Thermoforming Report

by Keith Brown, President & Owner, Siena Group.

Highlights & Insights

As the year winds down – amid family and friends gatherings, holidays, and the push to squeeze in that last vacation day or two – it’s a good moment to pause and reflect. Not just on where the year took us, but on the importance of showing up consistently with ideas, insights, and perspectives that matter.

Throughout 2025, we stayed focused on sharing what we were seeing across the thermoforming and manufacturing landscape. With 12 Thermoforming Reports and 11 Blog posts published, each month added another piece to the story – together creating a clear view of the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry.

➡️Curious to see a snapshot of our 2025 content? Have a look at our highlights video: 2025 Highlights!⬅️

Manufacturing

We discussed U.S. manufacturing multiple times and from several perspectives throughout the year. January’s Thermoforming Report and Blog focused on predicting what 2025 might bring, while June’s content (both Thermoforming Report and Blog) explored how manufacturers are adapting to a new reality shaped by tariffs, AI, and broader economic shifts.

As we stand on the cusp of 2026, it will be interesting to see just how accurate those early predictions turn out to be.

Talent

Another consistent theme was the evolving talent landscape – how it’s changing and how companies and candidates alike can navigate the complexities ahead. We addressed this in April’s Thermoforming Report and Blog, revisited it in August’s Blog, and expanded the conversation again in September’s Thermoforming Report. 

The takeaway was clear: talent strategy is no longer static, and organizations that adapt thoughtfully will be better positioned for long-term success.

Interviewing & Hiring

As you might expect from an experienced recruiter, we also spent time coaching interviewing and hiring best practices. July’s Thermoforming Report and Blog focused on interviewing techniques, March’s Thermoforming Report addressed hiring more broadly, and August’s Thermoforming Report highlighted a major watch-out that both candidates and employers should take seriously. 

These pieces serve as important reminders – helping candidates better position themselves and encouraging organizations to strengthen and refine their talent processes.

Harvesting Potential

Finally, we closed out the year with a fourth-quarter series focused on harvesting potential – leveraging the talent already within an organization and proactively developing and growing internal teams and people.

In a competitive market, companies that invest in growing their people from within gain a powerful advantage.

Wrapping Up

Looking back at the roles we worked on throughout 2025, we’re genuinely excited about what lies ahead in 2026.

This year saw significant investment in adding sales talent across a variety of teams and industries, with a strong emphasis on business development. That suggests available capacity – whether driven by softening in the prior 12–18 months or by pure growth. Either way, we expect that investment to translate into revenue over the next 6–12 months, pointing to a very positive outlook for the coming year!

We wish you and yours all the best! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!