www.mrlabel.com
www.mrlabel.com

For nearly 35 years, M&R Label has been delivering high-quality labels – and redefining what customers can expect from their label printing partner. In addition to designing and printing flexographic and digital labels, this leading Chicago-area company continues to build its reputation as a trusted collaborator throughout the lifecycle of its pressure sensitive labels. Its current owners, Steve Brownstone and Ross Samotny, bought the business in 2018, combining their varied experiences and entrepreneurial vision.

“I got into the label business in 2006 on the sales side, and I met Steve when we both worked at a local label company,” Samotny recalls. “I left the industry to start a cleaning services company, but we remained friends and kept in touch.”

“I got into the label business in 2008, and then, after a big merger, I ended up going out on my own as a broker, where I started working with M&R,” Brownstone continues. “One day I was talking with the owner of M&R and realized that there was an opportunity for an acquisition. Ross and I were both interested in owning a business. Ross had the sales expertise, and I knew the operational side. In April 2018, we bought the company.”

One of the partners’ first decisions was to rebrand from M&R Graphics to M&R Label, which better represents their company’s strengths as a comprehensive, innovative, full-service label provider.

In its state-of-the-art facility, located southwest of Chicago in University Park, M&R Label provides both flexographic and digital printing options. The company’s five Mark Andy presses include a Mark Andy Evolution that allows the team to push the envelope in terms of quality while drastically reducing setup time.

Soon after purchasing the company, Brownstone and Samotny also made the strategic decision to introduce digital capabilities. It was a smart move; the Epson digital press has supported much of the company’s growth.

But for M&R Label, custom label printing is only the start. The company strives to be a one-stop-shop for all labeling solutions, from graphic design and prepress review services, to sequential numbering, to inventory management, to old-fashioned problem-solving.

“One of our frozen food customers was having trouble with the label curling up or even falling off the packaging at retail,” Samotny says. “The customer had gone through a bunch of adhesives with another vendor, trying to figure it out. We suggested changing the packaging material, and then we tested a couple of materials to be sure the adhesive would work and the finished package would still have the same look. The labels looked great and stuck perfectly.”

They also will dive into a customer’s processes to help add value, even if it doesn’t directly impact M&R’s bottom line.

“Our customers often ask us to help with an issue, and we’ll talk to them or visit their operations,” Brownstone notes. “Sometimes they don’t even know they’re having a problem. We’ll ask why they do something a certain way, and often the response is that they’ve always done it that way. I firmly believe that just because something has been done the same way for a long time doesn’t mean it can’t be done better or more efficiently. I love being able to recommend a change that streamlines or otherwise improves their procedures. It’s great to see those light bulb moments go off, and your customers are thrilled.”

M&R also embraces opportunities to blaze new trails such as with its latest addition, label application.

“Label application sets us apart from what anybody else is doing,” Samotny explains. “In addition to manufacturing labels, we can auto-apply labels to customers’ packaging, all under the same roof. A few customers asked us about it, and we saw the opportunity to offer a valuable service that most other label converters aren’t providing. And we decided, why not?”

“Our approach is a differentiator for us,” Brownstone adds. “We don’t have blinders on. We are always willing to look at something to see if it works. Whether it is a new piece of equipment, a new process, or a new service, we love to get creative so we can offer our customers what they need to succeed.”

That customer base spans a wide variety of industries: food, beverage, cannabis products, health and beauty, nutraceuticals and supplements, product shipping and packaging, promotions, and industrial and chemical products, to name a few.

“Since we bought M&R, we’ve definitely diversified,” Brownstone explains. “Food and beverage are still our biggest verticals. We’ve also integrated cannabis labels into our business, and that has grown quite well over the last couple of years, particularly with the matte and gloss varnishes that our Epson digital press can provide. In this new space, retailers want to get creative with labels to try to attract consumers to their product on the shelves. We’re constantly playing with new materials, laminates, finishes, and designs to see what we can make work and how we can achieve a new special effect. You think you’ve tried everything, and then the next unexpected request comes through, and we thrive on rising to those challenges.”

Of course, Brownstone and Samotny aren’t doing all this alone. In the past five years, their team has more than doubled to 24 employees and expanded to a second shift. Even so, they still maintain the family culture and atmosphere they admired when they first considered purchasing the business.

“That was one of the first things we noticed – everyone seemed to talk to each other and get along well,” Brownstone remembers. “We decided that as we continued to scale the business, keeping our employees engaged and happy would also remain a priority. Everyone’s here to do their job, but we want them to enjoy their time here, too.”

They bring that commitment to life with special events such as summer barbecues, bingo games, and holiday parties, and daily efforts to get to know their employees and their families – and ensure their team members feel comfortable approaching them, as well.

This year, the business partners also launched a quarterly customer newsletter that highlights M&R Label’s expertise while also recognizing their employees.

“In addition to industry and company updates, we always highlight our employees,” Samotny says. “We’ll post company anniversaries, and we include a feature focused on an employee’s story, both here at M&R and personally. It’s a powerful way to celebrate our team and build connections between our people who work here behind the scenes and our customers.”

As they celebrate their first five years owning M&R Label and chart their next five years and beyond, Brownstone and Samotny are still excited by the never-ending opportunities to help their customers.

“We have so many customers in so many verticals, every day and every project is different,” Samotny says. “In the end, we excel at doing whatever it takes to deliver quality labels on time, and it’s rewarding to know that we came through for our customers. I love the challenge of growing their business, and ours.”

Brownstone also appreciates being viewed as a trusted resource. “I look at M&R as a painkiller for the label industry,” he says. “There are a lot of issues in this business, and we solve a lot of them for our customers. It’s a two-way relationship, and we look at ourselves as an extension of our customers. We are always eager to try to make something work for them and get their quality labels out the door on time. At the end of the day, that’s what everyone wants the most.”