June 27, 2025

IPL25 – Chapter 5: War Stories and Wisdom

Personal Reflections on 25 Years of IPL

As IPL celebrates its 25th year, we’ve taken a moment to sit down with some of the individuals who’ve helped shape the journey. From wild startup days and global expansion to unforgettable project wins, they’ve seen it all. These are some of their reflections.

A Spirit of Adventure

A lot can change in 25 years. Technology evolves. Borders shrink. But some of IPL’s earliest memories still bring a smile. Back in the early days, when the team was small enough to fit around a lunch table, every birthday came with a twist. Newcomers were expected to sing. It was lighthearted, a little awkward, and a great equaliser. Some surprised us with their hidden talent. Others were better off sticking to their day jobs.

Those early years were full of travel and exploration. A 50km drive in India could take half a day, and navigating China without today’s digital tools required patience and persistence. But that sense of challenge made the wins sweeter.

Of course, not everything went smoothly. One unforgettable incident involved a box cutter accidentally left inside a shipment bound for a major global client. The fallout was significant. The solution involved having to then install industrial X-ray machines on all the production lines to ensure it didn’t happen again. It was a tough lesson, but one that positively shaped our approach to risk and quality forever.

What’s helped IPL navigate these highs and lows is adaptability. We’ve never stood still. Reviewing our positioning, staying open to change, and knowing when to pivot has kept us future-focused. That, along with a deep respect for people, has always been key. Whether colleagues, clients or partners, respect goes a long way.

Building with Purpose

Over the years, IPL has grown from a nimble operation into a global force in premium packaging. We’ve expanded offices, formed new teams, and evolved our services to meet the changing demands of the world’s best brands.

A personal highlight has been growing IPL Design from a one-man engineering role into a full-service design agency. Today, we have an incredibly talented team of designers, engineers and visualisers working as a core part of IPL’s broader offering. It’s a transformation that fills me with pride.

What’s kept me here isn’t just the work, it’s the people. There’s a deep sense of family at IPL. We support each other through the highs and lows, both professional and personal, always ready to face challenges together.

And yes, we’ve had our share of laughs. From legendary Christmas getaways to spontaneous karaoke bans (Duane, we’re looking at you), there’s never a dull moment. Let’s just say some memories, like Glen’s infamous Vegas t-shirt, are best kept within the IPL vault.

As we’ve grown, so have our project wins. From building long-term relationships with the world’s top brands to helping startups find their feet, our work spans spirits, jewellery, technology and even numismatics. Every day brings new challenges, and with each one, we get stronger.

One of the biggest shifts has been in how we connect. Since the digital acceleration of 2020, our global teams now operate in real time. There’s no need for paper trails or physical handovers. Cloud-based platforms have changed the way we collaborate, regardless of location or time zone.

Looking ahead, what excites me most is the openness of the future. At IPL, the future is something we shape together. Ideas are welcomed. Innovation is supported. That kind of environment doesn’t just motivate. It inspires.

From Guest Bedroom to Global Stage

Our first office was my guest bedroom. After Ryan and I sold a retail business we were involved in, our long-time friend Lloyd moved from Zimbabwe and joined us. The three of us set up shop at home. We weren’t even a packaging company yet. We were just hustling trading and chasing opportunities. Everything was on the table.

Those early years were frenetic. Whether it was karaoke in Shanghai or tubing on a lake in Cape Town, we played hard and worked harder. The relationships we built on those early trips, especially with clients like Glenmorangie and Chivas laid the foundation for long-term success.

One of our earliest breakthroughs was the Chivas tins. Their first global supply out of Asia. That was a real learning experience for us in the kind of care and detail expected from luxury brands has been part of what we do since.

The Royal Salute velvet bags are another project that stands out. For 18 years, more than 600 people in Panipat were employed thanks to that single product. I’ll never forget watching cords being tied by a craftsman in 45-degree heat in northern India, seated cross-legged on a table and using his toes as part of the process.

We helped fund a local school, and over 3,000 people relied on that work. This wasn’t just packaging. It was community impact.

We’ve grown a lot since then, but the core hasn’t changed. We’re still curious, passionate and driven to do better. What excites me most is the next generation. The people here are talented, committed and ready to lead.

Stay Tuned…

There are many more stories to come. In the next chapter of our IPL25 campaign, we’ll share more untold moments, unexpected memories and reflections from across the business. Because everyone here has played a role in this journey, and every voice adds to the story.

Follow Along

This isn’t just a celebration – it’s a 12-month journey of memories, milestones, and magic:

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• Be part of our quarter-century narrative

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