Herbert Walkers looks at key themes in 2023

Mike Lammas, managing director of print and packaging company Herbert Walkers, has commented on the key themes he expects to develop in 2023.

After a turbulent year many businesses and experts are looking back to learn from previous challenges and prepare for trends and key areas in the year ahead. With 75 years of experience in the industry, Herbert Walkers has amassed a wealth of knowledge in print and packaging.

Lammas reflects on 2022 and the difficulties brought about by the continued pandemic, the “rocketing price of energy”, as well as the ramifications of the war in Ukraine.

“The good news is that supply chain issues seem to be improving, with much better availability enabling greater choice and allowing more accurate scheduling,” says Lammas. The managing director notes that material prices have stabilised, and while they are not at pre-pandemic levels, the reduced price volatility makes it easier for businesses to plan and manage costs.

Going into 2023 Lammas acknowledges that data Christmas/peak spending will give an indication for buying patterns throughout the rest of the year.

“The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on packaging design and print requirements is a difficult trend to call.

“Brands and retailers are likely to look for ways to reduce their packaging costs by implementing design and print strategies that are more efficient and involve lower material use,” says Lammas, adding:

“Packaging matters more than ever in a competitive market because the product needs to stand out on the shelf. Consequently, it will be designs and finishes that deliver the highest impact for the greatest value that will be central to delivering packaging strategies that balance the need to rein in costs with creating consumer appeal.”

Lammas also discusses the impact of a likely recession on the UK economy and the Euro zone. As an independent business Herbert Walkers feels it has invested wisely during years of growth with customers across areas like packaging and greetings cards, so personally can still thrive.

“The packaging and greetings cards markets may contract a little, but they are both areas where consumer purchasing remains necessary, so the supply chain will remain busy. The challenge will be to deliver value while keeping both quality and cost management to the fore as the printing sector supports brands and retailers in their quest to help consumers navigate the cost-of-living crisis.”

Herbert Walkers and Lammas also pinpoint sustainability as a trend and important topic that will continue into 2023 and beyond.

Lammas notes the popularity of more paperboard products replacing the likes of plastic boxes, such as with laundry capsules. This popularity and conversion from brands and retailers leaves a lot of room for continued innovation and new investments.

Lammas adds: “The greetings card industry is under pressure to re-shore production from China for a number of reasons, including supply chain resilience, sustainability, and socio-political lobbies. Herbert Walkers has capacity to handle some of this additional demand in an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified UK production facility for greetings card publishers that want to re-shore.”

Undoubtedly 2023 will be a year of difficult trials, but as highlighted by Lammas, new challenges can lead to new opportunities and mindsets.

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