Reflecting on 2024 So Far: Century Printing and Packaging’s Milestones and Observed Market Trends

As we stand at the midpoint of the year, Century Printing and Packaging takes a moment to reflect on the milestones achieved, strides made, and advancements moving our industry. CP&P has seen great progress and has established strategic initiatives that set the stage for the next six months to improve and innovate for every client.

Century Printing and Packaging has achieved remarkable success this year, having sold over 85 million labels and fulfilled over 3,000 orders. This substantial volume highlights CP&P’s ability and dedication to meeting high demand while maintaining top-notch execution. The presence of a well-organized team working in unison has been instrumental in reaching these impressive milestones.

Let’s uncover some direct impacts to better understand what led to Century Printing and Packaging’s success in the year’s first half.

According to an article on LinkedIn, the Chemical Resistant Labels Market is projected to grow by 13.6% from 2024 to 2031. CP&P has focused on the chemical segment, which has led to their growth and expertise in providing specialized labeling solutions for this industry. Keeping up with this rapidly growing market shows their ability to meet the specific needs of chemical manufacturers, ensuring safety and compliance through durable and long-lasting labeling solutions.

Another reason for the remarkable success witnessed in 2024 is the sale of RFID labels. Century Printing and Packaging has taken the necessary steps to integrate itself into the new world of RFID labeling, not only to understand the industry’s changes but also to position the team as experts in the space. CP&P also intends to invest in encoding equipment for RFID labels within the year, bolstering its capability to stay current with future RFID trend needs.

In line with technological advancements, CP&P is exploring the purchase of a second digital press by the end of the year. This investment will empower the team to proactively assess and respond to customers’ evolving needs. By incorporating additional production bandwidth through introducing new presses, CP&P will have the capacity to accommodate a broader range of customer requirements.

Next, let’s examine market dynamics and customer trends that are significantly contributing to CP&P’s 2024 growth.

We are all experiencing the impact of inflation in one way or another, but one positive effect is the growing favor for store brands over name brands. A significant number of CP&P’s customers produce store brands, and this change in consumer preference has directly boosted sales. You may have already observed the trend of store brands occupying more space in shopping carts as consumers actively seek budget-friendly alternatives to name brands. Read more about this trend in the Wall Street Journal.

In contrast to last year, when supply chain disruptions presented significant challenges, 2024 has witnessed more stable supply chains. Century Printing and Packaging has taken proactive measures by expanding its pool of materials suppliers. This move ensures cost competitiveness and swift production timelines without any delays. The newfound stability has enabled CP&P to prioritize delivering consistent quality and reliability to their customers, even amid ongoing uncertainties in global supply chains.

Lastly, let’s dive into some strategic initiatives that CP&P has taken that will lead them into a flourishing 2025.

Century Printing and Packaging has conducted extensive studies on setup costs in response to customers’ heightened price sensitivity. This research has allowed them to refine existing pricing models, ensuring competitive quotes while maintaining profitability. By understanding the detailed costs of each production run, CP&P can provide customers with the best possible pricing without compromising quality.

Century’s workforce remains a cornerstone of their yearly success. CP&P takes pride in having a stable and dedicated team with the right people in the right positions, driving operations forward without interruption. A unified team, all pushing in the same direction, will fortify CP&P against any challenges that come their way in the second half of the year.

Looking ahead to the second half of 2024, Century Printing and Packaging is confident in its ability to continue providing high-value labels at every price point to its customers. The strategic investments mentioned above, strong production capabilities, and stable supply chains position CP&P well for future growth.

Century Printing and Packaging wouldn’t be here today without the support of its customers, partners, and team members for their continued collaboration and dedication. Together, CP&P is looking forward to achieving even greater milestones in the coming months and years.

Thank you for being a part of the journey.

Use Color and Creative Designs to Stand Out

How many times have you walked by various products at the point of purchase only to go for one that catches your eye because of its packaging or printing? Standing out from the crowd is more important than ever with the competitive markets in which we live today. That said there is no substitute for a product that actually works, performs, tastes, or delivers. So assuming you have a great product consider your printing and packaging look and feel. If you have a tried and true high performer don’t change it up, but change may be a really good thing if your product isn’t getting the traction it used to, or if it is underperforming compared to the competition.

How are you using color? Is your red logo screaming, or shouting at consumers? Consider the same logo but using different colors on different packaging or labels. Mix it up. How does the rest of the label compliment, or take away from your product? If you are producing spicey snacks then red is a great color to convey the fire of your product. However, if you are selling sleep aids red packaging is probably not going to win the day. However, light blue with a hint of gray is a strong performer.

Are your fonts hard to read for your particular product? Too many manufacturers think multiple fonts on a 4” label is creative. Competing fonts in terms of style and color can be confusing and detracting. Resist the temptation to go crazy with fonts. San Serif fonts like Arial/Helvetica are easier to read because the letters don’t have feet on them at the bottom. Making sure you have the right font for the right product and label is incredibly important.

You may have a friend, or neighbor who thinks they are pretty good with graphics, layout, and design, but are not professionally trained. Your printing and packaging look and feel is your brand identity and it’s not something you want in the hands of even the most capable layperson. Invest in professional graphics and design. You won’t feel obligated and you can ask for changes without feeling guilty. Design is not a place to skimp and work the “family deal”. Labels and packaging have to be functional but they are also graphic art.

Your printing and packaging are telling your brand story so invest in them. You won’t regret it. Make sure you have a printer that is versed and experienced in your specific label. If it’s a beer label and needs to perform in various climates (cold, ice, water) then ask how many they have done in the past. If it’s a product like CBD oil that has nutraceutical and performance aspects make sure they are capable of doing it. If it is food-grade, label or packaging you are going to want a vendor that has experience.

At Century Printing & Packaging we have been printing labels that stick, but have great eye appeal and consistently tell your brand story. We are experienced in beer, craft beer, CBD, nutraceuticals, food-grade film, packaging and much more. All we do are labels and packaging so trust us to work with you as a partner instead of a job number.

Ben Waldrop, President
Century Printing & Packaging
Greer, SC 29651
800.344.7509