Packaging Innovations & Empack Birmingham

Taking ESL Studio to the NEC

Earlier this year, the ESL Studio team attended Packaging Innovations & Empack Birmingham at the NEC, one of the UK’s leading events for packaging, processing, contract packing and fulfilment.

For us, it was a brilliant opportunity to get in front of brands, buyers, packaging teams and suppliers who are all looking for better ways to package, present, protect and distribute their products.

As a business that works across printed packaging, branded boxes, co-packing, fulfilment, signage and reusable transport packaging, the show was a natural fit for ESL Studio.

A Big Step for ESL Studio

Attending the NEC gave us the chance to show people what we can do beyond standard print.

Our stand brought together different parts of the ESL Studio offering, including bespoke printed packaging, branded retail boxes, influencer gift packaging, co-packing services and reusable transport box solutions.

It was a busy couple of days, full of conversations with businesses at different stages of their packaging journey. Some were launching new products, some were looking for more sustainable packaging options and others needed help with packing, fulfilment or short-run branded packaging.

That variety is exactly where ESL Studio comes into its own.

Why the Show Mattered

Packaging is no longer just about putting a product in a box. It plays a huge role in how a product is seen, shared, shipped and remembered.

At the show, we spoke to businesses who were thinking about:

• How their product looks on shelf
• How to create better unboxing experiences
• How to manage small and medium production runs
• How to reduce single-use packaging
• How to outsource packing and fulfilment
• How to make packaging feel more premium
• How to protect higher-value or fragile items in transit

These are all areas we work on every day, so it was great to have those conversations face to face.

Printed Packaging, Co-Packing and Reusable Boxes

One of the biggest benefits of ESL Studio is that we can support businesses across several connected areas.

We can design and print branded packaging, produce display materials, assemble products, pack kits and create reusable transport boxes for moving valuable items again and again.

That means customers can come to us for one part of a project or ask us to manage more of the process from start to finish.

For brands, agencies and product businesses, that joined-up approach can save time, reduce hassle and make the final result feel much more consistent.

Meeting Brands and Building Connections

The best part of the show was meeting people properly. There is only so much you can explain over email or on a website. Having samples on the stand, showing real projects and talking through ideas in person made a big difference.

We met businesses from food and drink, retail, gifting, manufacturing, logistics, marketing and product development. Some were looking for one-off campaign packaging. Others were planning larger product launches or wanted support with long-term packing and fulfilment.

A few conversations started with “we’re not sure if this is possible” which is always the fun bit.

Bringing Ideas Back to Northern Ireland

After the show, we came back to Northern Ireland with new contacts, new ideas and plenty of follow-up conversations.

Events like Packaging Innovations & Empack are valuable because they show where the industry is heading. They also remind us that there is a real demand for practical, flexible packaging support, especially from businesses that need something more bespoke than off-the-shelf packaging.

For ESL Studio, the NEC was not just about exhibiting. It was about showing that a Northern Ireland-based print and packaging business can support brands across the UK and Ireland with creative, practical and well-made packaging solutions.

Looking Ahead

Attending Packaging Innovations & Empack Birmingham was a great step for ESL Studio and we are excited to build on the conversations that started there.

Whether it is printed retail packaging, handmade gift boxes, co-packing, fulfilment or reusable transport boxes, we are always interested in helping businesses bring packaging ideas to life.

If you met us at the show, thank you for stopping by. If you missed us, you can still get in touch with the team to talk through your next packaging project.