:09:49 +0000

Market trends 31 March 2025

Sales success depends on knowing your customer’s ‘why’

The most successful salespeople are those who ask and understand their customer’s goals and objectives.

The most successful salespeople are those who ask and understand their customer’s goals and objectives.The first step to this is crucial pre-planning ahead of sales calls.

Why do your customers need to produce labels, packaging and signage? Why do they choose your firm for their production projects? These are basic questions. The most effective salespeople regularly ask and have clarity about what is most important to key customers. Great salespeople can articulate the customers’ ‘why’.

Salespeople who ask and understand why customers need print and know how the projects in your shop are related to larger business goals. Goals that are specific to new product launches, market share, brand awareness, acquisition, retention, etc. Part of a predictable sales discovery process is defining customers’ business goals and metrics, especially for large projects. Strategic sellers know that winning larger deals requires understanding key decision- makers’ long-term goals beyond the quality and cost requirements of specific jobs.

In the print and labeling sector, salespeople often don’t know the why or specific goals for major projects. This often results from:

• Not asking about customers’ goals,

• Not speaking with decision makers and, • Not following consistent pre-call planning for customer calls. Salespeople who are successful with account expansion prioritize spending time with decision makers. They schedule planning meetings quarterly or more frequently to clarify their customers’ business issues and goals. With this knowledge, they can suggest products and services that align with customers’ needs. Without defining the ‘why,’ price becomes a driving factor in the decision process.

Pre-call planning: Just do it

Pre-call planning involves dedicating time to strategically planning how best to conduct mutually beneficial meetings that will move closer to closed deals and then writing it down.

Pre-call planning works. There are several proven benefits, including:

• Improved sales confidence in leading meetings,

• Increased internal collaboration,

• Productive communication with clients

and prospects,

• Increased sales effectiveness. Most importantly, pre-call planning

delivers better outcomes. Sellers who engage in thorough pre-call work experience a minimum 20 percent boost in productivity. Every B2B sales manager would be thrilled if they could implement a process that would make their sales team 20 percent more effective.

Sellers who engage in thorough pre‐call work experience a minimum 20 percent boost in productivity

Pre-call planning is not looking up the news page and LinkedIn posts 30 minutes before a customer meeting. Instead, it involves researching and documenting the purpose, goals and topics for the meeting. This includes determining each attendee’s role, motivations and level of influence on closing the deal.

Pre-call planning includes defining potential outcomes for the seller, and the customer, in the context of documenting a detailed agenda. The agenda enables your sales team to stay on point and effectively manage time to address relevant points. Planning means salespeople are prepared to focus on the key topics when senior-level people arrive late or announce their early departure.

Scan the QR code below to download and use the HubSpot pre-call template to enhance your sales process.

Align with customer goals

One best practice for demonstrating value to decision-makers is to open a meeting with the question, ‘What would you like to learn and accomplish from this meeting?’ This approach acknowledges your respect for their time and your desire to offer ideas that align with their goals. It may also send the meeting in a different direction than your pre-call plan.

The planning process will support your sales team’s ability to pivot and focus on ideas and content that are most important to the customer. When your team provides the customer value, and they feel heard, relationships expand.

If you are looking to improve your sales strategies, I suggest reading the book, ‘The TOP Sales Leader Playbook: How to Win 5X Deals Repeatedly’ by the talented sales coach and LinkedIn trainer Lisa Magnuson of Topline Sales.

What got your company to this point is unlikely to get you where you want to go by the end of 2025. If you would like to speak further about effective strategies for sales growth, please contact me for a free 30-minute consultation call.

Lois Ritarossi is a certified management consultant,
and president of High Rock Strategies, an independent management consulting firm focused on sales and marketing strategies, and business growth for firms in the print, mail, communications and B2B sectors. You can read more about sales strategies at www.highrockstrategies.com. Email Lois at Lritarossi@highrockstrategies.com.

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Flexo, hybrid or digital – which is best for short runs?

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 21:49:09 +0000

Digital printing 30 March 2025

Flexo, hybrid or digital – which is best for short runs?

There is no clear-cut answer for converters facing a choice of conventional, digital or a mix of both.

As run lengths continue to come down, label converters are forced to think hard about which combination of print and converting systems is best suited to their evolving business needs.

Let’s look at the choice between flexo, hybrid (flexo+digital) and standalone digital with off-line finishing.

The boundaries between these technologies are fluid and constantly shifting.

Until relatively recently, we would have discounted flexography as a viable short-term printing method. However, increased levels of automation and integration with digital networks have changed this situation. The industry has found new ways to automate key elements of the flexo process. These include automated pressure setting systems capable of tracking press speeds, plate cylinder presetting, automated cross and print direction registration, substrate-dependent tension presetting, in-line defect and color monitoring, modular control systems, and the ability to store all these parameters for repeat jobs.

Add to this quick-change sleeves, high-speed semi-rotary die-cutting and 7-color ECG inking systems – meaning print units do not have to be washed down between jobs – and you have a powerful machine tool capable of rapid makereadies with minimal waste.

Well over 70 percent of short-run jobs are, in fact, long-run jobs broken down into multiple smaller batches for just-in-time delivery. So, the key metric is how quickly you can get a repeat job back onto the press and print sellable labels with minimum waste.

Automated flexo presses, as described above, are well suited to this kind of short-run environment. The cost of flexo plates is amortized the more times the same job is re-run.

In addition, digital print bars allow flexo presses to print variable data, such as unique 2D codes or serial numbers, screen-replacement white or variable varnish, creating a new category of hybrid press.

Digital and hybrid

Turning to digital, historically, converters have chosen standalone digital presses with off-line finishing.

In the early days of digital printing, the reason was clear: digital print engines were slow and could not keep pace with finishing lines, so it made sense to keep the print engine working and finish off-line (though interestingly, Xeikon in the 1990s was an advocate of in-line finishing through partnerships with Mark Andy and Agfa, and Indigo worked with Gallus to produce the in-line DO-330).

This situation has been turned on its head by the astonishing increase in speed and overall productivity of digital presses over the last few years. Now, we are looking at speeds of 75-120m/min (242-393ft/min), which approaches real-world narrow web flexo speeds.

So now it makes more sense to add in-line coating and finishing to the digital print engine.

The most common flexo integrations are to add print primer and first-down white flexo stations before the digital engine, to add cold foil either before or after the digital engine, and to add varnish stations – including digital varnish – and sometimes flexo spot colors after the digital engine.

Semi-rotary die-cutting technology has reached speeds of over 150m/min (492ft/min), so it can easily keep up with these faster digital print speeds, and of course, there is no requirement to change format sizes between jobs. Automatic die ejection means the only manual operation is loading the die.

Of course, hybrid presses also take advantage of all the flexo automation factors we have noted above in their conventional modules.

We know this as a hybrid press configuration. However, some press manufacturers have chosen their own terms to reflect what they say is a tighter integration of digital and conventional units. Bobst, for example, uses the term ‘All-in-One’.

We are also seeing the incorporation of 7-color digital print engines into converting lines, effectively producing a hybrid press. This can be seen, for example, in the recent joint venture hybrid developed by Grafotronic and Domino for LP2i Étiquettes in France.

What’s next

Will flexo automation and greater hybrid productivity start to squeeze out standalone digital presses with off-line finishing?

No, and for two reasons.

Firstly, many converters’ job mix will always favor maintaining maximum productivity on the digital press and finishing off-line without any interruption to set up conventional print and converting units, however automated.

Secondly, we are at the beginning of an exciting process of automating off-line finishing machines. Mercian Labels’ 2-year JDF/JMF automation program, carried out with ABG, Screen and Cerm, points the way to this future, where responsibility for machine setup shifts from machine operators to remote job programmers.

The digital press prints at full productivity, and each SKU carries with it, in the form of a barcode, instructions on how it should be finished.

Each of these technology strands will take a leap forward at Labelexpo Europe 2025, providing the label converter with an unprecedented choice of strategies for handling short-run work.

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Exploring opportunities in Mexico

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:44:37 +0000

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AWA summit opens with session on tariffs

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:03:01 +0000

Associations, events & awards 23 March 2025

AWA summit opens with session on tariffs

The first session at this year’s AWA Liner Release Summit was a workshop on exports, imports, tariffs and market dynamics.

During a real-time survey at the AWA Global Release Liner Summit 2025, more than half of respondents answered that they were ‘very apprehensive’ about tariffs.

This survey was conducted during the summit's first session, which took place March 19-21 in Chicago.

That first session was a workshop on exports, imports, tariffs and market dynamics. It was led by Anum Javed Beg, manager of market intelligence and business insights at AWA, and Catalina Steenbakkers, senior consultant of market intelligence and business insights at AWA, who asked the audience a series of questions. At the same time, the real-time results appeared on the screen behind them.

The audience’s answers revealed they were concerned about tariffs and uncertain about what to expect.

The import market

The workshop began with Beg and Steenbakkers giving a presentation on a white paper called ‘Global Influx: Analyzing the Impact of Overseas Imports on North America and Europe’. The white paper examined the landscape of pressure-sensitive label material imports from Asia, particularly China, with its information coming from surveys, interviews and discussions with release liner suppliers, industry associations and Asian laminators, as well as from trade data.

The white paper found that pressure-sensitive label material imports to the US and Europe have increased over the years, with US imports increasing more consistently yearly. Mexico is the country’s biggest importer of label materials for the US, with Canada and China at similar levels of imports.

According to Beg, China’s economic slowdown and overcapacity have created an environment where increasing exports make sense. At the same time, the Chinese government has been pursuing policies to make it easier to export goods by issuing more export licenses and providing subsidies and tax incentives.

Increasing Chinese material imports have resulted in an influx of cheaper materials. However, there is also an increased possibility of material delays, as was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tariffs could potentially also disrupt these imports.

Other challenges with these imports are that the quality is not as consistent and that the materials might not meet safety and environmental requirements.

Steenbakkers said tariffs are expected to result in a decline in imports. However, challenges remain, such as the US's ability to meet its own demand for materials. Meanwhile, China has said it will shift away from exports, though it’s uncertain if that will happen. China is also currently looking at alternative export markets, such as Southeast Asia.

‘What are the long-term implications?’ Steenbakkers asked. ‘We don’t know yet.’

Voice of the industry

The next section of the workshop, called ‘Voice of the Industry,’ followed the white paper presentation. Two industry leaders, Calvin Frost, chairman of Channeled Resource Groups, and Steve Hicknell, vice president of sales, paperboard and specialty products at Kruger, shared their thoughts and experiences with tariffs.

Frost criticized the tariffs, suggesting they would cause inflation.

‘Tariffs, in my opinion, do not solve problems,’ Frost said. ‘I think they’ve made things much more complicated for all of us. At the end of the day, the consumer pays for it.’

Hicknell works for a Canadian company that sells about 80 percent of its products to the US. He said he’s in meetings almost daily to discuss tariffs and how to handle them and that the uncertainty over tariffs has been difficult.

'There’s confusion. I think we’re all wondering what the next steps are. What’s going to happen? Where are we going with April 2?’ he said, referring to the date the Trump administration plans to implement new reciprocal tariffs.

Voice of the audience

The final part of the workshop was the real-time survey.

The first question was: ‘What is the most significant challenge currently facing the release liner industry?’

The audience’s answers created a word cloud on the screen, with ‘tariffs’ being the biggest. Other large words on the screen included ‘uncertainty’, ‘employees’, ‘price pressure’ and ‘Trump’.

Throughout the rest of the survey, the audience expressed uncertainty and a wait-and-see mentality about tariffs. For the question on how tariffs have impacted their businesses, the vast majority of respondents answered, ‘still evaluating the long-term impact’ or ‘no major impact so far.’ Most respondents wanted to see how markets react before changing their sourcing strategy.

For the survey's last question: ‘What are the biggest opportunities for the release liner industry?’, more than 100 audience members responded, with ‘sustainability’ and ‘innovation’ being the most popular answers.

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MAPP partners with Wink to deliver flexible dies in UK and Ireland

Adyasha Sinha — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:57:40 +0000

MA Print Products (MAPP) has partnered with Wink to produce and deliver its Performance line flexible dies in the UK and Ireland, fully utilizing the benefits of flexible die-cutting for narrow web applications.

Earlier this year, Wink produced its Performance Flex die at its facility in Germany. The dies can cut a variety of label shapes and sizes, including kiss cutting, cut-through and other die-cutting processes, and can be used in semi- and full-rotary and flatbed systems. To minimize the transfer of adhesive and ink residues, the Performance Flex dies can be provided with MC or MCR coatings, laser hardened, or a non-stick coating.

The Performance Flex die range forms part of MAPP’s growing Performance Line portfolio of parts and consumables. These products are available to all converters and suitable for all equipment, regardless of manufacturer.

Globally, the flexible die market is projected to approach 200 million USD at the start of the next decade. This represents a strong CAGR of 6.8 percent. Flexible dies provide a number of benefits to label converters, from being lightweight and more affordable than solid dies, requiring less storage space, and being quicker to manufacture and dispatch, to suitability for a wide range of label materials and providing better economies of scale in a dynamic industry such as narrow web label converting. At the same time, flexible dies need to be engineered precisely using advanced materials that deliver consistent results that are comparable in quality to solid dies, if not surpassing them.

Utilizing Wink’s 35-plus years of expertise in manufacturing high-precision tooling means MAPP Performance Flex Die flexible dies combine all of these benefits and more.

MAPP European operations director Andy Clarke said: 'We are committed to raising quality standards across the label industry. Die-cutting is an important area for the industry, with every label touched by tooling at some point in its journey from the jumbo roll to the applicator.'

He further added: 'With flexible dies being essential to the label industry and its continued evolution into a streamlined and highly efficient manufacturing sector, having access to reliable and rapid delivery of high-quality tooling is of utmost importance and gives converters an edge in the highly competitive label industry.

“Our partnership with Wink positions MAPP as the pre-eminent supplier of die-cutting technology, with converters in the UK and Ireland benefiting directly from the nature of our partnership. This grants MAPP customers priority access to high-quality and precisely engineered flexible dies at a competitive price and available with a 24- to 48-hour turnaround time. This means you can order today and convert tomorrow.'

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MAPP partners with Wink to deliver flexible dies in UK and Ireland

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Wink produces MAPP's latest flexible die, Performance Flex, at its facility in Germany.

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Wink produces MAPP's latest flexible die, Performance Flex, at its facility in Germany.

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Packaging to power expansion in flexo print to 2029

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 22:08:50 +0000

Smithers, the global market intelligence firm specializing in the print and packaging markets, has released The Future of Flexographic Printing Markets to 2029 report. The report forecasts that the value of flexo printing will increase at a 3 percent CAGR through 2029.

According to the report, the global value of flexo printing in 2024 was valued at 230.5 billion USD and is forecast to increase at a 3 percent CAGR to yield a total value of 267.2 billion USD in 2029 (at constant 2023 pricing).

Flexo output is growing across most applications, but notably packaging. Growth in this segment is forecast to continue, driven by economic demand, particularly from e-commerce and consumer-facing boxes.

Flexible packaging, labels and folding cartons will also see solid growth.

Changes in print buying will make digital more competitive with flexo on shorter runs. Digital printing is well established in labels as a mainstream technology that is competitive with flexo; however, the widespread adoption and strong ongoing sales of hybrid presses mean that flexo volumes are holding up and will continue to grow.

In contrast, flexo printing of newspapers, bags, sacks, and envelopes will decline as demand for these end-use products falls.

Worldwide, output on flexo presses was 8.6 trillion A4 sheets in 2024. This will increase to 10.0 trillion in 2029.

The three largest regions for flexo printing are Asia, North America and Western Europe. In 2024, these regions accounted for 81 percent of the global volume and 83.1 percent of the value.

Asia is forecast to experience strong growth at a 5.8 percent CAGR by volume for 2024-2029, with India the fastest-growing national market. North America and Western Europe are mature regions for flexo print and will grow more moderately – 2.3 and 1.7 percent CAGR, respectively—across the same period.

The Smithers report segments the flexo print market by end-use application, geographic region and key national market. It includes data on the installed base, future equipment sales by flexo press format, and consumables (plates and inks). Its market forecasting is contextualized by analysis of the leading commercial and technology developments, trends in packaging consumption, and increased competition from inkjet systems.

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Packaging to power expansion in flexo print to 2029

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According to the latest report, flexible packaging, labels and folding cartons will also see solid growth.

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According to the latest report, flexible packaging, labels and folding cartons will also see solid growth.

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AWA releases Labeling & Product Decoration Market Report 2025

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 22:18:15 +0000

AWA Alexander Watson Associates has released the19th edition of the AWA Labeling & Product Decoration Market Report 2025. It comprehensively analyzes the global labeling and product decoration market's recovery and its projected outlook for the coming years.

According to the report, after a challenging period in 2023 marked by an inventory buildup in Europe and North America, the labeling and product decoration market recovered in 2024. The global market grew by 4.8 percent, with a notable rebound in the pressure-sensitive label sector. This growth is attributed to stabilization across various label technologies, including pressure-sensitive and glue-applied labels.

Despite this recovery, the market continues to face challenges. While moderate inflation and steady global economic growth point to a potential soft landing, global resilience has exceeded expectations. Inflation has receded faster than anticipated, leading to more optimistic growth projections. The market is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5 percent from 2024 to 2027.

The full report offers comprehensive insights into the labeling industry trends. It includes detailed analysis segmented by technology, region and end use to provide key market insights. It also includes an overview of the primary factors contributing to market expansion and potential investment opportunities.

The document features the Raw Material Trends & M&A Activity section, which provides insights into evolving raw material trends and market consolidation, including mergers and acquisitions.

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AWA releases Labeling & Product Decoration Market Report 2025

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According to the report, the global market grew by 4.8 percent, with a notable rebound in the pressure-sensitive sector.

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According to the report, the global market grew by 4.8 percent, with a notable rebound in the pressure-sensitive sector.

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AWA releases 2025 Extrusion Coated Materials Market Report

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:03:28 +0000

AWA Alexander Watson Associates has released the AWA 2025 Extrusion Coated Materials Market Report, which provides valuable market information on the evolving landscape and offers a forward-looking view of the industry's future.

In this edition, AWA uncovers emerging trends and explores cutting-edge advancements transforming applications across various sectors.

According to the report, combined Europe, North America and Asia grew by 3.1 percent between 2023 -2024. These three markets have a projected CAGR of 2.9 percent between 2024-2027. Asia, the largest regional market, continues to drive the growth in this industry, showcasing the region's potential in shaping the industry's future.

The report covers 12 subsegments within the commercial sector, providing granular insights into key market trends and opportunities.

In the Market Structure Analysis, the report examines the structure of the extrusion coating market, focusing on key players and industry stakeholders. It offers valuable insights into the driving forces behind market dynamics and their impact on overall industry trends.

For more information or to order the 2025 Extrusion Coated Materials Market Report, visit the AWA Alexander Watson Associates website.

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AWA releases 2025 Extrusion Coated Materials Market Report

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Asia continues to drive the growth in this industry, showcasing the region's potential in shaping the industry's future.

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Asia continues to drive the growth in this industry, showcasing the region's potential in shaping the industry's future.

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Mark Boyt joins Keypoint Intelligence

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:00:40 +0000

Market research firm Keypoint Intelligence has appointed Mark Boyt as principal analyst for production workflow software.

Boyt has extensive experience in software marketing, business development and workflow automation, having spent several years leading global marketing initiatives at Xerox. As global head of software marketing, he was key in launching new software, developing go-to-market strategies and supporting digital advancements across global markets. His deep knowledge of workflow software, sales support and partner networks will be valuable in his new role.

As principal analyst, Boyt will focus on examining market trends, assessing new technologies, and providing practical guidance to help clients improve their production workflow processes. His ability to break down complex software developments into useful business strategies will further strengthen Keypoint Intelligence’s role as a trusted industry resource.

‘Mark’s broad experience in workflow software and his strategic approach make him an excellent addition to our analyst team,’ said Charles Lissenburg, director of European sales and production services at Keypoint Intelligence. ‘His knowledge will help our clients make informed decisions and navigate the changing production print industry.’

‘I’m excited to join such a well-respected organization known for its deep industry knowledge and research expertise. Production workflow software continues to evolve, and I look forward to helping our clients understand the trends, innovations, and opportunities shaping the future of the industry,’ commented Boyt.

With Boyt’s addition, Keypoint Intelligence continues to expand its team of industry experts, reinforcing its commitment to delivering thorough research, expert analysis and practical solutions that help businesses stay competitive in a shifting market. His leadership will play a key role in shaping the future of production workflow software research and development.

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Mark Boyt joins Keypoint Intelligence

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Boyt appointed principal analyst for production workflow software.

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Confidence in connected packaging soars according to latest survey

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 23:36:21 +0000

One of the global leaders in connected packaging, Appetite Creative, has partnered with Polytag and Digimarc, for its fourth annual Global Connected Packaging Survey 2025. According to the research, 88.8 percent of those surveyed stated that connected packaging will be increasingly important to the packaging industry in the next 12 months and beyond.

Over two-thirds (66.7 percent) stated that connected packaging encourages customer loyalty through personalization, and 59.1 percent find that it facilitates direct customer communication. Half claim it provides actionable data for marketing and product decisions (50.6 percent), with gamification proving valuable for engaging younger audiences (50 percent). Over 72 percent of companies are currently using connected packaging, which is a drop year on year from 82 percent in 2024.

According to Appetite Creative, the landscape of connected packaging has undergone significant transformation, with a notable shift from single-technology to multi-technology approaches. QR codes combined with NFC technology have emerged as the leading implementation method (42.4 percent), with individual use of QR codes (32.1 percent) and NFC tags (22.1 percent) close behind. While 66.1 percent of respondents show increasing interest in serialized QR codes, up from 64.6 percent in 2024, indicating growing sophistication in deployment strategies.

The FMCG (36.9 percent) and marketing/advertising (36 percent) sectors are leading adoption, followed by retail (21.8 percent), automotive (15.9 percent) and hospitality (14.5 percent) spotlighting broad industry acceptance beyond traditional packaging sectors. Industry skepticism has decreased, with only 13.4 percent viewing connected packaging as a passing fad, down from 23.2 percent year on year.

The survey also revealed that digital marketing investment trends continue to fluctuate, with 75.5 percent of companies planning to increase their digital marketing spend in 2025, a notable shift from the 96 percent reported in 2024, 88 percent in 2023 and 59 percent in 2022. This adjustment suggests a maturation of the market as companies optimize their investment strategies.

The research shows 76.7 percent of respondents are planning connected packaging campaigns this year, compared to 88 percent in 2024, indicating a more focused and strategic approach to implementation.

The number of respondents planning on connected packaging campaigns showcased mixed results, with 21 percent planning to spend between 15,000 to 30,000 USD this year, down from 33 percent in 2024. A quarter (25 percent) plans to spend 31,000 to 50,000 USD, which remained flat year on year. Over a third (34.8 percent) plan to spend less than 15,000 USD, up from 11 percent.

The company said consumer engagement has seen a dramatic shift through gamification, with 59 percent of participants incorporating gaming elements into their campaigns, marking a 15 percent increase from the previous year. Marketers surveyed are using gamification for product or service promotion (47.2 percent), to gather consumer insights (18.1 percent) and branding (17.7 percent). Traditional games, quizzes and augmented reality (AR) have emerged as the most effective engagement methods.

The primary drivers for connected packaging adoption have evolved, with consumer loyalty and promotions leading at 57.2 percent, followed by sustainability and recycling initiatives at 51.9 percent. Supply chain optimization has gained significant traction at 39.8 percent, demonstrating the technology's evolution from a pure marketing tool to a strategic business asset.

Jenny Stanley, managing director at Appetite Creative, said: ‘We’re seeing the connected packaging market mature, with companies taking a more strategic and sophisticated approach to implementation. While there are adjustments in investment levels, the increased adoption of multi-technology solutions, alongside the growing focus on consumer loyalty and sustainability, indicates connected packaging is evolving from a purely marketing tool into a comprehensive business solution. The rise in gamification adoption and the sustained interest in serialized QR codes reflect an industry that's becoming more nuanced in how it engages with consumers and leverages technology for business value.’

Alice Rackley, CEO at Polytag, added: ‘As a pioneer in the connected packaging space - and a proud partner of GS1 - Polytag knows it is critical to lead the conversation and collaborate across the connected packaging sector. The results of each Appetite Creative annual Connected Packaging Survey are a must-read for anyone working in this fast-paced sector; every year the connected packaging industry moves forward with enhanced digitization, ground-breaking innovation and future-focused strategy. The participants who respond to the survey are leaders shaping these agendas, with their finger on the pulse. These survey results matter.’

Dominique Guinard, vice president of Innovation at Digimarc, commented: ‘The brands and retailers we work with are transparent about bridging the physical and digital realms in their digital transformation journeys. Connected packaging creates this bridge. Over the past year, pending regulations like transitioning to 2D codes with Sunrise 2027 and Europe's Digital Product Passport (DPP) have moved connected packaging from a strategic imperative to a requirement. We look forward to learning from survey respondents to understand priorities and ensure we continue to make the adoption of connected packaging technologies as simple and effective as possible for brands and retailers worldwide.’

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Confidence in connected packaging soars according to latest survey

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Industry confidence soars as survey respondents see connected packaging as increasingly important.

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Industry confidence soars as survey respondents see connected packaging as increasingly important.

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Sales success depends on knowing your customer’s ‘why’

Pre-call planning: Just do it

Align with customer goals

Lois Ritarossi

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Flexo, hybrid or digital – which is best for short runs?

Andy Thomas

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Exploring opportunities in Mexico

AWA summit opens with session on tariffs

Selah Zighelboim

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MAPP partners with Wink to deliver flexible dies in UK and Ireland

Packaging to power expansion in flexo print to 2029

AWA releases Labeling & Product Decoration Market Report 2025

AWA releases 2025 Extrusion Coated Materials Market Report

Mark Boyt joins Keypoint Intelligence

Confidence in connected packaging soars according to latest survey