Converter Outlook (CONT’D FROM PAGE 22)
which undoubtedly will result in more box use due to the consumer driving consumption of goods. On that note, next year we will see two big occurrences that will help spur commerce. We will be hosting the World Cup next year and some say that drives more value than even the Olympics. More visitors will be here eating and drinking our new high-protein snacks and drinks! Secondly, this next Fourth of July we will be celebrating 250 years of America’s freedom. This will be a boom for consumerism, of which the by-product is more boxes. “This year will be a great one for retailers. The studios have blockbusters lined up throughout the year, which will help drive licensed product sales, which in turn drive high graphics on and off the shelves. Retail will be working even harder to get shoppers into the stores. Ecommerce will continue to erode brick and mortar. However, driving the customer experience is done no better than with high graphic packaging and point of purchase displays. The store of the future will be a destination and our industry will be the beneficiary of the drive towards enhanced ven- ues. “I am super excited about being part of this industry next year. We will start a little bumpy as we move past tax time and by the Fourth of July things will be cranking. After all, it’s a midterm election year and those in power want to stay in power, thus Americans will have some extra cash to put into their pocket to spend on goods.
ly moves towards rebalancing. I can assure you we will see a price increase in linerboard coming soon to help with those costs. “Other headwinds are the reduction of boxes being used in the e-commerce world. We are seeing them being replaced with paper envelopes. The idea of ‘ships in its own container’ is a great idea however, we will be inviting the “Porch Pirates” back as they will be able to see the value of the gifts laying on our front porch and act accord- ingly. Another headwind is the increase in the use of RPCs. They warned us and I feel we didn’t react fast enough by redesigning the corrugated produce box so robots can pick them up without smashing the delicate produce in- side. We have thousands of designers that can redesign the footprint of a produce box and chase the dirty RPCs into extinction. We can do this! “The most interesting headwind is our ‘fat pill’ GLP-1. America is fatter than hell and we are tricking our bod- ies into being skinny by over injecting GLP-1 drugs into our bodies. That casualty other than those who overdose themselves is the reduction of snack food consumption. I think the flip side will be, and already is, the development of high protein snack foods and drinks that we will gobble up. The need for boxes will be compensated some with this headwind. “Tax Policy and deregulation will spur growth next year,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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January 12, 2026
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