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An experiment gone very, very well

Going back only five years, there was but one member category in the Contract Packaging Association—the contract packager. All attention, effort, and activity were channeled to the core member.

Pw 2770 Loews C Pmeeting

The answers came slowly because the business was highly fragmented and, for the most part, privately held. Perspective on the business was sketchy. There was very little cooperation. But as we continued to gather information and put together programs, a number of common causes became apparent.

It’s a good thing, too, because the business of contract packaging has been changing. No longer do all packaging and related operations need to be done on the same campus, within the same culture, at the same speed, as they always had. Outsourcing became popular. Speed-to-market became a major driver; product needed to be on the shelf “yesterday” to capture market share. And, rather than pull a successful product back in-house, many products stayed with the contract packagers.

The service business has continued to grow, as has the volume of materials, containers, equipment, and other services sold to contract packagers. Several vendors realized they were selling more and more of their packaging supplies to contract packagers. They asked if they could become more formally involved with the association.

The association board and membership discussed the matter, and in relatively short order developed and approved a second and equal membership category, associate (supplier) member. Association bylaws were changed to make the accommodation.

The benefits packages are separate, but comparable. Associate members are as involved and engaged with the association as contract packaging members. They serve on and chair committees, are represented on the board of directors, vote on initiatives, participate in surveys, receive requests for quotes and, most important, are afforded an appropriate opportunity to network with customers and potential customers—contract packagers.

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