John Sweeterman Shares Insights on Packaging Trends and More
This image was created using Adobe Firefly's generative AI on a provided headshot of John Sweeterman. | Credit: PRINTING United Alliance
Welcome to Expo Intel, a new editorial series from Packaging Impressions that gives label and package converters a smart, witty look at the exhibitors shaping the future of custom-printed packaging. This week — Oct. 22–24 — we're live at the PRINTING United Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. With more than 800 exhibitors spread across 1 million sq. ft. of exhibition space.
In this article, we feature John Sweeterman, vice president of Digital Sales at INX International Ink Co., who shares his take on packaging trends, booth vibes, and the sleeper tech converters need to know.
Q: Which trend in labels or packaging do you secretly love to hate?
A: Excessive packaging on Christmas morning.
Q: What’s the most unexpected label or package you’ve seen produced using your technology or materials?
A: A lot more THC & CBD beverage cans than expected.
Q: Describe your booth using just three emojis.
Q: Who’s the most unforgettable character you’ve encountered at a PRINTING United Expo?
A: Paul Edwards, of course!
Q: If your booth had a theme song, what would it be and why?
A: “Still,” by Snoop and DRE.
Q: Ever see a printed label or package that made you say, “Whoa”?
A: [Editor’s Note: The second “package” shows how the package design can be misinterpreted.]
Credit: INX Intl. Ink Co.
Q: This is your one opportunity for a shameless plug. What’s the sleeper feature in your solution that converters need to know about?
A: Low Migration LED Inkjet Inks for indirect food contact packaging. We do it better than anyone.
As editor-in-chief of Packaging Impressions — the leading publication and online content provider for the printed packaging markets — Linda Casey leverages her experience in the packaging, branding, marketing, and printing industries to deliver content that label and package printers can use to improve their businesses and operations.
Prior to her role at Packaging Impressions, Casey was editor-in-chief of BXP: Brand Experience magazine, which celebrated brand design as a strategic business competence. Her body of work includes deep explorations into a range of branding, business, packaging, and printing topics.
Casey’s other passion, communications, has landed her on the staffs of a multitude of print publications, including Package Design, Converting, Packaging Digest, Instant & Small Commercial Printer, High Volume Printing, BXP: Brand Experience magazine, and more. Casey started her career more than three decades ago as news director for WJAM, a youth-oriented music-and-news counterpart to WGCI and part of the Chicago-based station’s AM band presence.
