As part of the recent Labelexpo Roadshow, held July 28, 2022, at Haney’s Packaging Microfactory in Cincinnati, OH, USA, Resource Label Group took part in a fireside chat to address numerous topics affecting the label and package printing industry.

Resource Label Group has been incredibly active in recent years in the M&A market, bringing in companies to bolster operations. This has been especially advantageous in dealing with the challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain. If one company is struggling to receive materials, Resource Label Group has the ability to allocate the necessary resources from another company in the RLG family. This ability has promoted success for customers.

“I think the last two years have made us do things that we probably wouldn’t have done at the rate and speed at which we did them,” explains Mike Degus, SVP, marketing and business development, Resource Label Group. “Having that scale and backup supply capability has allowed us to move production between locations and provide stability to our customers.”

Most recently, Resource Label Group acquired Everett, MA-based QSX Labels. The early-2022 move expanded the company’s regional strength in New England and overall position in the label and packaging industry. QSX Labels represents the 23rd acquisition for Resource Label.

“This is really a people business,” says Degus. “We believe the solution to the current labor issue is much broader than competing against your local Chipotle about getting a new operator. We’re trying to make Resource Label a place where people want to work and can make a difference with a ‘have fun, get it done’ mentality. We’re in a really fun business and I think a lot of times we forget about that.”

“Culture is everything,” adds Tim Bohlke, director of sustainability, Resource Label Group. “That’s why I joined RLG. Today, the first question younger folks ask is about the culture at your organization. That was never talked about 20-30 years ago. Today’s senior leaders really get that.”

According to Bohlke, the senior leadership team has to be approachable. “The reason I joined was the people,” he states. “There were thousands of printers I could have joined. From our CEO to our VPs, they leave their egos at the door and you have to have that with every employee. And that’s how you build a great culture. It begins at the top, and ultimately our culture is built on our people, and we have great people here.”

Resource Label Group also believes there is a lot of value in not making drastic changes to the companies it acquires. 

“Our culture starts with the RLG family and our approach to M&A,” states Degus. “That ‘national reach, local touch’ is really who we are. When someone joins RLG, we consider it joining the family because we want to honor that local legacy and not have a cookie cutter approach to what integration looks like. That approach is very unique in North America, and it’s something I’m very proud of.

“We don’t look at M&A as competition,” adds Degus. “We want to bring in local brands that fit our business model. We have 27 different brands as part of the overall RLG family. The activity level has increased, but we still feel very differentiated with our approach to the market and we’re going to attract the right type of owner and the culture we’re building.”

In the future, Resource Label Group will continue to emphasize sustainability across its sites. Bohlke, who has been instrumental in the company’s sustainability strategy, believes this trend will continue to grow as more brands make environmental commitments.

“With the wide variety of customers we service, the gamut of questions we get – from big to small brands – all comes down to education with sustainability,” says Bohlke. “Understanding design for recycling and what the APR is putting out there is critical. You have to ask your customers about their wants and needs. Major brands have done an outstanding job recently, and the evolution of their products has been stellar. There are some brands that maybe need more improvement. But from 25 years ago to where it is today, brands understand their customers from a sustainability perspective.”

Much of these innovations will be on display at Labelexpo Americas, which takes place September 13-15 in Rosemont, IL, USA. Over 400 exhibitors are slated to exhibit at the event.

“We’re a big small industry, and there’s a lot of camaraderie that comes with getting together and talking about the industry that we’re all so passionate about,” concludes Degus.