my career

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From a young age, innovation and design have been the driving forces in my life. My earliest memories of this passion date back to when I was just 10 years old. It all started when I accompanied my older brother to a careers evening where St Regis Packaging had a stand that caught my attention. I was fascinated by the intricate designs and structures, which although seemed basic, contained a great degree of engineering. Upon returning home, I found myself sketching packaging ideas, captivated by the endless possibilities of this misunderstood, yet creative field.

the early years

Seven years later, my journey in the packaging industry truly began when I joined David S Smith, the company that had taken over St Regis, as a temporary designer covering maternity leave.

This early opportunity was pivotal, instead of staying for nine months, it solidified my dedication to a career that has now spanned over 30 years. Within six months, the senior designer left that was training me, and at just 18 years old, I found myself on my own in the structural design department. It was an intense learning experience, filled with challenges, failures and growth, where I spent countless hours collaborating with machine operators on the factory floor and immersing myself in the manufacturing process.

The Launceston site I worked at specialised in applying tapes and coatings on the corrugator, as well as having a wide range of flute profiles and supplying home delivery packaging, which added a unique dimension to my early career. During my four years there, my innovative designs and dedication were recognized through eight national, European, and international design awards. This recognition fueled my passion even further, driving me to continually push the boundaries of packaging design and innovation.

twenties

In my early 20s, I ventured into freelancing, working at various DS Smith sites throughout the U.K. and broadening my expertise in carton board, FMCG solutions, as well as multi-point gluing and high-quality print. This period of diverse experiences enriched my understanding of the packaging industry. However, returning to DS Smith, I transitioned into external sales, aiming to leverage my innovative mindset to boost sales. However, this coincided with a challenging year marked by multiple paper price increases, where much of my time was spent on cost reduction strategies and not innovation. Despite the hurdles, these experiences have profoundly shaped my career, underscoring the importance of innovation and resilience in the ever-evolving packaging industry.

thirties

In my my late twenties and early thirties, I embarked on a new journey by starting my own business, which I successfully ran for 11 years, growing it from a small operation in my parents’ garage to two small industrial units. This venture taught me invaluable lessons about innovation and lean manufacturing, selling value, building customer relations and making projects commercially viable. However, despite these achievements, I realized that my true passion lay in innovation rather than people management and business growth. Seeking a fresh challenge that would push my boundaries, I sold the business, eager to return to my roots in the packaging industry.

Within three weeks of selling the business, I re-entered the packaging sector again with DS Smith, where my e-commerce packaging innovations were again recognised and I won a further five packaging awards in the space of 18 months. One of the designs I created has since been used by a number of packaging companies, as unfortunately it was never patented.

During this time at the local site, I discovered that while I had once aspired to be a design manager in my early years, my true fulfillment came from hands-on innovation and problem-solving. This realisation, along with on site courier experience, led me to create a pioneering e-commerce packaging testing process and also develop my own laboratory testing equipment—an industry first.

forties

After this successful time at the local site of DS Smith, I was promoted to a European role within the Central e-commerce Team, further expanding my expertise and influence. During my time as the European Testing and Certification Manager, I was fortunate enough to be the first designer to visit the Amazon Packaging Laboratory in Seattle and signed off for the Frustration Free Packaging Program as it was known then. Following this, I spent the next two years researching and developing testing processes, equipment and laboratories to understand e-commerce packaging, as well as the supply chain needs.

Seeking further growth and understanding for omni-channel solutions, I took a secondment with an FMCG manufacturer for seven months, stepping even further out of my comfort zone to gain deeper insights.

In the past five years, I transitioned from a hands-on approach to a more strategic role, leveraging my extensive industry experience to shape broader organizational goals. This shift allowed me to share my insights on a larger scale, leading to opportunities to write articles for the press, where I could distill complex ideas into accessible advice for a wider audience.

During this time as the e-commerce Design Manager and through numerous insights of customer interactions, one of my designs which was created specifically for the e-commerce channel was patented.

To further expand my perspective and skills, I also completed a coaching course, which enriched my ability to see challenges from different viewpoints, as well as support the internal design community.

My expertise also earned me invitations to speak on national UK radio, where I shared industry trends with the listeners. Additionally, I was a speaker at a number of webinars and conferences, engaging with diverse audiences and contributing to the ongoing dialogue about innovation and strategic growth in our field.

During the last year as the e-commerce Design Manager for DS Smith, I managed three job roles simultaneously, showcasing my ability to juggle responsibilities and drive success. My ability to sell value and drive commercial viability has remained a cornerstone of my career, continually propelling me forward in the dynamic world of packaging. Within one of these roles, my innovative approach and commitment to customer service helped secure 15 million euros in new business as part of a small, dedicated team of three.

Recognising that my growth potential within the packaging industry was becoming more limited, I decided to move completely out of my comfort zone and join Zalando, immersing myself in a completely new environment of bags, automation, complex operations, vast data and sustainability.

reflection

Despite not having attended university or indulged in the latest innovation books and buzzwords, my insights come from a different kind of education—30 years of hands-on experience in the packaging and innovation industry.

Whilst I have navigated ups and downs, faced challenges head-on, and learned valuable lessons from both my successes and failures, this practical knowledge earned through three decades of real-world application, provides a foundation far more robust and tested than any theoretical framework.

My insights are rooted in first hand experience of courier, fulfilment and packaging manufacturing sites, offering a perspective that is grounded, reliable, and deeply informed by the day-to-day trials of a seasoned professional.

With 30 years of experience in the industry, I have gained extensive knowledge about the key players, trends, technologies, and challenges, becoming a subject matter expert with specialised skills and expertise. This long tenure has allowed me to build a robust professional network, which have provided many opportunities and support throughout my career. Such experience fosters adaptability and resilience as I navigate various changes and challenges, establishing a strong reputation for my work. Having this historical perspective helps me to understand the industry’s evolution and foresee potential future changes, further enhancing my problem-solving abilities.

Moreover, my extensive experience positions me as a mentor, capable of guiding and developing less-experienced professionals. However, while 30 years in one industry brings many benefits, I also know it is crucial to stay open to new ideas and approaches due to the rapid pace of technological advancements.

A skilled innovator will fulfil the customer brief… but an exceptional innovator will ensure commercial and operational success

Gavin Mounce

Hello… I am Gavin

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