Small is beautiful – even for big fish

For a number of years the packaging industry has been in consolidation mode; and large groups have grown larger, usually by acquisition, creating national, pan-European or global structures. Their desire, in line with large corporate clients, was to establish single source agreements delivering simplicity, consistency and, of course, cost savings.

There is little doubt that the aggregation of demand, closer integration and fewer deeper relationships delivered the cost reduction, but we are now increasingly hearing that these larger structures are less responsive and unwieldy.

The switch to a more ‘fleet of foot’ supplier where, to quote one client, “the guy at the top knows what’s going on,” is now seen as worth the increase in the supply base.

So what does this do to career paths? The market leaders, the big names, the dominant player have always been seen as the ultimate goal on the career ladder, and clearly these companies have many advantages.

However, there are a number of smaller and mid-sized companies that are now doing very well, partly on the back of the change in buyer sentiment, partly as a result of their focus and responsiveness to opportunity. Many of these have been bought or turned around by entrepreneurial individuals; so whilst they may have been unfashionable as employers, they are now coming into their own.

One key advantage of the smaller groups is the opportunity to exert greater influence and take ownership of projects and achievements. From a career perspective, if you have drive and ambition it is often in these smaller organisations where your achievements are readily visible. Mercury Search and Selection partners the IOP: The Packaging Society with www.packagingfutures.com and the British Printing Industries Federation with www.jobsinprint.com.