# 199 - Packaging and Sexual Wellness with Katie Klencheski from Smakk Studios

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Length: 29m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-06-22-199-packaging-and-sexual-wellness-with-katie-klencheski-from-smakk-studios
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/199-packaging-and-sexual-wellness

## Summary

Katie Klencheski, Founder and CEO of Smakk Studios, discusses her agency's pivot from luxury hospitality branding to sustainability-focused wellness clients, including a detailed case study on rebranding the sexual wellness brand Taboo for its launch into Sephora. She explains the complexities of sustainable packaging, noting that virgin plastic remains cheaper than post-consumer resin due to oil subsidies, and that heavy materials like glass can have higher shipping emissions than plastic. Klencheski outlines her strategic process for building brands that bridge digital DTC experiences with physical retail presence, ensuring consistent brand storytelling across all touchpoints.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-06-22-199-packaging-and-sexual-wellness-with-katie-klencheski-from-smakk-studios#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [4:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-06-22-199-packaging-and-sexual-wellness-with-katie-klencheski-from-smakk-studios#t=244) Pivoting Smakk Studios to Sustainability
- [11:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-06-22-199-packaging-and-sexual-wellness-with-katie-klencheski-from-smakk-studios#t=709) The Nuances of Sustainable Packaging
- [19:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-06-22-199-packaging-and-sexual-wellness-with-katie-klencheski-from-smakk-studios#t=1152) Rebranding Taboo for Sephora
- [21:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-06-22-199-packaging-and-sexual-wellness-with-katie-klencheski-from-smakk-studios#t=1260) Strategic Brand Building Process

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Smakk Studios (company)
- Taboo (product)
- Sephora (company)
- Climate Reality Project (company)
- Trump Hotel Collection (company)
- Dame (company)
- Maud (company)
- Chanel (company)
- Apple (company)

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- [Advice Line with Sarah Kauss of S'well](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-20-advice-line-with-sarah-kauss-of-swell) (How I Built This)
- [Founder Feature: Justin Wolff of Junk Theory](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-06-14-founder-feature-justin-wolff-of-junk-theory) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#202 - Buyer Spotlight: Total Wine & More](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-06-24-202-buyer-spotlight-total-wine-more) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#203 - Packaging Your Brand 101: Jamie Valenti-Jordan and Andy Kurtts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-07-01-203-packaging-your-brand-101-jamie-valenti-jordan-and-andy-kurtts) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Woo Pailet of LOO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-15-founder-feature-woo-pailet-of-loo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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