In our Speaker Spotlight series, get to know our speakers before you see them. Find out what trends Joe Poxon predicts this year, who they admire in the industry, and why you should attend their session at Natural & Organic Products Europe in April.
What one person or business in the natural & organic industry do you really admire and why?
Rachel Palmer, peace with the wild, not only arguably the largest independent online eco store but also by far and away the most comprehensive, Also Milly and Sissy for their relatively first to market powder and water products.
What do you see as key trends for natural & organic in the coming year?
I have a feeling that an emphasis on organic is going to come back and do the rounds again, just a feeling of late.
Can you give us an example of what your business is doing to become even more sustainable
Cardboard boxes, as both a brand and a contract manufacturer? We both use and receive a lot of cardboard boxes. Not only do new boxes cost a lot to buy, but they also have to be made and shipped, which for such a relatively bulky item is a fairly energy intensive process. So we made the decision at the beginning of this year to stop throwing out perfectly good cardboard boxes. We now reuse them to supplement, and help us cut down on the new boxes. Our labels say: This is a reused box, it might look a bit tatty but it still functions all the same!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of your role and the most challenging?
Most rewarding is taking on a project that everyone else has said no to and the client is just about to give up before they found us. The most challenging is oftentimes pulling off that project.
How important is Natural & Organic Products Europe trade show to the you/industry?
As Gecko Works came from a natural male grooming brand our specialty is working with an environmental or natural edge to them. NOPEX is great for us as it is where most of that industry congregates and so we get a huge amount of good leads.
Why should visitors attend your session at the show?
Because standing up all day sucks and I am fairly sure the session has seats… Also you get to listen to me discuss the finer details of FMCG manufacturing, what is not to love…
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given.
With regards to unusual projects say yes first, worry about how you are going to pull it off after… It is the whole emphasis of the Gecko Special Operations Division.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know:
My family has a three legged pet tortoise called Rocky, because to 12 year old Joe he looked a bit like a rock.
See Joe Poxon’s session ‘How retailers can get custom own-branded products without white label‘. Register for a trade ticket here.
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Mar 24, 2023