Business Battles & Industry Insights: Chats

Steffan from Revo® Packaging

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Entrepreneurship
Biweekly

Business Battles & Industry Insights: Chats are about connecting with professionals in the packaging space across any of its many touch points. We talk to designers, brand owners, contract manufacturers, universities, consultants, and compliance experts about the hard road and insights throughout their individual journeys and how it all makes sense today.

Oct 28

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Soraya King from Preflight Creative

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
Sep 23

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Nerida Kelton from AIP

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
Aug 17

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Mike Cunningham from Connect APAC

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: mike@connectapac.com.au https://www.connectapac.com.au/ Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging
Aug 6

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Sherrelle Smith from Sherrelle Smith Consulting

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: sherrelle@sherrellesmithconsulting.co.nz https://www.sherrellesmithconsulting.... Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging
Jul 28

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Jerome Wenzlick from Future Post

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
Jul 19

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Chris Tollemache from Brand Nation

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/ chris@brandnation.co.nz +64 21 256 3546 Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging
Jul 7

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Kenna MacTavish from Seedlab Australia

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
Jun 24

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Laura Feavearyear from Creative Jam and SneekiCo

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/ hello@creativejam.co.nz To try SneekiCo: https://www.sneekico.co.nz/ @sneekico Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging
Jun 7

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Al Baxter from Massey University

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 a.baxter@massey.ac.nz. Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging
May 5

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Ollie from Innerbloom

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 Ollie@innerbloomandco.nz. Grab a case here! https://www.innerbloomcoffee.co.nz/ @drinkinnerbloom Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging
Apr 5

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Carl from FreightWorks

Carl from FreightWorks discusses how he entered the industry, then gives an in-depth, unbiased view of how current global conflicts are impacting freight and supply chains for New Zealand import and export businesses. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:53 - Entering the industry 02:30 - The war impacts the supply chain 1.0 08:39 - The war impacts the supply chain 2.0 10:23 - Current state 12:45 - Insurance 15:20 - Freight increases 17:37 - Past experience informing conflict response 20:43 - Route changes 21:43 - Advice to act on now 24:03 - Increases and decreases 28:19 - Talk to FreightWorks To get access to the freight advisory or to discuss your business, contact carl@freightworks.co.nz. https://freightworks.co.nz/ Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging
Apr 1

Business Battles & Industry Insight: Jono from Westlake Innovation

Jono from Westlake Innovation gives us an overview of the pet food sector in New Zealand, from its early days to the current innovations that are putting New Zealand on the map. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:01 - Pivot into pet food 02:31 - What does the job entail 03:57 - Background 07:54 - History of pet food 11:26 - Key global players 13:39 - New Zealand brands 17:49 - Global markets 25:43 - Functional ingredients 27:46 - Humanisation 29:46 - Raw/ Less processed 33:26 - Meat Alternatives 34:34 - Treats 35:32 - Personalised nutrition 39:33 - Opportunities in New Zealand 40:50 - New innovation 43:29 - Trends 46:35 - Flexible packaging 51:22 - Regulations and compliance 53:52 - The one thing you must consider as a new business 57:05 - The question/s Jono wished people asked sooner To discuss your next project and get trusted consultation, contact jonathan.cox@westlakeinnovation.co.nz. https://www.westlakeinnovation.co.nz/ Revo® Packaging www.revopackaging.com @revopackaging

12 Episodes

Business Battles & Industry Insights: Chats are about connecting with professionals in the packaging space across any of its many touch points. We talk to designers, brand owners, contract manufacturers, universities, consultants, and compliance experts about the hard road and insights throughout their individual journeys and how it all makes sense today.

Creator

Steffan from Revo® Packaging
Years Active

2026
Episodes

12
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Business Battles & Industry Insights: Chats
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Business Battles & Industry Insights: Chats