Richard Davies’ Post

I’ve always enjoyed giving a little demo, so here we go… Check this out: Would you say that all corrugated salespeople stand just like this? Alright, now, on to the main point… Ever wonder where the issues start? Sure, lighter paper is cheaper. But with that comes a trade-off in strength and performance. What do you think?

Just returned from an incredible holiday in France with my wife Vicky! One of the highlights was visiting the magnificent 𝐂𝐡â𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐝 - a true masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Exploring its grand halls and stunning surroundings was like stepping back in time! Visiting 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭-𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 - if that isn’t an inspiration for Hogwarts I don’t know what is. I also had the amazing experience of staying in a 𝐜𝐡â𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐮 myself, which made the trip feel even more special. Plus, visiting 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 to see where their famous champagne is prepared and stored was a real treat - learning about the craftsmanship behind every bottle was fascinating! And the drinking was pretty good too! We drove about 1500 miles in 10 days and guess what - it was a dream. Who knew you could have roads without potholes - even the not-so-good roads made the M25 look like a farm track. So, Chapeau France we loved it. Already dreaming of the next adventure!

I know all I do is talk about packaging. But, imagine this: No packaging… No boxes… Just loose products flying around in a truck. Then loose damaged products just dumped on shelves. Still think cardboard’s not important?

Is your packaging pulling its weight? Quality packaging isn’t just about keeping your product safe. It's about cutting costs where it matters. → Better shelf efficiency, less wasted space and faster replenishment. If your packaging isn’t doing that, what’s the point? If it’s not working, fix it. Simple. Let’s talk. I’ll show you where the savings are.

LIGHTER papers have gotten STRONGER. How? The industry is evolving, and paper technology has allowed us to manipulate shifting paper around to get better performance - for less. Saying that… Stay tuned for what we’ve been working on 📦

Happy Monday all. Definitely feels like Autumn now, doesn’t it? But still, the cold doesn’t stop me from getting those miles in 🚲 So, how’s everyone spending their weekends these days?

Think packaging is just protection? There’s more to it. Quality packaging optimises operations, streamlines the supply chain, reduces costs and enhances customer experience. Cut corners, and you’re not just risking damaged goods - you’re missing out on many other benefits. Let me know your thoughts…

𝟔𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐊𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠... 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠! I recently turned 61. In my 20s, I thought 60 was ancient… Now I realise it's the new 40 but with better stories, slightly worse knees and a very dodgy back.   Here’s what I’ve learned after 6 decades: → I’m now old enough to give unsolicited career advice—and people seem to listen (or at least nod politely). → I now realise that when you get to a certain age it is perfectly normal to make strange noises when getting out of a chair. → My eyesight is so bad now that I get confused when people make hand gestures at me. I am sure that van driver was just being polite and telling me it was two lanes on the dual carriageway. → My email sign-off is a fine balance between “Best regards” and “I hope this reaches you before I forget what I was going to ask.” → I now get the fact that fashion comes around in circles and that mullets are now back – see me aged 19. And yes for you young people that is an actual phone that we used to use to speak to people – that was it’s only job and it wasn’t mobile. Looking at my expression I was probably listening to an old bloke droning on about how this new music is just rubbish! → I’ve become a master of using “when I was a lad” in meetings and being confused by people talking about ChatGPT – is this the new Ceefax? → I’ve lived long enough to see work-life balance become a buzzword and actual balance become something I practice every time I try to tie my shoes. But here’s the thing - 61 years means I’ve seen, learned, and laughed at a lot, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Except maybe the ability to understand TikTok!   To all my fellow professionals, whether you’re just starting or cruising past 60, remember this:   Age is just a number. And in my case, it’s a number with a free prescriptions and a senior citizen rail card. Oh and The Clash are the only band that mattered!

“Richard, does it really matter if we cut costs on packaging?” Well, if your goal is a warehouse full of damaged stock, angry customers and endless returns, then no, I guess it doesn’t matter at all. But if you prefer products arriving intact, avoiding chaos in the supply chain and not spending your afternoon explaining why half your inventory looks like it’s been through a blender… Then yeah, it matters. But here’s thing - good packaging isn’t just about avoiding damage. It’s about optimising your whole operation. Investing in quality packaging means you can actually save money… Want to know how? DM me.

As if this cat knows exactly where the pet food aisle is… I mean, I can never find what I’m looking for - hence why Vicky does the shopping! Anyway… Does anyone have a local shop cat you spot every now and then?