Adapting to the Shift: How Craft Beer Brands are Embracing the Can

The beer industry has seen a significant shift in the past few years when it comes to packaging. As the demand for craft beer continues to rise, so does the need for creative and eye-catching labels that distinguish one brand from the next. Century Printing & Packaging has been keeping an eye on emerging beer label trends and is excited to share its insights into the evolution of craft beer packaging.

There has been an evolution in the way craft beer is packaged and labeled, with the transition from glass bottles to cans becoming increasingly accepted. This change has had a huge impact on beer merchants with whom Century Printing & Packaging has maintained long-standing commitments to serve and champion.

One major factor that has affected the beer industry is the shortage of glass. Coming out of the pandemic, supply chain issues have resulted in many beer brands opting to purchase unprinted cans and add their own labels as needed. This not only offers more flexibility in terms of branding and design, but it also allows breweries to save money by only ordering the exact amount of cans they need at any given time.

Ben and Neil, two veterans in the beer labeling business, have witnessed first-hand the change in the craft beer market over the last ten years. From its beginnings as a niche hobbyist business to its current status as a crowded, mature industry. Traditionally, canned beer has been viewed as lower quality. However, this perception has changed in recent years, thanks in large part to big-name brands now selling their beers in cans. This shift has made it more acceptable, leading to a surge in the popularity of canned beer.

Breweries have embraced cans for their numerous advantages, such as increased portability, durability, and recyclability. Additionally, cans are known for their ability to preserve beer’s quality and taste, making them an attractive choice.

Century Printing & Packaging will be at the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville this May 7th-10th, to showcase their commitment to the latest packaging trends. In Booth #1754 a variety of materials and how they look on cans will be on display. Century Printing empowers its clients to stay innovative and emphasizes the importance of packaging in a crowded market. As consumers continue to embrace the movement in the industry, CP&P is passionate about staying ahead of the curve and helping their clients meet the changing demands of the market.

Fortunately, many breweries have risen to the challenge. CP&P partners with breweries all over the US to produce eye-catching designs that stand out on store shelves. Ben and Neil work closely with their clients to ensure their can designs are both functional and visually appealing.

Overall, the rise of canned beer represents an exciting time in the beer world. As more and more breweries turn to cans as their packaging of choice, it will be interesting to see how this trend continues to shape the craft beer market in the years to come. The team at CP&P anticipates that cans will become even more prevalent. Breweries that haven’t already made the switch may find it necessary to stay competitive. With Ben and Neil’s 10+ years of expertise in beer packaging, they are confident they can help breweries make a smooth transition to cans.

Inflation Is Hitting Every Manufacturing Sector

Everyone is feeling the pain of inflation from rising prices in goods, materials, chemicals, fuel, and supplies. Whether you serve B2B/B2C every sector is experiencing the avalanche from inflation, supply chain disruptions, Covid19, labor shortages, and a lack of available materials. A trip to the grocery store with empty shelves or purchase limits on certain products is proof enough. It is cliche, but all of these factors have produced the “perfect storm”.

Manufacturers are scrambling to find new supply lines and vendors. Shortages from food, chemicals, lumber, metals, microchips, rubber goods, paper, laminates, and countless other goods have moved businesses from a competitive price focus to sheer availability. Shortages and availability only tighten the vise grip of competing manufacturers. Auto manufacturers are now competing with consumer electronics for computer chips. Before the storm, each had different suppliers and there was no shortage. During the storm, you may produce cars, but your computer or television producer has landed in your backyard competing for the same chips.

The printing and packaging industry is not immune to this economic reality. The supply chain gridlock and inflationary pressures have created a challenging environment for the industry. Previously fully stocked vendor’s distribution centers of paper, ink, boxes, laminate, substrate materials, and film are running empty. Lead times of these materials have drastically expanded. Shipping costs due to rising fuel prices and container shortages have only added to the inflationary pressures. These dynamics are unique because the combination of factors has impacted every aspect of business regardless of category. In the past, Wall Street cycles have come and gone, but typically it’s been one industry or just a few that have experienced serious disruption and challenges. Today, EVERY industry and business is affected by these colliding factors.

The interdependency within the global economy can best be explained by dominoes falling one over the other throughout a massive display. Everything relates to the other. Loaded ships sit in harbors and can’t get unloaded, a pandemic wiped out 700,000 people in the U.S. alone to date. Many of those were workers and paying taxes. The printing and packaging industry is experiencing supply and material increases between 7-12%, if not more. Polypropylene resin has increased 150% since January of 2020, and PET resin has risen over 20% in the same period (CDI October 2021 Report). Some Industry experts are projecting continued shortages of raw material and polymers to last through Q4 2022.

No reputable and successful business enjoys price increases. Their success is built upon providing a high-quality product/service at a competitive price backed with extraordinary customer service. These companies thrive on long-term customer relationships by exceeding customer expectations. However, there is a point at which even the strongest cannot resist anymore because they start losing money.

Craig Austin writing for PBS said: “Economists surveyed by Bloomberg in October expect inflation to slow to 3.4% next summer and hit 2.6% by the end of the year. While that would be encouraging, it’s still well above the pre-pandemic average of 1.8% and outside the Fed’s target. It’s unclear whether economists are recalibrating their expectations after the October Consumer Price Index report. Regardless, consumers should get used to the higher prices. They’re the new normal.”

Smart companies and businesses are concentrating on minimizing price increases while extending their vendor partnerships to have access to the materials and supplies they need to do their jobs. Increased costs are inevitable given the global market, but smart and reputable suppliers and manufacturers are working with their clients and suppliers to keep prices as low as they can. Material and supply shortages can be expected well into 2022. Plan way ahead to get ahead of this troubling trend. Hopefully, supply, logistics, and labor will self-correct in 2022.

At Century Printing and Packaging we have worked internally to increase efficiency and deliver the same high level of quality that helped us earn our customer’s trust during these challenging days. This combination has allowed us to only raise prices on products once this year. We are well aware of the market fluctuations and we are working with our customers and suppliers to provide solutions despite price increases to supply and rising material costs. We have been printing labels that stick, but have great eye appeal and consistently tell your brand story. We don’t mind tackling a challenging problem if it means we can help you produce something that is more appealing and of higher quality. We have produced labels and packaging for almost 25 years, so trust us to work with you as a partner instead of a job number.

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

Finish Matters in Product Presentation

One of the most important considerations for product labeling is the finish. There are many options within the printing process that need to be considered for your product or brand. Product label finishes depend on the target audience. Is your product B2B or B2C? Is it within a highly competitive retail or wholesale market? Is it a “tried and true” iconic brand, or is it a new product launch? All of these are important considerations when it comes to settling on a label finish for the product.

The two dominant finishes are matte and glossy. One is shiny, vibrant and the other is muted. Both of them provide value depending upon the specific product label, market, and target audience. However, you can add varnishes to each finish to get a very distinct look. Retail shelf appeal is so important today. Your product may be getting lost in the eye-candy game simply because of the finish of your label. If you have a new product for the market the finish selection is critical so your product will stand out against the competition at retail locations.

The material printers use (film/paper) can be semi-gloss, high gloss, or matte, but varnishes can add a distinctive look and set your product apart from the competition. Depending on the product category you will want to make sure you have the right “look and feel” for your product. Glossy is vibrant, but if the competition is all glossy you could choose a matte finish to stand out from the crowd. Let’s face it, standing out from the competition is paramount in reaching consumers in today’s market.

Reputable printers and packaging companies want to provide exactly what their customers want, but they are also subject matter experts in printing, finishes, and the look and feel of specific products. Relying on your printer’s input is invaluable. And don’t overlook the advantage of test runs to consider a variety of finish options for your product. This is an area where you want to get it right the first time and if that means running test options ahead of your final decision you are making the right call. These professional printers want to exceed customer expectations, but in order to do so, they need to explore options for each customer.

Your printer can add a varnish or laminate to the surface to change the look, feel, and texture of the product. In several product categories the competition is all glossy and having a matte finish makes the product stand out on the shelf.

Retro finishes are having a lot of success in the marketplace. Why? Because they stand out from the crowd. It’s a different look and feel. In competitive markets, many customers go for a glossy look. With varnishes, you can mix and match. You can have a part gloss and part matte finish using two different types of varnish. You can’t do this with a laminate finish because it has to cover the entire label surface.

Choosing a finish for your product label and packaging is incredibly important in today’s competitive marketplace. Your printing vendor should be more than able and willing to provide a variety of options. Focus groups are a great way to gain insight into product finishes in terms of look, feel, and attraction. Over the years many great products have died an early death due to finish failure and a lack of shelf appeal to the consumer. Having multiple options through test runs is a great way to gain insight into potential consumer reactions to a new product. If the competition is going all glossy in their finishes, consider a very distinct matte finish to pop your product on the shelf.

For example, today’s craft beer market is incredibly competitive. Being seen from the variety of choices available has never been greater. Having high-performing packaging and labels is critical to retail appeal. There is a greater appeal today for matte finishes versus gloss but it depends on the product market and the competition.

If you are shopping or looking for a printer ask them to provide examples in similar product categories of their work. Spend the time in graphic design and artwork to explore multiple options. Get feedback from focal groups, your team, and as many people as possible before you make a final decision. Listen to your printing and packaging company! They have years of experience in producing labels, finishes, and packaging. You are the subject matter expert of your specific product, but they are subject matter experts in the final finish of your product label and packaging. The bottom line in your final retail or wholesale product presentation is that your finish matters!

At Century Printing & Packaging we have been printing labels that stick, but have great eye appeal and consistently tell your brand story. We don’t mind tackling a challenging problem if it means we can help you produce something that is more appealing and of higher quality. We have produced labels and packaging for 25 years, so trust us to work with you as a partner instead of a job number.

Ben Waldrop, President
Century Printing & Packaging
Greer, SC
Tel: 800.344.7509

Expand Your Craft Brewery Brand Awareness with a Story-Label™

The craft beer industry in the U.S. increased its footprint in 2019 to nearly $30B. According to the Brewers Association, craft beer captured 13.6% of the U.S. beer market by volume and grew by 4% in volume. Overall beer sales were slightly down (2%) but craft breweries sales went up 6% to $29.3B. Craft breweries own a 13.6% share of the $116B beer market that includes domestics and imports from the big breweries. The numbers are encouraging although we expect a drop due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a 3.6% increase while the overall beer market dropped to -1.6% is a hopeful sign.

One of the biggest hurdles for any beer in today’s market is brand awareness and positioning. Standing out from the crowd has never been more important. While many consumers have a “go-to” beer there is a significant section of the market that is influenced by packaging, labels, graphics, color, and layout. Craft beer drinkers like to explore and experiment with various brewers. Telling your story has never been more important, but limited space on labeling has always been a challenge because you have to include certain things by law like contents, calories, nutritional info, etc., which takes up valuable label space.

Building a loyal following begins with consistency, taste, flavor, and appeal. But if a consumer has never tried your brew it’s hard to capture all of that on six-pack printing, or a beer label until now. Traditional beer labels typically are identified by their logo, a positioning statement, or tag line and color. Beyond that there just isn’t a lot of space to expand on your brand.

The all-new Story-Label™ is a marketing dream for craft breweries. You can double your print space and expand on your brand. Positioning your brand has never been more important and the Story-Label™ enables you to enhance your brand by telling your unique story while other beers settle for a logo and a few words. Imagine connecting with the consumer in a way like no other? If your brand has a unique story about its formation, name, family of origin, or mascot you can use a Story-Label™ to tell the story without worrying about space limitations.

You can feature a note from your Master Brewer to explain the brewing process, feature employees, or seasonal brews with detailed information. The sky is the limit on what you can do from a branding perspective.

These high-quality labels perform in cold and wet conditions. The flexographic labels ensure stunning colors and graphic details of your product stand out from the competition. Because the plates are made in-house the turn around time for these cutting-edge labels is fast whether you are running a few thousand or several hundred thousand. The ink used in the process is a proven water-based product that is environmentally friendly. This is a craft beer label like no other.

The Story-Label™ is a powerful customized brand marketing tool that allows you to provide engaging content for consumers and attract a bigger following for your product.

The label is like a door on hinges. You can “unhinge your brand™” and tell your story when the consumer opens it. Imagine gathering a loyal following of your labels being collected and posted in man-caves, garages, or collected like bottle caps, or cans. Your fall (Octoberfest, Harvest) or summer seasonal brew could be promoted in a way like never before. The possibilities are endless for creating engaging content driving your brand for consumers and building a loyal following.

We are a family-owned, local business that has carved out a niche in producing high quality, performing labels for CBD oils, craft beer, and neutraceuticals. Every craft brewery has a story to tell and we want to help you tell yours with a Story-Label™

Go to www.cpandp.com/story-label for more information.

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

Shipping Manager at Century Printing and Packaging

Tonya Gilliam is the shipping manager for Century Printing and Packaging in Greer, South Carolina.  She has been with the company for seven years and her story is unique.

So Tonya how did you get involved with Century Printing and Packaging?

My daughter and Neil Waldrop’s daughter were in a play together in Greer and I was a volunteer.  Someone asked what I was doing.  I had been laid off and was looking for a job and they introduced me to Neil. He had an opening and a week later he called me and had a job opening for making plates. I started making plates and moved on to be the shipping manager.

What is your role at Century Printing and Packaging?

We deal with Fed Ex, UPS, TH Robinson, and other shipping companies to make sure that customers have what they need/order. The orders are fulfilled by putting them on a pallet.  They are double-checked so that each item like the packing list, bill of lading, and other necessary paperwork go into the boxes. We inspect the labels to make sure they are correct with the right amount of goods on the box and how many are in each box.

We are shipping from 7 am- 4 pm Monday through Friday. We resolve problems with shipping by tracking  UPS and FEDEX.  If we are in a situation we go through quantum view to track it, which lets me know if it’s late, lost, or didn’t get delivered, I will then contact sales and sales will contact the customers, if not I will call the carrier. If the package is lost I will replace it, but the shipping company makes good.

My team is pretty good and we can let everybody know to get the job done and get customers their labels. We push out every day and they know their responsibilities and we have a delivery driver, so everyone is on the same page for deliveries. 

How has Covid affected deliveries?

During Covid, if we ship out a package I have a map and UPS app, which tells how many days the order is in transit. If it does not arrive within two days I received a notification and follow up.  Shipping, logistic delays, and supply interruptions have all been affected by Covid-19 and a diminished workforce by various suppliers and shippers. If it’s past the set date we have to ship it out the next day. It’s a back and forth with a lot of communication with the shipping vendors.  Things were improving but with shipping and supply disruptions as well as the Delta Covid variant we are being challenged again, but our company is working ahead in anticipation of potential delays with our customers.  

What do you like about your job?

I love it and it’s always busy. It’s challenging but I get along with everyone, if I don’t know something I go to someone who knows the answer, they direct me to someone with the answer.  There is a lot of communication between the team and departments. We try to not make mistakes.

What has the growth at Century been like in your view?

We have a lot more customers than when I started, so we are busier. I used to work up front in the plate room, but then I came back to shipping. Want to make sure that every shipment is supposed to go out that day is shipped for our customers and on time!

Tell us about yourself?

I’m from the Greer/Taylors area. I am the mother of two children and a Riverside High School graduate and live two minutes from my job.  I love spending time with my family.  I love to walk and enjoy playing with my nieces and nephews. 

It’s a pleasure working here and I want to thank Neil Waldrop for giving me the opportunity to join the Century team!

At Century Printing and Packaging we have a long line of tenured employees who make up our team.  We are proud of their work, spirit, and the contribution they make to our quality of work and production.  All of them work hard to fulfill customers’ orders and produce high-quality work.

1 2 3 6