At Kallik, our innovation is guided by the experience and insight of the people behind our solutions. Our label and artwork management experts. One of these experts is Stuart Powell, Global Head of Product. Stuart plays a central role in shaping the future of our product and making sure it continues to meet the real-world needs of our customers. With decades of experience in packaging, pre-press, and labeling, he’s no stranger to the complexities of artwork and content management. So let's geet to know Stuart...
From Packaging Artwork to Product Leadership
When it comes to experience in the labeling and artwork space, this is something Stuart is definitely not short on. Asking about how long he'd been working in the industry, he said: “Too long to admit to! I fell into artwork after leaving college. I’ve created packaging artwork for everything from pharma through to food and beverage, with stints specializing in pre-press and retouching before moving into management. Later on I was invited by the original founders of Kallik to join the team leading the migration of customer data into our product which required learning a whole new skillset around factory labelling. Here I am five years later, not only understanding the product but driving our future vision.”
His wide-ranging experience, from hands-on creative work to strategic product direction, gives him a unique perspective on what our customers need today and what they’ll need tomorrow.
Solving Real Problems Through Collaboration
For Stuart, the most rewarding part of his role isn’t just the technology, it’s the people. “The most rewarding part of my role is meeting customers to understand their challenges and providing input to solve those challenges through innovative solutions. I love working with collaborative teams and some of our customers really get the collaborative concept rather than viewing it as a customer/supplier relationship. This drives a real partnership between us for developing the product.” This spirit of partnership has been central to Kallik’s approach, and it’s something Stuart works hard to foster every day.
Innovation (With a Hint of Mystery)
Stuart leads product at Kallik, so naturally we had to ask him about staying ahead of industry trends. But he wasn’t about to give too much away: “Hey, I lead our product, you think I’m giving all my secrets away?” Suffice it to say, the future of labeling and artwork is in capable hands.
What Makes Kallik Different
We couldn’t talk to Stuart without asking what sets Kallik apart in a crowded (and constantly growing) marketplace. His answer was clear and direct: “Automation is key, the time saving and consequential cost reduction for our customers is a big differentiator. The ability to make a content change and, from that, produce a complete artwork in moments is beyond anything our competitors can deliver. Tie that in with the content controls, audit capability, and take it through to print production, and you can see the power of our system and the potential return that can be achieved.” It’s this automation-first mindset, combined with full control and traceability, that makes Kallik’s Veraciti platform a game-changer for regulated industries.
Breaking the Biggest Myth About Labeling and Artwork
Many people still underestimate the importance of labels and packaging. Stuart wants to correct that. When asked what the biggest misconception about labeling and artwork is, Stuart said: “It’s just artwork or just a label. This is your primary communication channel with the consumer; a single error can cost potentially millions to rectify, and the control of that content is critical. By ‘getting it right’ before you produce the artwork and then removing the human component in generation, you reduce that risk and ensure the correct content is communicated.” In other words, labels matter and often far more than businesses realise.
Advice for Businesses Looking to Improve
So, what should businesses do if they want to improve their labeling and artwork operations? Stuart offers some practical advice: “Your current processes will have developed over a number of years and be based around the restrictions of your existing practices. Don't attempt to replace your current processes with a software system. Do take the opportunity to completely overhaul your process into a proven system. The effort will start paying back from day one, and the ROI will continue for years to come. You can be bold without losing compliance or introducing risk.” This is a message many of our customers take to heart when beginning their digital transformation journey.
Stuart Outside of Work
When Stuart isn’t leading product strategy or helping customers rethink their labeling processes, he seeks peace and stillness in nature and art. “I like to switch off by doing something that completely detaches me from the outside world. Coarse fishing mainly, the peace and tranquility of sitting in the countryside at the side of a lake staring at a tiny dot of colour in the middle of the water, with the potential of having to react in a moment. Otherwise, I like watercolour painting, again it wraps you up in a single point of concentration without any stresses.”
It's a calm and reflective contrast to the fast-paced world of enterprise software—and perhaps a secret to his clear thinking and creativity. Stuart Powell’s deep expertise, technical curiosity, and collaborative spirit are key to what makes Kallik’s product strategy stand out. Want to learn how Veraciti can transform your labeling and artwork management process? Contact us at enquiries@kallik.com, call +44 (0)1827 318100, or click here to get in touch.