by Melissa Simmerman | Jun 19, 2026 | AI, Brand Strategy, CPG Trends, Innovation, Melissa Simmerman, Packaging Design, Prototyping, Structural Design
June 23, 2026 Since the end of last year, one topic has come up again and again in our conversations with clients, partners, and colleagues alike. Innovation. From first-time founders to global CPGs, it’s on everyone’s minds. Not that it wasn’t before, but it feels...
by Melissa Simmerman | May 27, 2026 | Brand Strategy, Color, Conference Recap, CPG Trends, Innovation, Inspiration, Material and Finish, Melissa Simmerman, Packaging Design, Prototyping, Structural Design, Thought Leadership
May 28, 2026 We may have left Las Vegas, but the memories of the packaging at Sweets and Snacks Expo 2026 didn’t leave us. Here are the creative and innovative products, booths, and packaging stars that made us stop and take notice, even in a somewhat delirious...
by Melissa Simmerman | May 7, 2026 | Brand Strategy, Industrial Design, Innovation, Material and Finish, Melissa Simmerman, Packaging Design, Structural Design, Thought Leadership
May 12, 2026 It genuinely seems like every category is crowded these days. Even baking staples and household paper products are being reinvented and disrupted, but a few categories in particular have been exploding: condiments, water, supplements, better-for-you...
by Melissa Simmerman | Apr 3, 2026 | Brand Strategy, CPG Trends, Innovation, Inspiration, Material and Finish, Packaging Design, Prototyping, Structural Design, Thought Leadership
Your Packaging Is Saying More Than You Think Consumers create and assign meaning to many things. As a brand, some of that is out of your control. Much of it isn’t. Consider the name “Corona” during the pandemic. Not controllable. But how the brand...
by Melissa Simmerman | Mar 18, 2026 | Brand Strategy, Inspiration, Packaging Design, Prototyping, Sales and Influencer Kits, Structural Design, Thought Leadership
Launch it to Last: Brands That Win Aren’t Just Seen — They’re Experienced Belief is the hardest thing to earn in CPG. Thousands of CPG products launch every year, and after walking the ExpoWest show floor and speaking with many of the founders...
by Melissa Simmerman | Feb 25, 2026 | Innovation, Packaging Design, Prototyping, Structural Design, Sustainability, Thought Leadership
Why the Best CPG Innovation Teams Invest in Early Stage Product Prototyping The world is full of great product ideas. But even the best ones, the ones that have the potential to solve real consumer problems, stay stuck in “The Land of What Might’ve...
