Hi Sharon,
So that's it! End of the first half of 2025. How you feeling about that?! Are you ready for summer?
I skipped Summer Fancy Food in NYC this year (regret? yes), but I did head to Amplify presented by WhatTheyThink and the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA). It was full of packaging eye candy. Foils, coatings, label demos, and lots of live conversations with folks from Taktiful, Xerox, Scodix, and beyond.
This month, I’m sharing what stood out plus a couple of production lessons you’ll want to avoid learning the hard way.
👉 See what stood out this month →
Carton Crush
 🍍 The Cookie Box That Stopped Me in My Tracks
I spotted this Honolulu Cookie box at the airport months ago, and yep, I’m still thinking about it. Rigid chipboard, die-cut wrap, hook & loop closure, and just enough foil to feel fancy. A great example of how structure and subtle details can carry a brand.
👉 See why this box deserves the crush →
♻️ Industry Watch
EPR isn’t just on the horizon, it’s here and happening now.
Since Washington’s rollout in May, Oregon’s EPR program begins July 1, 2025, and Maryland signed its law on May 13, 2025, becoming the sixth state with packaging EPR (Resource Recycling Packaging Dive.) With each new state stepping in, this isn’t a trend, it’s turning into the new baseline for regulated packaging.
Whether you're selling just to boutique retailers or shipping nationwide, tracking state-by-state deadlines and filing early is packaging insurance.
👉 Read the full update →
💡 Tip from the Production Desk
Missing art. Messy file names. Easy fixes.
This month, a client opened our dieline PDF in Illustrator, but only loaded the first page. When the art came back, the inside artwork was completely missing and all the files were named “Untitled-01" or “Untitled-02"
Two takeaways:
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When Illustrator prompts you to open “Page 1 or 2,” choose both.
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Always rename your files clearly, especially when working across multiple SKUs. “Small Final, 6-23-25” beats “Untitled” every time.
👉 More details on the blog
🔥 The 5-Minute Artwork Gut-Check
Before you hand off that file, run this quick scan. It’s not fancy, but it catches what your eyes miss on round five of edits.
Structure: Printed and folded a mockup? Know where the glue flap lands and what’s visible when closed?
Specs & Setup: Fonts outlined. Artwork extends to bleed. Images are embedded, 300dpi, CMYK. No missing links or RGB surprises.
Copy & Claims: Is everything final? Product info, claims, spelling? No placeholders? If it went to press today, would you sleep okay?
Just a quick gut-check. But it can save days of back-and-forth (hey, maybe even a few thousand dollars).
👀 What’s Ahead
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Grandkid chaos (the fun kind) in July
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Fall production planning picks up in August
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Europa Village Food & Wine in September 🍷
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And yes, lead times might still be longer than you think!
📞 Need a Second Set of Eyes?
Whether it’s your first custom box or your 40th SKU, I can help.
📅 Book a Discovery Call → [Contact Link]
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