Clive Smith, the founder of Labelex/Labelexpo, has passed.
Clive organised Labelex in 1980, an exhibition that took place in London to showcase coding, marking and labelling technology for the garment and wider package and product labelling industries. Some 44 exhibitors participated in that first show. The following year, 60 exhibitors participated in Labelex and efforts were made to attract overseas visitors to make the event an international show exclusively for the labelling industry. In 1985 came the move to Europe and Brussels, Belgium where the show has been located up until the most recent addition – as of 2025, Labelexpo Europe is relocating to Barcelona. Shows in America and Asia followed in the 1990s, with Tarsus taking over the Labelex brand in 1998 and the Labelexpo Global Series going on to expand and cover all key geographies around the world with trade shows dedicated to the label and package printing industry under the Tarsus umbrella, through to its recent acquisition by Informa.
Clive was partnered through the creation of Labelex/Labelexpo by Mike Fairley, the founder of Labels & Labeling, who himself officially retired during the recent Labelexpo Europe 2023.
