Silver Birches started in labels but has evolved into a single-source supplier of retail and gift packaging, e-commerce packaging, paper hangtags, printed fabric labels, woven labels, custom printed thermal labels, point-of-sale (POS) displays, and branded promotional and stationery items
Family-run Silver Birches will make its London Packaging Week debut this September, showcasing how five decades of manufacturing expertise has evolved into a complete and consistent packaging, labelling, and branding offering for fashion, retail, and e-commerce businesses and charities.
On the eve of its 50th anniversary, the still family-run Silver Birches is exhibiting at London Packaging Week 2026 for the first time, as the business continues to evolve and embrace the opportunities presented by today’s dynamic and vibrant packaging industry.
This has seen a business that was built on labels evolve into a single-source supplier of retail and gift packaging, e-commerce packaging, paper hangtags, printed fabric labels, woven labels, custom printed thermal labels, point-of-sale (POS) displays, and branded promotional and stationery items.
“We understand that many people still think of us as a labelling company and we're proud of where we started,” said Donna Ward, Head of Sales at Silver Birches. “But that's really only one part of what we do now.
“Customers come to us with a product and an idea. Our job is to take away the branding headache and build a coordinated pack around that product, from labels and hangtags to bags and packaging, so everything works together.”
The roots of Silver Birches date back to the mid-1970s, where in a shed at the bottom of the Harris family garden (a choice that led to the company name), a printing empire began to take shape. Starting with a simple press to print labels, the business rapidly expanded and within a decade owned its own premises, had expanded into commercial printing, and was growing turnover year-on-year.
This growth has continued through the previous 50 years and has allowed Silver Birches to diversify away from being purely a labels company into a business serving brands and retailers with coordinated print and packaging.
This is increasingly important as modern brand identities rely on consistency across different materials, formats, and applications; coordination of different touchpoints to such a degree is a challenge and where real value lies.
Donna exampled the work Silver Birches does for a particular long-standing customer with a distinctive pink brand colour. “This must be matched precisely across labels, printed items, and packaging produced in entirely different factories,” said Donna. “We have tackled this challenge through careful sample and colour management across the supply chain, and the end result feels unmistakably like a single brand.”
Brands today also frequently need products faster than planned while budgets are under constant scrutiny.
Silver Birches has responded to this with a manufacturing footprint in the UK and Europe for quick turnarounds, a wide sourcing network, complementary in-house design support, and by adopting a ‘Good, Better, Best’ approach. This offers alternative options to realise a project that can be chosen to suit a client’s budget but without compromising the concept or product quality.
Silver Birches also offers free stockholding for up to 12 months, across both the UK and Far East, so customers can place larger annual orders to secure better pricing while calling off smaller quantities as needed.
At the same time, sustainability now features in almost every enquiry. Rather than making sweeping proclamations, Silver Birches focuses on presenting genuine, practical options, such as offering FSC-certified papers and 100% recycled papers, and sourcing recycled polyester alternatives for woven labels as standard.
"Sustainability isn't something customers need to ask us about twice,” stated Donna. “We want to show people the real choices available for their product so they can make an informed decision rather than a superficial one.”
At London Packaging Week 2026 on 16 & 17 September, Silver Birches brings its renewed focus on support and action to life in person on Stand K70.
“Whether the challenge is a complete launch suite, consistency across multiple formats, a premium concept on a tighter budget, a more sustainable alternative, or simply a deadline that feels impossible, the invitation is there to bring the problem to us Stand K70 and benefit from 50 years of experience to discover the solution that’s right for you,” stated Donna.
For more on Silver Birches and its range of solutions and services, visit www.silverbirches.com
London Packaging Week 2026 takes place on 16 & 17 September at Excel; click here for more and to register to attend