In my experience, there are two types of label business owners. There are those that are open and forthcoming, willing to speak candidly about their customers, employees, business model, equipment and plans for the future. And on the flipside, there are converters who keep everyone at an arm’s length, tight-lipped and closed-off, not willing to share very many company details.

As a journalist covering the industry, of course I wish everyone would welcome my questions and ideas for articles with open arms. But for those that won’t let me in, I get it. It would be naïve of me to think that there aren’t a few converters out there that would jump at the chance to undercut a competitor on price, or suggest to a label customer that they can do a job better, faster and cheaper than the other guy.

I imagine this dichotomy would apply to most any industry where several vendors are competing for the same customers. Having a front row seat in the label market for seven years, I’ve seen varying degrees of transparency, both within a label business itself and how that company relates with the greater industry.

Last month I flew to Detroit, Michigan, to pay a visit to Argent Tape & Label, the subject of this issue’s Narrow Web Profile. Of the dozens of label converters I have visited over the years, I remember something distinct about each and every one of them, and witnessing Argent’s business model of open-book management was definitely a first.

At the 2014 TLMI Annual Meeting, I met Lynn Perenic, the president and owner of Argent Tape & Label. She told me about open-book management and the profound influence the book The Great Game of Business has had on her company. I was immediately intrigued, and delighted she was open to having an article written about her company. Lynn sent me a copy of the book, which I read prior to my visit. All the while I was reading it, I was imagining how the concepts of open-book management would translate to label manufacturing. I can attest that it’s a perfect fit. And when you read about Argent Tape & Label’s impressive turnaround since Lynn took over, and the numbers that support it, I think you may want to read The Great Game of Business. I highly recommend it.

This month I’m heading to the TLMI Converter Meeting in Sea Island, Georgia. While I’m looking forward to a respite from the brutal winter weather we’re experiencing in the Northeast, I’m more interested in getting to know some more label converters open to sharing their success stories.




Steve Katz, Editor
[email protected]
Twitter: @LabelSteve