TLMI Converter of the Year
October 2001
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Label Technology President John Bankson can savor individual and collective accomplishments as his company turns 15.
by Kate Tomlinson, Assistant Editor
Congratulations are in order for Label Technology on several counts. As the company marks 15 years in the business, and revels in the installation of its latest printing press, the personality and personal touch of president and co-founder John Bankson deserve particular acclaim.
Bankson's entrepreneurial spirit; positive "can do" attitude; and dedication to delivering consistent high quality and service in printed labels and packaging films have led Label Technology to outgrow two previous manufacturing facilities; skyrocket both its sales and employee base; and establish a strong presence in new labeling markets. For accomplishing impressive growth in a short time span, the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) and packagePRINTING toast John Bankson as packagePRINTING's TLMI 2001 Converter of the Year.
Building a business
Bankson's story epitomizes the American dream. He found an industry he loved, built a company from the ground up, and now spends each day enjoying the empire. "John should be very proud of his company—his plant is spectacular," says Mike Dowling, president of the TLMI. "Whenever you get to be that successful and share it with your family, it must be a great feeling. This is one case where the good guy did finish first."
A Pittsburg, CA, native, Bankson graduated from San Francisco State University in 1960 with a B.A. in business administration/marketing. After spending more than 20 years in other people's converting businesses, Bankson and his 18-year-old son, David, decided to open their own pressure-sensitive label company, Label Technology. That year the company's gross sales were $285,000, which to date is the only year it did not turn a profit. By 1993, the company had made Inc. Magazine's list of the Top 500 Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies two years in a row.
"I try to focus on the changing needs of both our customers and the marketplace," Bankson says. "In the beginning, many of the big decisions were made by the seat of the pants. For the last few years, we've had a business plan and a budget. The key is to logically keep up with them both." Overall, Bankson feels fortunate to have made many good, strategic moves along his road to the top. "David and I purchased equipment at the right time. Luckily we have amazing customers, vendors, and colleagues and we couldn't have gotten here without them." Most recently, the company has ventured into narrow-web, non-pressure-sensitive markets.
by Kate Tomlinson, Assistant Editor
Congratulations are in order for Label Technology on several counts. As the company marks 15 years in the business, and revels in the installation of its latest printing press, the personality and personal touch of president and co-founder John Bankson deserve particular acclaim.
Bankson's entrepreneurial spirit; positive "can do" attitude; and dedication to delivering consistent high quality and service in printed labels and packaging films have led Label Technology to outgrow two previous manufacturing facilities; skyrocket both its sales and employee base; and establish a strong presence in new labeling markets. For accomplishing impressive growth in a short time span, the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) and packagePRINTING toast John Bankson as packagePRINTING's TLMI 2001 Converter of the Year.
Building a business
Bankson's story epitomizes the American dream. He found an industry he loved, built a company from the ground up, and now spends each day enjoying the empire. "John should be very proud of his company—his plant is spectacular," says Mike Dowling, president of the TLMI. "Whenever you get to be that successful and share it with your family, it must be a great feeling. This is one case where the good guy did finish first."
A Pittsburg, CA, native, Bankson graduated from San Francisco State University in 1960 with a B.A. in business administration/marketing. After spending more than 20 years in other people's converting businesses, Bankson and his 18-year-old son, David, decided to open their own pressure-sensitive label company, Label Technology. That year the company's gross sales were $285,000, which to date is the only year it did not turn a profit. By 1993, the company had made Inc. Magazine's list of the Top 500 Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies two years in a row.
"I try to focus on the changing needs of both our customers and the marketplace," Bankson says. "In the beginning, many of the big decisions were made by the seat of the pants. For the last few years, we've had a business plan and a budget. The key is to logically keep up with them both." Overall, Bankson feels fortunate to have made many good, strategic moves along his road to the top. "David and I purchased equipment at the right time. Luckily we have amazing customers, vendors, and colleagues and we couldn't have gotten here without them." Most recently, the company has ventured into narrow-web, non-pressure-sensitive markets.
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