He's bringing together print industry leaders in a new Dscoop series about innovation and the evolving POD landscape.

In this fun episode of the "Unvarnished" video interview series, Rusty Pepper, Head of New Markets and Partnerships at Taylor Corporation, talks candidly about his passion for the print-on-demand (POD) market and his journey into the industry.

Rusty is hosting a new Dscoop educational series called the "Print On Demand Playbook — go here for past recordings and upcoming sessions — and he plays a pivotal role in leading POD strategies.

His career began in the agency and promotions world, where he gained a deep understanding of brand positioning and strategy. That experience helped Rusty recognize the significant opportunities in POD, and he shares his enthusiasm for the POD market in this "Unvarnished" episode.

Rusty’s current role at Taylor focuses on partnerships. “We work across all the different ways that companies are using print-on-demand," he explained, highlighting Taylor’s backend print fulfillment model that works with resellers, platforms and marketplaces.

Watch the interview to get Rusty's take on the future of POD, why the print and promotional products industries are ripe for transformation and his love for all things Texas.

This "Unvarnished" episode shines a spotlight on the general manager of Etiqetas Anver in Barcelona, Spain. She embraces the values instilled by her father while building upon the label provider's approach to innovation and responsibility.

For over three decades, Etiquetas Anver has been at the forefront of label printing innovation, blending a rich legacy with cutting-edge technology. Under the leadership of General Manager Elisenda Vergés, the Barcelona, Spain-based company continues to evolve, staying true to the values instilled by its founder — Elisenda's father — while embracing the power of digital transformation.

With a background in hospitality, Elisenda brought a fresh, customer-focused approach to Etiquetas Anver. “In hospitality, the customer experience is essential,” she said. “I have brought the same mindset."

Her commitment to service and adaptability has been instrumental in the company’s shift from traditional flexographic printing to digital solutions, a change driven by market demand for shorter print runs, personalization and flexibility. Digital technology has enabled Etiquetas Anver to respond faster to customer needs, reduce waste, and maintain precise control over print quality, she said.

While the digital transition posed challenges, including the need to educate both staff and clients, it has since become a catalyst for growth. Elisenda notes that digital printing’s speed and flexibility are particularly valuable, saying, “Our clients especially appreciate the quick turnaround times and the flexibility in the number of labels that they can order.” This agility has allowed Etiquetas Anver to attract new customers and expand its capabilities.

Sustainability is another core focus for the company. From minimizing waste to utilizing solar power and FSC-certified materials, Elisenda underscores their commitment to eco-friendly practices. “We want to look after our planet, so we have to invest,” she said.

Dr. William Goh is a seasoned, respected professional with extensive experience in print and photography. As Director of Angel Prints Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia, he has successfully expanded his business reach through strategic collaborations with over 300 PSPs locally and has established partnerships with printing suppliers in China.

His career is distinguished by multiple awards and recognitions, including honorary doctorates in social work and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Goh graciously joined us as a guest for "The Link," a conversation series that brings together digital print leaders to share insights on collaborating, to talk about his partnership mindset and strategies.

The Link conversation series features digital print leaders who share insights and experiences collaborating with competitors to achieve big wins for everyone involved. Whether you're a newcomer or an experienced expert in the industry, tuning in can help you learn how to grow your business through smart collaboration.

The fifth guest of the series is Rachel Crowther, Director of Sales & Marketing at Cober Solutions (Canada) and Dscoop Americas Board Member. Learn how and why Rachel focuses daily on driving global partnerships.

The Link conversation series brings together digital print leaders to share insights on collaborating with competitors to achieve big wins for everyone involved. By including Dscoop members, the conversation provides real stories and tips straight from the pros. Whether you're a newcomer or an experienced expert in the industry, tuning in can help you learn how to grow your business through smart collaboration. The fourth guest of the series is Frank Arostegui, Executive Vice President for Sales at American Litho (USA) and Dscoop Americas Board Member. Frank Arostegui is Executive Vice President for Sales at American Litho, one of the nation's fastest growing direct and omnichannel marketing firms. Frank brings more than 25 years of collaborative sales experience to his current role, which he assumed in 2013. As the company's top sales and marketing executive, he sets the direction for ALitho's relationships with Fortune 100 clients around the globe and oversees a staff of 30. Frank began his career in the print industry in 1994, and since that time he has developed and nurtured relationships with clients on behalf of the nation's largest and most prestigious printing companies, including Banta, Moore and R.R. Donnelly. Frank and his wife recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. Together, they have raised three talented and creative daughters: Samantha, 24; Sophia, 21; and Sylvia, 19. In his personal and professional life, Frank has shown the ability to work for comprehensive solutions to the problems he encounters. He seeks to set the same example for his daughters and for all those he works with at American Litho.

The Link conversation series brings together digital print leaders to share insights on collaborating with competitors to achieve big wins for everyone involved. By including Dscoop members, the conversation provides real stories and tips straight from the pros. Whether you're a newcomer or an experienced expert in the industry, tuning in can help you learn how to grow your business through smart collaboration.

The third guest of the series is Ulrich Schätzl, COO Print & Packaging Elanders Group (Germany) and Dscoop EMEA Board Member.

Ulrich came into contact with the printing industry at a young age through his parents' business. The many hours spent in production paved his way into this industry, already during his school years. After graduating from the Munich University of Applied Sciences with a degree in printing technology, Ulrich's path led him to a large and renowned printing company in Bavaria, where he held various positions.

In 1997, Ulrich returned to his parents' company and six years later took over sole responsibility and management. Together with his management team in Donauwörth, Schätzl Druck & Medien transformed into an e-commerce specialist in the digital printing sector with a focus on books, calendars, stationary and wall art. Since July 2021, Schätzl has been part of the Elanders Print & Packaging Division headed by Sven Burkhard. Ulrich is responsible for the Mass Customization business unit within the Elanders Group.

Collaboration and Rick Bellamy go hand in hand. The experienced print industry leader and current managing director of Inflecton LLC shares inspiring stories and sage advice in Episode 2 of The Link, Dscoop's new conversation series about the value of networking and partnerships in the Dscoop global community.

From 2009-2021, Rick was CEO of RPI, and a master at developing the kind of trusting business relationships that earned both sides respect, business and even friendship. Today, in addition to serving as Dscoop's executive chair, Rick is using the same collaborative spirit to help graphic arts companies build diverse teams and embed a culture of sustainability.

Brands that want to stand up to their competition must find creative ways to stand out. That's why more and more brands are turning to The BoxMaker, a custom box manufacturer and packaging distributor that continues to innovate and advance. The company delivers truly stunning and highly effective packaging solutions that conventional print and finishing methods cannot produce. This episode of "Unvarnished" features Katy Hart, Director of Marketing and Communications at The BoxMaker, and Kristi Duvall, the company's Vice President of Sales. They share insight about how The BoxMaker approaches marketing and sales, developing the company's new website, the adoption of new technology in the packaging space, how COVID united the company and more.

In any profession, it would be totally forgivable for someone with nearly 20 years of experience to start putting things on coast — to rest on laurels and to lean on familiar answers when clients come calling.

The exact opposite of that defines Stuart Kellock, who has spent nearly two decades challenging the status quo, discovering new opportunities, and creating value for clients and partners in the self-adhesive label printing industry. Stuart is more than just managing director of Label Apeel, a UK-based company that supplies extremely impressive and brand-boosting labels to the beer, wine-and-spirits, food and retail markets. He's also the managing director of "let's do things differently" — of treating preconceived notions as the opposite of innovation.

In this episode of "Unvarnished," Stuart talks about what it takes to create high-impact labels, how his team pounces on the chance to make a difference to customers, the increasing importance of labels and packaging to brand development, and more.

Sustainability and technology combine in the mind of Jordan Darragh, founder and CEO of PrintReleaf. He recognized the need for print businesses to continually move toward sustainability goals and track their progress while doing so.

PrintReleaf's software enables print businesses to automatically reforest the equivalence of their paper and fiber-based material consumption, and offset the carbon emissions associated with their paper and packaging products. The result is good for both the planet and the bottom line — PrintReleaf's clients can certifiably plant trees to reforest their paper consumption and also use those efforts to impress and gain customers who also value eco-friendly practices.

In this episode of "Unvarnished," Jordan talks about how PrintReleaf started, and why its technology and efforts matter now more now than ever.

Here’s the recipe for the Alabama White Sauce Jordan mentions during the interview. "I was fortunate to meet Tuffy Stone last year at an event called Smoking University in Charleston, SC, where I went to barbecue school for three days, and I actually made the smoked chicken with him," Jordan says. "Life memory! Enjoy the recipe!"