Hi Sharon!

WELCOME NOVEMBER!

I'm saying thank you in advance to November!! And thank YOU for allowing me to stay in touch this way. Hope Thanksgiving is a fun holiday for you!

It’s that time of the year where we’re surprised how fast the year has gone by! October did have a couple of “that shouldn’t have happened” moments in packaging — the kind that look fine in a spreadsheet but fall apart in real life, ugh.

So in the spirit of moving on with lessons learned . . . let's get onto it! As usual, I’ve gathered some lessons and ideas just in case they help guide your next steps. If anything sparks a question or idea, feel free to reach out.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Stand-Up Pouches: Same specs, different look
A client wanted to shift production to the U.S. and keep the packaging looking identical. Same specs, same materials, simple enough, right? Well, no. Didn't look the same.

The surprise? It was the recycled film layer that was used. There was no deep dive conversation with the supplier about how it would look different or affect print.

The result: emergency orders of blank packaging, confused end use customers, and a whole lot of “but we were told it would look the same!” conversations.

Lesson: If the look matters, never assume. Always request a printed sample on the exact substrate — not just a PDF, not just a swatch.
👉 Full breakdown in the blog post is here»

DEEP DIVE INSIGHT

The myth of “matching specs”
It's so easy to assume that if the numbers match, the packaging will match. But materials, finishes, coatings, and even ink laydown vary by plant, press, and process. Even by time of year!
Three things I’m reminding clients (and myself) this month:

• Specs often only define the structure — not the appearance
• Substrates with recycled and/or corrugated content can shift color and texture
• Your supplier’s “same” isn’t always your “same”

If you changed anything upstream this year (plant, substrate, ink, coating, or finish), add a visual inspection step before you sign off for production.

QUICK TIP

If you’re switching a supplier, changing a substrate or finish try to get any of this before committing:

• Ask for a physical printed sample on the exact substrate and finish. It doesn’t have to be your artwork! It can be another brand’s production run — as long as it shows how ink, coating, and texture really behave. If you get a no on this, be sure you've been clear on expectations and have someone in production provide assurance.
• For first run projects and depending on the simplicity, don’t rely solely on a PDF or a plain material swatch to judge final appearance.
• Or, how about a sample run of 50–100 units? Or as small as your supplier will allow to check tactile and visual match.
• Documentation of any “new” material layer or manufacturing change (recycled film, lamination source, etc.)
  Preventing surprises is still cheaper than correcting them.

FEATURED RESOURCE

This month I'm featuring my Year-End Packaging Checklist
No matter what, TIME MARCHES ON.

Now’s the time to pause, review, and reset before 2026 planning hits full force. December is busy in production but oftentimes your reps at the printers and converters have time and space to help you reset. 

✅ Specs updated?
✅ Visual and tactile expectations noted?
✅ Backup suppliers identified?
✅ Holiday timing confirmed?

👉 Download the checklist »

INDUSTRY VOICE TO FOLLOW

Sharon Eucce — Packaging Chic
This month, I’m raising my own flag! If you work with custom packaging, you already know things don’t always go as planned. I spend my days helping brands sort out the details like materials, finishes, timelines, and all the little decisions that actually shape the final product.

I share what I’m seeing out in the field with real lessons, education, trends worth paying attention to, and even sometimes the things people may not tell you until it’s too late. 

👉 Catch the latest on the Packaging Chic Blog »

COMING UP IN JANUARY 2026

I’ll be hosting Ask the Expert sessions at the Specialty Food Association Winter Fancy Faire in San Diego on January 12, 2026.

If you’re attending and want to talk through packaging challenges, sign up or stop by. I’ll be covering paper-based retail and e-commerce packaging for growing food brands.

📞 Need a Second Set of Eyes?

Whether it’s your first custom box or your 40th SKU, let's take a look!

📅 Book a Discovery Call →