The Thomas Blog

Challenges And Opportunities In The Food & Beverage Industry

The Food and Beverage Services Global Market Report expects the global market to grow from $3.2 trillion in 2021 to $3.7 trillion in 2022. It's a promising outlook, given that just a few years ago, Fortune reported an $18 billion loss for the top 25 U.S. food and beverage companies.

As the newer generations move away from processed foods in favor of seeking healthier alternatives with cleaner labels, companies are adapting and pressing forward — that trend continues to grow at an excessive pace, signaling that some demands are more of a long-term standard.

But many major food and beverage (F&B) companies have shown that they are not as nimble as smaller companies when it comes to adapting to consumer preferences and there are still challenges the food and beverage industry faces.

How To Grow Your Steel And Metals Manufacturing Business

Steel continues to be one of the most sourced products on the Thomasnet.com platform. It is no surprise that steel and metals represent an important supply source to today's aerospace, aviation, and medical industries.

So how can steel and metal manufacturing businesses continue the momentum of their business growth? First, make sure you have a clear business plan. Some manufacturers try to grow their manufacturing business by doing everything possible. In this post, we'll help you choose business goals that are realistic and how you can document them so you can see your milestones and track your growth along the way. Doing so will ensure you're not as overwhelmed and your employees stay motivated too.

5 Things Manufacturers Are Wishing For This Holiday Season

Between gearing up for the year-end at work and getting ready for celebrations at home, the holidays can be an especially stressful time for manufacturers.

Here are priorities that could make the holiday season and the upcoming year a little brighter and a whole lot more successful for the manufacturing industry.

American Toy Manufacturers Who Make The Holidays Possible

This time of year, elves tend to get a lot of credit for making holiday wishes come true. But the truth is, the real magic isn't happening in the North Pole; it's happening at real manufacturing workshops throughout the country.

Here are some of the many American manufacturers that help produce the toys (and the joys) this holiday season.

Thomas Factory Tours: Industrial Video Production Examples for Custom Manufacturers and OEMs

For industrial manufacturers, giving prospects a tour of their factories or plants helps showcase their processes and capabilities, and it lends legitimacy to their businesses. The most effective way to scale these tours is to use video content that can be posted, shared, and housed in the digital space, ready to be viewed at the click of a button.

The videos below, divided into sections based on each company's offerings, highlight strong examples of how industrial companies from different industries have given buyers a front-row seat to see their operations' inner workings and show what makes them a strong partner for their customers.

 Skip to:

1. CNC Milling and Machining Services
2. Spinning, Forging, and Casting
3. Stamping, Sheet Metal, and Tubing Fabrication
4. Plastics and Rubber Fabrication
5. End Product Production
6. Heat Treating and Finishing

**When you purchase video advertising on Thomasnet.com, we include video content production for FREE for OEMs, Distributors, and Service Companies

Challenges And Opportunities In Medical Device Manufacturing

Encompassing items as simple as bandages all the way through to ultra-high-tech pacemakers, the U.S. medical device market is one of the largest in the world. Forbes called it a “disruptive” market of $410 billion through 2023. Today, “disruptive” is an appropriate word. 

More than a decade ago, the medical device manufacturing industry saw an increasing emphasis on design and simplicity, driven by software and technologies. And innovation contributed to a shift in power from the pharmaceutical to the medical device industry. These days, there is still a high demand for technological, intuitive devices — with a faster time-to-market than ever before. Hospitals, medical facilities, and other markets are pressuring medical device manufacturers to be more secure, innovative, cost-effective, and efficient. What are some challenges and opportunities for manufacturers in the medical device industry?

CBD Marketing 101: What Manufacturers Should Know About Compliance

We understand how important marketing is in the CBD business. Whether you sell full spectrum CBD or advocate for artisanal products like CBD-infused butter and balms, marketing is integral to your business armory. 

To stand out from your competitors and reach a high-quality audience, you’ll need attractive packaging and up-to-date strategies to bring attention to your products. But regulations in the CBD industry can be complex. In December 2020, federal regulatory agencies penalized six CBD companies on the grounds of deceptive marketing claims. Learning from the business and marketing mistakes of your competitors can be critical for growth.

Opportunities For Manufacturers To Grow The CBD Industry

The global CBD market is anticipated to grow at a strong rate. Market projections see the recreational cannabis market expected to grow over 40% between 2020-2025 as availability increases and prices drop. With medicinal and recreational marijuana legalization increasing throughout the U.S., more consumers are exploring the benefits of cannabis products, and the market has responded with an array of innovations.

Opportunities For Manufacturers In Solar Energy Equipment

In September 2020, Thomas reported sourcing for solar energy equipment on the Thomasnet.com platform had grown by 125% year-over-year and a substantial 171% over Q2 averages. In related category searching on the platform, solar collector panels were up by 157% year-over-year in Q3 2020 and 11% over Q2 2020 figures, and searches for inverters on the Thomasnet.com platform have grown 172% year-over-year and are currently up 88% over Q4 2020 averages.

More recently, searches for solar energy equipment on the Thomasnet.com platform were up 650% week-over-week.