We recently connected with Sharon Eucce and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sharon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

Looking back on the start of my packaging career and business, my first full scale client was through a referral. A supplier had made his own sales call on the project managers at a well known beauty brand in San Francisco. After his appointment, he thought that I would be a great fit to help the client and gave me a call to tell me about the prospect.

Now, at the time, I was probably a year into the new business. All my previous orders had been from small brands. I was scrambling to be contributing to the packaging company I worked for because it had taken me quite awhile to ramp up.

I made the introductory call on the phone – nervous! I got the appointment and immediately connected with the people and the products. The customer team became my “people”.

I wanted to help and educate wherever I could – no matter what department. I worked to understand their language, their creative, sales and marketing goals. In my mind, I was part of their team.
My background in print processes and production helped the team translate the creative vision into real packaging.
We worked together for years and I had 75-80% of their business making unit cartons.
When I am respected and can feel part of the team, contribute to the success of other people and products it’s the most fun!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Here are some loose notes about me: You can use all or some of the information.
• Grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area with lots of creativity and how things are made as a child.
• Got into college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo into the Graphic Communication major which started my career in printing and packaging.
• Spent 20 years in the paper industry calling on design firms and corporate marketing departments around the country.
• Now have my own business as a packaging consultant, broker and educator.
• I’ve lived in New England, Seattle, New Jersey and now I live in San Diego
• I work with clients around North America.
• I consult, produce, design and deliver packaging mostly in the following industries: beauty, specialty food, beverage, chocolate, confectionery, fashion and other passionate industries.

The most fun and when I’m most grateful when they welcome me and I’m given the opportunity to be a trusted supplier. My clients share their ideas and goals and together we make that happen. This is where the two phrases: “She’s our packaging chic(k)” and “She’s our ‘friendor'” come in!

Clients come to me when they are launching a new product or line extension and need help navigating the packaging design and production process.

Clients come to me when they are looking for a new packaging supplier. They want to compare pricing and are looking to switch their business over to a new supplier.

Here’s the more formal background on my business, Packaging Chic.

Packaging Chic is a consulting, brokering, and educational firm specializing in custom packaging solutions for ecommerce and retail brands. Our expertise spans various industries including beauty, specialty food & beverage, luxury household goods, general CPG products, pet, and confectionery. We excel in both packaging and structural design, using high-end printing techniques to create packaging that elevates your brand.

We form collaborative partnerships with marketing managers, brand owners, and designers, providing both training and teamwork to navigate the complexities of secondary packaging. Our long-standing industry relationships enable us to source and produce quality packaging tailored to your brand’s specific needs.

Whether you’re new to the packaging world and require educational guidance, or an established brand seeking an additional supplier partner, we offer comprehensive solutions. Our network of vetted suppliers specializes in folding cartons, corrugated boxes, rigid boxes, and retail displays.

Beyond sourcing and production, our services extend to optimizing workflow and deepening your understanding of print processes.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience is not just about facing challenges, but also about how we adapt and grow from them. Throughout my career, I’ve encountered several unexpected hurdles, each teaching me valuable lessons in resilience and determination. One poignant example was when my biggest client was acquired by a world-renowned brand. This acquisition brought massive changes, and many of the incredible people I had worked closely with were let go. This felt like losing a part of myself. I had invested so much emotionally and professionally in serving this client that witnessing these changes was deeply saddening. Despite the emotional toll, I recognized the need to step up. Utilizing my extensive experience and understanding of the business, I helped bridge the knowledge gap for the new team. This period was challenging, and it coincided with a personal health battle against a rare neuromuscular disease. Yet, with surgery and ongoing treatment, I’ve been able to maintain my professional commitments, a testament to my commitment and resilience.
This and other experiences have been pivotal in shaping my approach to both life and business. They’ve taught me the importance of adaptability, the strength in vulnerability, and the value of persevering through challenges. My journey has been about more than just overcoming obstacles; it’s been a continuous process of learning, growing, and finding innovative ways to thrive, no matter the circumstances. Looking at my career through this lens helps me forge on!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

In my experience, the most significant misunderstanding between creatives and non-creatives lies in the way we process and communicate information. As someone expressive, intuitive, and engaging, my approach often emphasizes emotional responses and sensory experiences—like color, texture, and visual storytelling. I tend to avoid heavy reliance on data and analytical information, which is often a stark contrast to the more structured corporate language. This difference can sometimes make communication challenging. For instance, when I listen to clients or colleagues discuss an issue, my mind immediately starts crafting creative solutions. I see possibilities where others see problems. However, the way I express these solutions—rich in adjectives and imagery—might not always align with the conventional corporate style. This sometimes leads to a worry that my ideas might not be fully understood, prompting me to hold back, which isn’t beneficial either.
As an ENFJ, ‘The Protagonist’ personality from the 16 Personalities framework, I am naturally inclined towards empathetic and impactful communication. I thrive on engaging others and creating connections, but this can be a double-edged sword in environments where data and analytics are favored over intuitive and emotional reasoning.
The key takeaway for non-creatives might be to recognize and appreciate the diversity in thought processes. Creatives like myself bring a different lens to problem-solving—one that is more human-centric and emotionally driven. Understanding this can open doors to more holistic and innovative solutions in any field. So, while our approaches may differ, they are complementary, and acknowledging this can lead to richer, more effective collaborations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.packagingchic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packagingchic/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/packagingchic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PackagingChic

Image Credits
Image credit: Andrea Ferenchik, Andrea Linn Photography