The Link Episode 14 with James Nilles

James Nilles is the General Manager of etikett.de, a leading online label printing company based in Germany and serving six European markets. After joining his family’s label business in 2009, James spotted the early shift toward online print and, in 2011, built etikett.de from the ground up as a digital-first label producer.

Today, etikett.de is part of CCL Industries, the world’s largest label printer. Thanks to CCL’s decentralized model, James still runs the business with a strong entrepreneurial mindset — moving fast, testing ideas, and scaling what works, while backed by a global organization.

Automation sits at the heart of etikett.de. The team develops its own front- and backend systems, constantly refining workflows to create a highly efficient, modern production operation. With an international team and a strong internal culture, the company serves customers across Europe while investing heavily in technology, processes, and people.

A familiar face at Dscoop events, James is known for his practical, operations-first view on scaling print businesses. He brings real-world insight into digital transformation, production automation, and building systems that perform under pressure. His current focus: using CCL’s regional footprint to enter new markets while strengthening etikett.de’s European platform.

Why join this episode of The Link?

This live session includes audience Q&A and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a modern online print business really runs. You’ll hear how James balances scale and independence, builds systems in-house, and applies industrial thinking without losing speed or flexibility. He’ll also share how the Dscoop network influences key strategic and operational decisions.