This week on Cullen UnPacked, we’re taking you inside a day in the life of John, one of our Business Development Managers – and one of the key people responsible for helping customers turn packaging challenges into fully realised solutions.
At Cullen, no two days ever look the same. With customers spanning food, drink, retail, industrial, e-commerce, horticulture, and more, every enquiry comes with its own requirements, priorities, and pressures. John’s role sits right at the centre of this, connecting customer needs with Cullen’s design, production, and innovation capabilities. It’s a role built on relationships, problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to delivering value.
A Customer-First Start to the Day
John’s mornings often begin long before he sets foot on site. From catching up on overnight enquiries to reviewing active projects and preparing for customer calls, the first part of his day is all about focus. He’ll speak with prospects exploring sustainable alternatives, existing customers reviewing performance, or brands preparing for seasonal demand.
Every conversation begins the same way: listen first.
Understanding what a customer needs – and why they need it – is the foundation for every project we deliver. Is the goal to reduce cost? Improve protection? Remove plastic? Speed up packing line performance? Or simply ensure consistent supply? Once John understands the full picture, he brings in the right people internally to start shaping the solution.
Building Bridges Between Customers and the Cullen Team
The heart of John’s role is collaboration. He is the link between customers and Cullen’s technical teams, ensuring projects move quickly and smoothly from concept to production.
A typical day may include:
Reviewing customer briefs with our in-house Design team
Walking the factory floor to assess fit, feasibility, and tooling options
Meeting with Production to plan capacity for upcoming orders
Aligning with Logistics on lead times, timelines, and stock planning
Visiting customer sites to understand how their products are packed, stacked, transported, and sold
This collaborative approach ensures that every detail is considered – from how a tray fits on a conveyor to how a corrugated insert performs during transit. It also means customers receive a solution that isn’t just functional, but designed to make their operations smoother, faster, and more efficient.
Turning Challenges Into Real Solutions
Across a wide range of sectors, John sees the same themes recurring: rising material costs, pressure to reduce plastic, supply chain uncertainty, and the need for packaging that performs under increasing demands.
This is where Cullen’s unique capabilities make a difference.
Whether it’s:
developing a brand-new moulded fibre format to replace a single-use plastic item,
improving the security of fragile goods in transit,
creating a custom corrugated fitment for complex products, or
helping customers prepare for seasonal surges like Christmas or summer peaks,
John works closely with our teams to ensure every challenge becomes an opportunity for improvement.
For customers, this means faster development cycles, deeper technical insight, and packaging designed with real-world use in mind.
For Cullen, it means continuously innovating to stay ahead of market needs.
Why Business Development Matters
In today’s competitive landscape, packaging isn’t just a commodity — it’s a strategic advantage. That’s why roles like John’s are invaluable.
Business Development Managers at Cullen don’t just take orders. They:
uncover inefficiencies
identify opportunities for improvement
ensure designs are fit-for-purpose
help customers plan ahead
connect the dots between design, production, compliance, and logistics
This customer-first approach ensures that every solution we deliver is grounded in insight, shaped by collaboration, and driven by performance.
Finishing the Day With Purpose
By the end of the day, John may have progressed multiple projects, supported several customers, and initiated new opportunities – but the purpose remains the same: helping customers deliver more.
Every conversation, every design review, every site visit, and every sample request plays a part in shaping the solutions that go on to support thousands of businesses across the UK and beyond.
And that’s what makes the work so rewarding – because behind every piece of packaging Cullen produces, there’s a story of collaboration, problem-solving, and partnership.
Watch the Full Cullen UnPacked Video
Take a look at a day in the life.
Ready to find out how Cullen can help with your packaging needs?
This week on Cullen UnPacked, we’re taking you inside a day in the life of John, one of our Business Development Managers – and one of the key people responsible for helping customers turn packaging challenges into fully realised solutions.
At Cullen, no two days ever look the same. With customers spanning food, drink, retail, industrial, e-commerce, horticulture, and more, every enquiry comes with its own requirements, priorities, and pressures. John’s role sits right at the centre of this, connecting customer needs with Cullen’s design, production, and innovation capabilities. It’s a role built on relationships, problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to delivering value.
A Customer-First Start to the Day
John’s mornings often begin long before he sets foot on site. From catching up on overnight enquiries to reviewing active projects and preparing for customer calls, the first part of his day is all about focus. He’ll speak with prospects exploring sustainable alternatives, existing customers reviewing performance, or brands preparing for seasonal demand.
Every conversation begins the same way: listen first.
Understanding what a customer needs – and why they need it – is the foundation for every project we deliver. Is the goal to reduce cost? Improve protection? Remove plastic? Speed up packing line performance? Or simply ensure consistent supply? Once John understands the full picture, he brings in the right people internally to start shaping the solution.
Building Bridges Between Customers and the Cullen Team
The heart of John’s role is collaboration. He is the link between customers and Cullen’s technical teams, ensuring projects move quickly and smoothly from concept to production.
A typical day may include:
Reviewing customer briefs with our in-house Design team
Walking the factory floor to assess fit, feasibility, and tooling options
Meeting with Production to plan capacity for upcoming orders
Aligning with Logistics on lead times, timelines, and stock planning
Visiting customer sites to understand how their products are packed, stacked, transported, and sold
This collaborative approach ensures that every detail is considered – from how a tray fits on a conveyor to how a corrugated insert performs during transit. It also means customers receive a solution that isn’t just functional, but designed to make their operations smoother, faster, and more efficient.
Turning Challenges Into Real Solutions
Across a wide range of sectors, John sees the same themes recurring: rising material costs, pressure to reduce plastic, supply chain uncertainty, and the need for packaging that performs under increasing demands.
This is where Cullen’s unique capabilities make a difference.
Whether it’s:
developing a brand-new moulded fibre format to replace a single-use plastic item,
improving the security of fragile goods in transit,
creating a custom corrugated fitment for complex products, or
helping customers prepare for seasonal surges like Christmas or summer peaks,
John works closely with our teams to ensure every challenge becomes an opportunity for improvement.
For customers, this means faster development cycles, deeper technical insight, and packaging designed with real-world use in mind.
For Cullen, it means continuously innovating to stay ahead of market needs.
Why Business Development Matters
In today’s competitive landscape, packaging isn’t just a commodity — it’s a strategic advantage. That’s why roles like John’s are invaluable.
Business Development Managers at Cullen don’t just take orders. They:
uncover inefficiencies
identify opportunities for improvement
ensure designs are fit-for-purpose
help customers plan ahead
connect the dots between design, production, compliance, and logistics
This customer-first approach ensures that every solution we deliver is grounded in insight, shaped by collaboration, and driven by performance.
Finishing the Day With Purpose
By the end of the day, John may have progressed multiple projects, supported several customers, and initiated new opportunities – but the purpose remains the same: helping customers deliver more.
Every conversation, every design review, every site visit, and every sample request plays a part in shaping the solutions that go on to support thousands of businesses across the UK and beyond.
And that’s what makes the work so rewarding – because behind every piece of packaging Cullen produces, there’s a story of collaboration, problem-solving, and partnership.
Watch the Full Cullen UnPacked Video
Take a look at a day in the life.
