Spearhead Partners With Strategic Material Supplier BillerudKorsnäs

The Spearhead Group prides itself on teaming up with the best resources in the Physical Brand Enhancement (PBE) industry, including advisors, staff, Pioneers and now the original raw materials suppliers.

“We have created the Strategic Material Supplier program because we understand we must go the extra step to actively seek out and partner with material suppliers that demonstrate a high level of innovation and environmental awareness. It is an honor for us to kick off this program with such a highly respected paper mill as BillerudKorsnäs.” – Heather Fritzsche , CEO, The Spearhead Group

BillerudKorsnäs is excited to be part of Spearhead’s Strategic Material Supplier program. Spearhead has quickly established themselves as a leader in our packaging industry. It is clear to us that both our visions are aligned to offer clients quality, innovation, and environmentally friendly products.”  – Magnus Levinsson, Business Segment Director Cartonboard, BillerudKorsnäs

BillerudKorsnäs is a uniquely sustainable raw materials manufacturer with 8 paper mills in Europe. The company is the only one of its kind listed on the Dow Jones Global Sustainability Index. The paperboard operations are less than 3% reliant on fossil fuel energy and plan to phase out all fossil fuels by 2020.

 

About Spearhead:

With more than 45 years of collective experience designing and delivering memorable Physical Brand Enhancements that make a lasting impact, we understand the importance of a customer’s connection to a particular brand.

Companies choose The Spearhead Group because they know we are invested in all aspects of the process. We bring a unique and personable approach to each and every brand we represent and work towards ensuring ROI on PBE activities.

The Spearhead Group Receives WBE Certification as a Woman-Owned Business

The Spearhead Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that we have received our certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Achieving this milestone will benefit Spearhead in multiple ways. Spearhead intends to utilize the national WBENC network for new opportunities to partner with Fortune 500 companies in Spirits, Beauty and Personal Care. In addition, the WBENC also has many opportunities for training and continuing education that Spearhead plans to leverage.

Ultimately, though, achieving this certification was a long-time personal goal for Spearhead’s CEO, Heather Fritzsche. “As a graduate of an all-womens’ secondary school, I knew early on that I wanted to achieve big things in my career. When I attended Kent Place, our motto was “With Wisdom She Lights the Way”, and now I feel an opportunity and a responsibility to shed some light on the way for my colleagues and partners. Also at Kent Place, we had to sign our Honor code, This is my own work, on every test or major assignment. This is true ethics and I believe strongly that this is the foundation for all good business,” said Fritzsche.

“Spearhead is ready and eager to get involved with the WBENC PA- DE – sNJ chapter in committees, fundraising and scholarship work. From the beginning, we’ve pledged that we intend to support scholarship programs as our way of giving back to our community. We are also really excited about networking and creating more partnerships with diversity suppliers like us, and helping to bring them into our incredible network.” – Heather Fritzsche, CEO, The Spearhead Group.

In the near-future Spearhead will be announcing a fun event in Chicago to celebrate our WBE certification and our new office opening in the Merchandise Mart. Keep your eye on this page!

 

About Spearhead:

With more than 45 years of collective experience designing and delivering memorable Physical Brand Enhancements that make a lasting impact, we understand the importance of a customer’s connection to a particular brand.

Companies choose The Spearhead Group because they know we are invested in all aspects of the process. We bring a unique and personable approach to each and every brand we represent and work towards ensuring ROI on PBE activities.

Spearhead’s Pioneer, Acuity Packaging & Logistic Solutions, Expands into a New Kentucky Facility with Even More Production & Logistics Capabilities

Spearhead’s Pioneers are selected for their desire to always grow and innovate, and we certainly got it right with our Pioneer Acuity Packaging & Logistics Solutions, who is just expanding into their new larger facility starting early July.

Now, full end-to-end Value Added Packaging (VAPs) can be supported under one roof in Kentucky, including being licensed to handle spirits.

“Acuity Packaging & Logistics Solutions is proving once again why they are a Spearhead Pioneer. Expanding into their new facility will allow for increased thermoforming production as well as a greater capacity for complete co-packing and distribution of products all under one Kentucky roof. This means Spearhead can now offer further options in the Kentucky area for everything from local thermoforming to full end to end Value Added PBE for the Spirits industry. This is another game changer for efficiency, quality and speed to market. We are especially proud of Acuity as their growth adds even more value to our Women Owned VAP vertical offerings!” – Heather Fritzsche, Founder & CEO, The Spearhead Group

The facility in which Acuity will soon be moving into is in a major industrial center and within minutes of every major transportation channel available to the region; which includes the UPS Worldport. Doubling the size of Acuity’s current operation, this new location provides an enhanced capability to support additional co-packing volume.

“As we anticipate the completion of this facility transition, we are excited to continue the aggressive approach of improving operational efficiency, which will in turn provide the speed-to-market response expected by our customers.” Kim Woolery, CEO, Acuity

Spearhead is also exploring with our Pioneers, the addition of a new autocartoner to this location, which will provide an extremely unique offering of automation to our client’s in this region as well as nationally.

 

About Spearhead

With more than 45 years of collective experience designing and delivering memorable Physical Brand Enhancements that make a lasting impact, we understand the importance of a customer’s connection to a particular brand.

Companies choose The Spearhead Group because they know we are invested in all aspects of the process. We bring a unique and personable approach to each and every brand we represent and work towards ensuring ROI on PBE activities.

About Acuity Packaging and Logistics

Acuity brings valuable experience in the packaging industry with a direct focus on areas of design, manufacturing, customer service, warehousing, distribution, and logistics. Acuity strives to be the premier provider of high-quality packaging solutions and superior customer service. They create packaging that is recyclable and made from recycled materials. In addition, Acuity proudly supports organizations that foster domestic and international social responsibility.

To learn more about Acuity visit their website here.

Spearhead’s China Innovation Center Now Fully Operational

The Spearhead Group is proud to announce the official opening of its custom built and 100% dedicated Spearhead Innovation Center in China, consisting of two buildings and a walled campus with room for future expansion.

This Innovation Center enables Spearhead the full capability to both independently R&D new to world Physical Brand Enhancements (PBE), as well as tailor the mass production of those developed PBEs all in one location.

“We understand that there are times our innovation pushes the boundaries of any existing production methodologies, existing sites of our Spearhead Pioneer’s capabilities. This is where our dedicated Innovation Center in China comes into play. Now with this addition in China, Spearhead has the ability to launch mass scale production of various PBE innovations, literally setting up the production process to our own design.” – Heather Fritzsche, CEO, The Spearhead Group

The possibilities with this Innovation Center are endless, including textile engineering, plastic extrusion, welding, molding assembly, to name a few, all entirely up to our own desires to push innovation to new levels, at our own site, without any existing production limitations.

This Spearhead Innovation Center has dedicated production management and product engineering teams with over a decade of experience in Asia.

“Leading this effort for Spearhead in China is a dream come true for us. Having worked in product development for over 25 years we understand that it takes a very hands-on approach to everything from raw material selection, vertically integrating production, quality assurance, continuous improvement, and traceability to ensure a great final output. We know that what comes out of this facility carries our reputation along with it. I am looking forward to creating fantastic, new to world, PBE products out of this location.” – Robert Catalano, President, The Spearhead Group

 

About Spearhead

With more than 45 years of collective experience designing and delivering memorable Physical Brand Enhancements that make a lasting impact, we understand the importance of a customer’s connection to a particular brand.

Companies choose The Spearhead Group because they know we are invested in all aspects of the process. We bring a unique and personable approach to each and every brand we represent and work towards ensuring ROI on PBE activities.

To learn more about The Spearhead Group, visit our website here.

Spearheading Project Zero Defects

For decades the idea of reaching absolute zero defects in manufacturing has eluded many. Thought by some to be simply a fantasy, and by many others, not worth the extensive time, resource and cost to achieve it. At The Spearhead Group, we are not easily persuaded that things are impossible, and so we are putting our time and resources towards the goal of reaching zero defects into everything that we do.

Typically, random inspections are employed at production sites, most commonly Final Random Inspections (FRI). These inspections analyze goods after they are produced and ready to leave a factory site. FRI’s use a pre-determined sampling size, supported by statistical calculations. Inspection pass or fail grades are based on the threshold of a particular number of defects in the sample batch – the Acceptable Quality Level(AQL). This means there is predetermined a number of defects a customer must accept before production even begins. This is simply the reality of how inspections have been conducted.

This is why Spearhead is launching Project Zero Defects, an ongoing quality R&D program targeting the goal of zero defects in production. To help us in this quest we will be enlisting and collaborating with some of the best experts in the field of quality control, production management, and engineering automation – to name a few.

Project Zero Defects will have many phases in its journey towards zero defects; we recognize the magnitude and significance of what Spearhead is attempting here and we know it will not be an easy task. What we can say, however, is that our goal is to not tell our clients that “some defects are inevitable and must be accepted”. Allowing “Acceptable Quality Levels” (AQLs) of defects to pass through production and into customers hands is an old standard and we want to lead the charge on updating it.” – Robert Catalano, Co-Founder and President of The Spearhead Group

Project Zero Defects is a bold step towards theoretical perfection. As a quality assurance and compliance expert for over 20 years, I know the challenges faced here will require a massive effort to achieve Zero Defects in production, and I am happy to take the lead on this project for Spearhead. I believe this is yet another example of Spearhead taking on innovation in more than just new product design applications, but also into taking on the serious ongoing challenges of quality control and customer satisfaction. I am looking forward to the challenge.” – Tom Harney, QA & Compliance, Advisory Board Member, Project Zero Defects, The Spearhead Group

 

About Tom Harney:

Tom Harney has more than 30 years of experience in the consumer products industry with a focus on creating new client relationships and growing the existing business. His technical knowledge allows him to guide customers in making better business distribution decisions to ensuring compliance with global partners.

As a certified ASQ/CQA, CMI, CQT, and ISO 9000 Lead Assessor, Tom is also proficient in ASTM, CFR, AATCC, ANSI, CHPA, FDA, ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, BIFMA, and ISTA standards.

 

About Spearhead:

With more than 45 years of collective experience designing and delivering memorable Physical Brand Enhancements that make a lasting impact, we understand the importance of a customer’s connection to a particular brand.

Companies choose The Spearhead Group because they know we are invested in all aspects of the process. We bring a unique and personable approach to each and every brand we represent and work towards ensuring ROI on PBE activities.

The Spearhead Group Hires Six Consumer Product Industry Veterans to Advance Strategic Growth Initiatives Across the Organization

New Hires Bring Expertise in Product Development, Disruptive Innovation, QA, Global Procurement, and Consumer Product Distribution

April 23, 2018 — Newtown, PA – The Spearhead Group is pleased to announce the addition of six new hires in key strategic areas of the business, including: Vianney Becerril as product development manager, Dr. Shekhar Mitra as advisor on disruptive innovation, Ray DeCarlo as strategic packaging advisor, Tom Harney as quality assurance advisor, Chris Kegan as head of global strategic procurement, and Jessica Shvartsband as executive assistant.

The Spearhead Group was launched earlier in 2018 to pioneer Physical Brand Enhancements that effectively strengthen brand identity, inspire customer loyalty, and increase profitability across a variety of product sectors and consumer industries.

New Hires Cover a Wide Range of Expertise in Executive Leadership:

  • Vianney Becerril was hired as Product Development Manager to oversee production costs and project timelines. Previously, Vianney worked in product development and procurement in both the U.S. and Mexico for more than 10 years. Vianney’s focus and unique skill set will help Spearhead meet and exceed quality, design, and budget goals for clients.
  • Dr. Shekhar Mitra joins The Spearhead Group’s Advisory Board after an extensive career at Procter & Gamble where he served as Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Global Prestige, Beauty and Corporate Fragrances & Flavors. While at P&G, Mitra led the global innovation strategy and capability growth for P&G with the start-up of Beijing, Bangalore, Rio, and Africa innovation hubs. Mitra also personally holds more than 50 patents. At Spearhead, he will provide exclusive guidance on disruptive innovation, while advising on the development of transformational ideas and business creation, and innovation strategy.
  • Ray DeCarlo joins Spearhead as a Strategic Packaging Advisor. A graduate of Rutgers University with a BS in engineering, Ray has more than 35 years of experience in high-end, value-added packaging sales, with extensive experience in paperboard and plastic folding carton sales, thermoforming and rigid boxes. In his new role, Ray will interact with clients as a consultative salesperson, while leveraging relationships and knowledge of converting capabilities and trends to guide his clients on how best to achieve their graphics and functional targets. Ray maintains an active involvement in various industry organizations including, CIBS (Cosmetic Industry Buyers and Suppliers) and The NJPEC (New Jersey Packaging Executives Club).
  • Tom Harney brings a focus on creating new client relationships and growing existing business to the Spearhead Advisory Board. His expertise in quality assurance and compliance help to highlight The Spearhead Group’s commitment to excellence. Tom also brings a wealth of knowledge regarding testing protocols, factory audits, inspections, new and upcoming regulatory requirements, and his clear sense of supporting continuous improvement is unsurpassed in the QA industry. Tom will help guide customers in making better business distribution decisions and ensuring compliance with global partners. Tom is certified in ASQ/CQA, CMI, CQT and is an ISO 9000 Lead Assessor, he is also proficient in ASTM, CFR, AATCC, ANSI, CHPA, FDA, ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, BIFMA, and ISTA standards.
  • Chris Kegan joins Spearhead as Global Strategic Procurement Advisor. With more than 25 years of expertise in transforming organizations to bring greater value via strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and risk management, Chris will drive innovative thinking within a collaborative, entrepreneurial atmosphere. With over 11 years in various procurement roles at Diageo and over 4 years at Beam Suntory, Chris is widely recognized as an adaptive change agent with a proven track record of transforming business performance with his results-oriented & inspirational leadership. Throughout his career, Chris has driven collaborative new product development by leveraging the supplier base, developing core processes and driving continuous improvement with his expertise in glass bottles and primary packaging.
  • Jessica Shvartsband joins Spearhead as executive assistant to the CEO and President where she is responsible for client relations, project management, and ensuring positive business outcomes. Previously in her career, Jessica spent more than a decade managing complex schedules for C-level executives at various global companies.

“Spearhead selectively hires leading industry visionaries who are experienced in a particular area of the Physical Brand Enhancement development process in a way that will advance our goal of becoming the global leader in Physical Brand Enhancements. The timing of our company launch dovetails perfectly with the industry’s collective desire for a more modern, cutting-edge approach to enhancing the buying experience among consumer audiences,” said Co-founder and CEO, Heather Fritzsche. “We are fortunate to count these talented industry leaders among as Spearhead’s strategic management team, and look forward to revolutionizing the Physical Brand Enhancement process across the world.”

Though headquartered in Bucks County, PA, The Spearhead Group employs and works with professionals, advisors, suppliers, and others from around the globe who are experienced in delivering a modern, full-service, consultative approach for clients from concept to reality.

 

About Spearhead

With more than 45 years of collective experience designing and delivering memorable Physical Brand Enhancements that make a lasting impact, we understand the importance of a customer’s connection to a particular brand.

Companies choose The Spearhead Group because they know we are invested in all aspects of the process. We bring a unique and personable approach to each and every brand we represent and work towards ensuring ROI on PBE activities.

The Spearhead Group Launches to Pioneer Physical Brand Enhancements for Companies Looking to Build Brand Loyalty and Deliver a More Immersive Customer Experience

Co-Founders Bring a Visionary Approach to Modernizing the Industry

March 20, 2018 — Newtown, PA — The Spearhead Group today announced it has officially launched its new company to create Physical Brand Enhancements for companies looking to strengthen brand identity, inspire customer loyalty, and increase profitability across a variety product sectors and consumer industries. Headquartered in Bucks County, PA midway between New York City and Philadelphia, The Spearhead Group offers companies a modern, full-service, consultative approach from concept to reality.

As Co-founder and CEO, Heather Fritzsche is responsible for all operational, financial, and marketing aspects of Spearhead in the U.S. and around the world. With a career that spans more than 20 years, Heather has earned numerous distinctions working with some of the world’s best-known brands to reimagine the visual identity for countless products across multiple market sectors. Heather’s network of trusted suppliers, experts, engineers, and other resource professionals are able to design and deliver functional, production feasible, and cost-effective products for Spearhead clients.

“We saw a real need in the industry for an innovative alternative to what has traditionally been done in the packaging industry. As a company, we are all about spearheading new ideas and new ways of doing things, so we like to work with companies who understand and embrace our modern, consultative approach to creating Physical Brand Enhancements that deliver a true ROI,” said Heather Fritzsche, CEO, The Spearhead Group. “We give companies the opportunity to outsource the PBE process to Spearhead industry professionals who have unrivaled relationships with global suppliers, engineers, and others who will deliver an exceptional product.”

As Co-founder and President of The Spearhead Group, Robert Catalano brings more than 25 years of industry experience, with a focus on delivering the best and most innovative solutions the market can supply. In his current role, Robert is responsible for the visionary aspects of Spearhead in the Americas and around the globe, with an emphasis on expanding client, supplier, and team vision with an eye towards market innovation, differentiation, and disruption. Throughout his career, Robert is a proven success at spearheading savvy, integrated, market-changing programs for premier, global brands across numerous market sectors, and is credited with pioneering and trademarking the PBE model.

“Customer demand is changing all the time, and companies are feeling the pressure to keep up with that demand and constantly innovate to keep consumers engaged,” added Robert. “We started Spearhead to deliver something very different than what else is out there right now. Companies see our inherent value as an innovative, agile, small company that is integral to the bigger picture and that can collaborate with them to deliver results. Because of our size, our relationships, our experience, and our visionary leadership, Spearhead can make rapid decisions and execute quickly on projects. We are very competitively priced and able to offer financing opportunities to businesses that other companies are simply not in a position to do.”

Clients who work with Spearhead benefit from access to its extensive personal network of trusted suppliers, experts, engineers, and other resource professionals who are able to design and deliver functional, production feasible, and cost-effective products.

“Spearhead works closely with clients to ensure 100% satisfaction. Heather and I have worked together for more than 20 years, so we have a unique and complementary set of talents, relationships, and vision that are valued by clients, partners, and suppliers, around the world,” said Robert. “We welcome the opportunity to work with any company looking to generate sales, increase profitability, and solidify brand loyalty among target audiences.” “No two clients are looking for the same thing, so we work closely with each one to ensure all projects can be delivered on time and within budget. It all depends on what you as a business are looking to achieve. We adapt to your business, not the other way around,” added Heather.

 

About Spearhead

With more than 45 years of collective experience designing and delivering memorable Physical Brand Enhancements that make a lasting impact, we understand the importance of a customer’s connection to a particular brand.

Companies choose The Spearhead Group because they know we are invested in all aspects of the process. We bring a unique and personable approach to each and every brand we represent and work towards ensuring ROI on PBE activities.

 

Welcome to The Spearhead Group Blog

The Spearhead Group provides Physical Brand Enhancements to clients in the spirits, beauty and personal care industries. Headquartered in Yardley, PA midway between New York City and Philadelphia, The Spearhead Group offers companies a modern, full-service, consultative approach from concept to reality.

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