Business Battles & Industry Insights: Chats

Soraya King started Preflight Creative to help ambitious product founders and entrepreneurs launch, scale and dominate the shelf. They've helped clients achieve success at Costco, New Zealand Supermarket Chains, Mitre 10, and The Warehouse, to name a few.

We dive deep into all things packaging, both pre and post-print, the impact of AI and its place in our industry, as well as picking apart simple strategies you can add to your approach to getting on the shelf.

Chapters:
00:00 - 00:30 Intro
00:31 - 02:17 Career trajectory
02:18 - 05:34 Making the move to start Preflight Creative
05:35 - 09:20 The competitive edge
09:21 - 11:07 Common mistakes people make
11:08 - 13:17 The creative process
13:18 - 14:25 Realistic expectations
14:26 - 16:12 Retail and print experience insights
16:13 - 18:29 Standing out against the big corporate brands
18:30 - 21:13 Picking up a new brief
21:14 - 25:55 What excites Soraya in the early days of a project
25:56 - 29:25 What brands get wrong
29:26 - 35:31 The "drunk granny" test and what's working
35:32 - 37:19 Calling it out
37:20 - 39:28 Design trends or phases that should disappear
39:29 - 42:17 Strong design opinion
42:18 - 43:59 More people to challenge the norm
44:00 - 45:11 Fast change in packaging design
45:12 - 52:57 AI
52:58 - 55:51 How packaging and brand will change in five years
55:52 - 56:50 Advice to new brands and founders
56:51 - 1:01:23 Things to not compromise on
1:00:24 - 1:03:23 The most rewarding part of the journey
1:03:24 - 1:04:33 The FMCG space
1:04:34 - 1:06:33 Mentoring and being mentored
1:06:34 - 1:07:48  One thing to take away from this chat

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Nerida Kelton is the Executive Director for the Australasian Institute of Packaging, commonly known as AIP.

We dive deep into all things packaging on both a local and global scale, how suppliers and government bodies can create more harmony, as well as optimistically looking into the future.

Chapters:
00:00 - 01:06 Intro
01:07 - 02:03 Career-defining packaging wisdom
02:04 - 06:06 Biggest shift in how professionals think about their role
06:07 - 08:51 Biggest change in AIP membership needs
08:52 - 15:34 Helping members navigate sustainability requirements
15:35 - 17:29 What you can learn from AIP
17:30 - 24:49 How packaging needs to evolve to help reduce food waste
24:50 - 26:11 One global packaging misconception
26:12 - 30:46 The WPO
30:47 - 35:07 World-class sustainable packaging
35:08 - 41:24 Flexible packaging
41:25 - 44:29 Policy breakthrough
44:30 - 45:35 Reducing impact in packaging design
45:36 - 49:13 What New Zealand can learn from Australia
49:14 - 54:30 Recycling label standards
54:31 - 57:18 A much-needed collaboration
57:19 - 58:27 Skills to prioritise learning when starting out
58:28 - 1:03:27 What to get right as a packaging business
1:03:28 - 1:05:13 Common mistakes when trying to "go green"
1:05:14 - 1:06:54 A success story that shows what is possible
1:06:55 - 1:08:21 Where packaging should be in 10 years
1:08:22 - 1:08:52 A flexible packaging prediction
1:08:53 - 1:10:01- Outro

Get started with AIP:
https://aipack.com.au/

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Mike Cunningham is a specialist packaging recruiter connecting businesses with the best across business development, portfolio sales, and technical roles.

We dive deep into how Mike ended up in Australia, his humble beginnings packing onions, and the way he helps both the business and the employee in the hiring process.

Chapters:
00:00 - 04:43 Introduction
04:44 - 06:13 Landing in the industry
06:14 - 10:05 How he ended up in Australia from the other side of the world
10:06 - 12:25 What Mike helps clients with
12:26 - 16:17 What roles and industries he deals with
16:18 - 23:06 Trends and challenges for businesses hiring in the packaging space
23:07 - 25:30 What businesses are looking for beyond experience
25:31 - 27:44 What makes a candidate stand out
27:45 - 32:55 Flexibility, purpose, salary, culture, progression
32:56 - 37:29 Skills more valuable now than before
37:30 - 40:58 How do we develop the next generation
40:59 - 43:20 Watch this if you're struggling to hire
43:21 - 44:48 What companies get wrong when hiring
44:49 - 46:01 How to build a long career in the industry
46:02 - 47:21 Skills and experience that are underestimated
47:22 - 48:11 Where the talent pool is headed
48:12 - 49:14 Five years from now
49:15 - 51:14 What excites Mike about the future
51:15 - 51:36 Connect with Mike
51:37 - 53:17 One piece of advice for every packaging business
53:18 - 53:24 Outro

Connect with Mike:
[email protected]
https://www.connectapac.com.au/

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Sherrelle Smith is an FMCG lifer who bridges the gap between your brand and getting maximum impact through working with supermarket category managers.

We dive deep into all things FMCG, working with your category manager, as well as spotlighting some upcoming brands to look out for.

Chapters:
00:00 - 00:53 Introduction
00:54 - 04:07 Consultant, trainer, and educator
04:08 - 06:35 Getting into the FMCG space
06:36 - 07:39 The competitive edge
07:40 - 15:14 Big shifts in how suppliers and retail are working
15:15 - 17:43 How does a category review work
17:44 - 20:46 What great looks like to a category manager
20:47 - 25:50 Common mistakes suppliers make during a category review
25:51 - 30:38 What you must bring to the table as a supplier
30:39 - 33:01 Going up against the bug guys
33:02 - 36:29 Where most launches come unstuck
36:30 - 37:06 Three questions you have to be able to answer
37:07 - 38:35 What a strong product launch looks like
36:36 - 41:50 106 stories, but 1 that stands out
41:51 - 44:20 What people underestimate the most
44:21 - 46:31 The importance of packaging compliance
46:32 - 49:38 Wicket's World
49:39 - 50:28 Lessons brought back to the other side from building the brand
50:29 - 51:06 Surprises along the way
51:07 - 52:19 What is coming soon
52:20 - 53:41 Making the numbers work is the #1 thing to focus on
53:42 - 55:05 Negotiating with the retailers
55:06 - 56:40 One supermarket myth worth debunking
56:41 - 59:50 One piece of advice for new FMCG founders
59:51 - 1:00:50 Connect with Sherrelle

To connect with Sherrelle:
[email protected]
https://www.sherrellesmithconsulting....

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Jerome Wenzlick is a farmer, fencer, and founder of Future Post, a company that is absolutely crucial to our waste minimisation here in New Zealand.

News of a devastating fire that tore through their primary manufacturing facility was kept quiet until recently, as the team simply needs the help of everyday Kiwis to continue the good work of recycling the country's soft plastics.

Chapters:
00:00 - 00:46 Introduction
00:47 - 02:19 The scale of the Future Post operation
02:20 - 03:35 The devastating fire back in November
03:36 - 05:00 Current status
05:01 - 06:07 The net impact on their recycling
06:08 - 07:28 Worst case scenario
07:29 - 08:39 People have tried to copy, but failed
08:40 - 09:49 Jerome's involvement as part of the "big picture"
09:50 - 11:09 The "Give a Little" fund
11:10 - 12:13 What the support will allow Future Post to do
12:14 - 12:53 What you can do to help today
12:54 - 13:38 Changes and backing we need to see
13:39 - 14:08 A realistic rebuild and future state for Future Post
14:09 - 15:11 The motivation to get up and stay in the fight
15:12 - 15:58 The investment makes sense for the long term
15:59 - 16:10 Get involved
16:11 - 16:57 One of many reasons why Future Post matters
16:58 - 17:03 Outro

To make a donation:
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/save-...
https://www.futurepost.co.nz/

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Chris Tollemache founded Brand Nation after exiting a prior business. He understood the complexities of bringing a product to market and sought to simplify the process for fellow founders here in New Zealand. Chris and the team are hands-on throughout the A-Z process, but are open to how they give business owners control of their costings and margins.

We dive deep into all things ecommerce, contract manufacturing, and NPD, and how Chris and the team work closely at every step of the complex journey to guarantee their clients' success.

Chapters:
00:00 - 01:14 Introduction
01:15 - 02:59 From brand owner to toll processor
03:00 - 04:25 Expanding the business
04:26 - 05:45 The value Brand Nation delivers to its clients
05:46 - 06:32 Servicing a variety of verticals
06:33 - 06:54 Dry goods as the primary packed product
06:55 - 07:41 What customers come to the table with
07:42 - 08:28 Bottlenecks and staying positive during tough times
08:29 - 09:10 A strong team enables stability
09:11 - 10:02 Where customers commonly underestimate the manufacturing process
10:03 - 11:07 Ironing out inefficiency to relieve pressure points
11:08 - 13:22 What makes a good customer
13:23 - 14:19 Supply chain
14:20 - 15:37 Working on the bill of materials
15:38 - 17:02 Understanding packaging and planning
17:03 - 18:15 Guidance in the process early on is key with formulation
18:16 - 19:17 Common mistakes with packaging
19:18 - 21:48 Balancing performance and aesthetic
21:49 - 23:18 Monumental shifts over seven years
23:19 - 25:30 Access and visibility with technology
25:31 - 26:51 Three things to get right with a new product
26:52 - 27:33 One question you must ask your manufacturer
27:34 - 29:57 Common reasons a product fails
29:58 - 30:31 Building a long-term partnership
30:32 - 32:32 New and upcoming innovation
32:33 - 33:31 The most exciting part about the job
33:32 - 33:50 Get in touch below!

For any contract manufacturing enquiries:
https://www.brandnation.co.nz/
[email protected]
+64 21 256 3546

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Kenna has recently stepped into the role of Managing Director at Seedlab, an incubator backed by Woolworths that helps brands get on the big shelves through strategic partnerships.

We dive deep into all things FMCG, Seedlab, and the differences between the two Tasman markets and what makes them special.

Chapters:
00:00 - 02:14 Introduction
02:15 - 06:15 How a background in research and retail influences the role
06:16 - 08:02 The importance of storytelling
08:03 - 14:30 The connection to Seedlab early on, but the delay in involvement
14:31 - 15:35 The best feeling
15:36 - 20:02 What Seedlab actually does
20:03 - 25:14 How the bootcamp works
25:15 - 27:13 Getting involved with the next phase, "Cultivate"
27:14 - 33:17 Common gaps with brands coming through
33:18 - 37:27 What brands seem to underestimate when it comes to getting into retail
37:28 - 40:41 How Seedlab helps to bridge the gap
40:42 - 43:41 What the supermarkets are looking for
43:42 - 46:04 The difference between Australian and New Zealand suppliers
46:05 - 48:16 The scale of preparation when entering a new market
48:17 - 52:06 The biggest opportunity is in either space
52:07 - 54:07 Common packaging mistakes
54:08 - 57:27 Packaging is just one part of the puzzle
57:28 - 57:45 Get involved with Seedlab
57:46 - 58:04 One thing to ask to ensure you're "retail ready"

To apply for Seedlabs "Cultivate":
https://seedlabaustralia.com.au/apply/

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Laura has over 10 years of experience in the creative industry in a variety of fields. Creative Jam specialises in FMCG (fast moving consumable goods), food and beverage and packaging, but they'll give any great business a go. They have a passion for big ideas and will often go above traditional design methods to look for that little bit extra, that complements a brand.

Laura then turned her experience into starting her own brand, Sneekico.

We dive deep into all things design, working on and understanding both sides as a creative and a brand owner, and much more.

Chapters:
00:00 - 03:18 Introduction
03:19 - 06:27 Life experience informing the process
06:28 - 10:09 What makes a brand stand out in the supermarket
10:10 - 15:35 Businesses of different sizes
15:36 - 20:59 A small change can make all the difference
21:00 - 27:30 How Sneekico came to be
27:31 - 31:25 Working on both sides of the process
31:26 - 36:32 Biggest surprise through the journey
36:33 - 39:37 Know your numbers
39:38 - 42:39 Where to get your information and other tools for use
42:40  - 46:49 A quick design change you can make today
46:50 - 50:51 Flexible packaging meets design
50:52 - 53:02 Packaging preferences
53:03 - 56:15 The three things to sort first
56:16 - 59:16 Debunking packaging myths
59:17 - 1:01:02 Biggest thrill as a designer
1:01:03 - 1:01:49 Touch base

For design queries:
https://creativejam.co.nz/
[email protected]

To try SneekiCo:
https://www.sneekico.co.nz/
@sneekico

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Al Baxter brings a wealth of experience from the FMCG and ingredients sectors to his existing role with Massey University. We dive deep into all things innovation and how the university is equipped to help new startups get going, validate market fit, and then build brands at scale.

Chapters:
00:00 - 02:10 Introduction
02:11 - 07:23 The New Zealand market
07:24 - 08:31 Food innovation & business development
08:32 - 13:25 Previous experience shaping thoughts on NPD and commercialisation
13:26 - 19:21 Massey University and its involvement with food innovation
19:27 - 22:45 Opportunities to connect research with commercialisation
22:46 - 31:53 Where innovation is thriving in the New Zealand food sector
31:54 - 33:53 What is TasteBench, and how does it benefit new and existing businesses
33:54 - 35:17 Packaging perception and customer engagement
35:18 - 41:01 Sorting your packaging sooner rather than later
41:02 - 41:15 Wise words to take away before you launch your product
41:16 - 41:28 Outro

Link to Feast TasteBench is here:
https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/f...

Link to Food Pilot is here:
https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/clinic...

Link to Nutrition Lab is here:
https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/massey...

Contact Al via email at [email protected].

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging

Ollie from Innerbloom talks about how he exited his job as a fireman to go all in on Innerbloom, highlighting key learnings in the process of getting his brand widely stocked in the functional drinks space.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:28 - Side hustle to full-time
06:39 - Emotions during the process
08:28 - Turning Innerbloom into a thriving business
11:45 - Early assumptions
13:14 - Online drink sales
16:16 - Toughest period building the business
17:32 - Oh no moments, near disasters
19:02 - Raising capital
20:27 - Developing skills through wearing many hats
21:30 - Advice for new businesses
23:22 - Signals to look out for
25:11 - Common traps to avoid going from side hustle to full-time
26:12 - Keep going
27:13 - One practical step to take today
29:28 - Innerbloom is expanding
30:34 - Overseas potential
32:05 - What success looks like in the next few years
33:40 - Working with Revo
34:12 - Support and follow Innerbloom

To chat to Ollie about wholesale opportunities, contact [email protected].

Grab a case here!
https://www.innerbloomcoffee.co.nz/
@drinkinnerbloom

Revo® Packaging

www.revopackaging.com

@revopackaging