Category Archives: packaging tips

Starting A Candy Business

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There are so many areas to think about when you are about to start a business.  The big business to get in is something that can be economic proof.  I have seen lots of companies really thrive when people are down on their luck in the economy and one such business is candy.  Being able to thrive and have a product that people will still buy in a recession is a smart way to think.  Have a product where a customer sees that beautiful candy box and knows that it is worth it even when they are low on money is important.  That is one of the reasons that people want to get into this business. So let’s go over a few things.

Marketing is a big deal when it comes to starting a company. If you are not able to get the word out about your company you are indeed doomed to fail.  Now this can be done in a multitude of ways.  In some cases having a deal beforehand of where to sell the product will be just as important.  The store can sell the candy if you are not able to build those relationships and even placement is huge.  Having your candy box be up front or on the right spot on the shelf can be the difference between life and death of the company selling products. So work on those relationships first before getting directly into advertising.

Another area is having the correct supply chain for your products. This can be from packaging to the boxes they are going to be shipped in.  If you have contracts in place beforehand and you know the quantity of product you will be making and shipping then you can accurately predict how much product you will need.  This means that you can find and place deals for the products at much discounted prices.  This can be super important when you are not running on cash flow but a credit that is limited.  So make sure you know what quantity you can and will be doing so you can rock at lowering costs.

One thing I can say is that if you are thinking about getting into this business you need to just jump in and do it.  I know I am talking about being cautious, but there is a greater chance of success by ;jumping in then just reading about it from afar. Best of luck!

The Pros and Cons of 4 Top Snack Food Packaging

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There are so many different packages available for snack food, and it is hardly possible to understand each of them in a vast ocean of the options to package snack foods. The following is to discuss the pros and cons of 4 top snack food packaging.

Flexible Pouches

The flexible pouches refer to the collection of various kinds of single-use containers made of plastics or foils. This kind of packaging is used typically for snacks and drinks. Its popularity rises due to the fact that it is resealable and has less impact on the environment. For snack food packaging, without a doubt, the flexible pouches are one of the most popular ones.

The Pros Of Flexible Pouches

  • Easy to source
  • Affordable
  • Full branding & graphic capabilities
  • Very low carbon footprint
  • Use little space in landfills
  • Resealable
  • Easy to open

The Cons Of Flexible Pouches

  • Impossible or hard to recycle
  • 1,000+ year average to fully degrade
  • Could affect the flavor of food or drink
  • Not viable for the luxury packaging applications
  • Low resistance to the extreme temperature during storage

 Paperboard Boxes

The paperboard boxes are also a popular option for snack food packaging. Paperboard boxes generally come with rectangular or square boxes, but less commonly come with others like hexagons or triangles. They could be made of 100% paperboard or mixed with other materials like small clear film windows to let consumers see the inside.

The Pros Of Paperboard Boxes

  • Full branding & graphic capabilities
  • Easy to source
  • Recyclable
  • Resealable
  • Easy to open

The Cons Of Paperboard Boxes

  • Higher carbon footprint
  • Costly
  • While recyclable, may end up in landfills because of contamination
  • Producing methane when in landfill

 Hard Plastic Container

The hard plastic containers are also another popular snack food packaging. This kind of packaging could come with various shapes as well as sizes, and it usually features the easy to open and pop-off lid. Most of them are made of easy to recycle plastics. The common snack foods packaged in the hard plastic containers are nuts, seeds, dried fruit, candy, chocolates, pretzels, snack mix, crisps, and many others.

The Pros For Hard Plastic Containers

  • Sturdy
  • Easy to source
  • Recyclable
  • Resealable
  • Easy to open

The Cons For Hard Plastic Containers

  • Costly
  • Expensive to ship
  • Higher carbon footprint
  • While recyclable, may end up in landfills because of contamination

 Glass Snack Containers

The glass containers are another top form for snack food packaging, but they are not as popular as the other kinds. Although this packaging has many shortcomings, glass is straightforward and easy to recycle. Also, glass presents an air of sophistication and luxury, which makes it very popular for gourmet as well as luxury snack food brands.

The Pros for Hard Glass Containers

  • Sturdy
  • Easy to source
  • Luxurious
  • Easy to open
  • Recyclable
  • Resealable

The Cons For Glass Containers

  • Expensive
  • Prone to cracking & breaking
  • Very high carbon footprint
  • Very expensive to ship
  • While recyclable, may end up in landfills because of contamination
  • Use excessive space in warehouse

Packaging vs Blister Packaging

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Do you struggle with determining the difference between skin packaging and blister packaging as well as which one to use when? This is a common concern. No matter if you’re the packaging buyer, supply manager, or business owner your product packaging questions will be answered here.

The two packaging types have been in use for many years and they are very similar to each other when it comes to appearance and makeup. However, they are used for very different products. One example would be skin packaging is more commonly used for seafood while a blister pack would house the filet knife used to cut the fish.

BLISTER PACK

The basic structure of a blister pack consists of:

Blister board – A backing material made of paperboard that can be pre-printed with the product info, company name, brand, pricing, description, or whatever you’d like to showcase. There are occasions when the blister board is made of an alternate material like aluminum (typically seen with medications), however, paperboard is most commonly used.

· Blister – Typically a plastic container that comes pre-formed to house the product between itself and the blister board. It was given the name “blister” as it resembles a raised blister one might get on a hand or foot.

Examples of everyday items that come in blister packs are flash drives, toys, over the counter medications, and many others.

SKIN PACK

Frequently confused with the blister pack, a skin pack also has a board and plastic cover. Unlike the blister pack, skin packaging is sealed with a vacuum sealer, forming a tight bond around the product.

Once sealed, the products are ready to ship, or they can undergo an additional step to remove excess packaging material with a machine called a die-cutter.

Once these steps are completed, the finished product is completely contained in the skin pack, surrounded by a special film.

WHICH PACKAGING SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

In order to determine the appropriate packaging for your product, you’ll need to answer a few questions.

Q. Do you need to get the products in stores quickly?

A. Blister packs are a quicker option as they require fewer steps in the sealing process.

Q. Is the product a perishable food item?

A. Skin packs are by far the best packaging option in this instance.

Q. Are there pointed or sharp edges on your product?

A. Choose a sturdy blister pack here.

Q. What can you afford to spend on the packaging?

A. Blister packaging requires less equipment and is therefore a more cost-effective option for those on a stricter budget.

THE DIFFERENCE

Skin packaging uses a thin layer of surlyn film and a vacuum sealer to tightly attach the product to the backing board and it is often used for easily spoiled food items. Blister packs have a hard plastic cover called a “blister” to house the product and do not need vacuum sealing to attach it to the board which makes this a cheaper and quicker option.

Armed with this information and your answers from above, you should be able to determine the best packaging option for your products and your company.

Cardboard Box Forts for home

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One of the most fun and cool things I have seen was a castle built out of the good old fashion moving boxes.  I was instantly brought back to the feeling of being a child and wanted to instantly go play. 

Luckily, I am also able to live those feelings through my family.  But what amazed me the most was the absolute size of this piece and then realizing that many people live in cardboard boxes every day made it very emotionally complicated to realize that what I was thinking of a child’s play toy was actually someones home. So I wanted to make a way for people who had to live in these items to actually have a great template to survive and thrive on the budget they have. 

So first and foremost if you need to live in a your own box fort then you have to have material in order to do it.  I want to make sure people know that they can ask companies for boxes but know that they crush and recycle every day and night so you have to get them at the right time.  Go to your nearest big box store and ask for cardboard boxes and then ask what time of day is best to get them.  Then ask for the shipping boxes specifically.  These shipping boxes are going to be made for corrugated paper and that means it is more insulated and thought than a regular box.

Now where you are going to end up spending some money is the tape or sealant to seal up the boxes in order to make them wind and more waterproof.  I also suggest using plastic bags to create  kind of roof.  But you can also go to hardware stores and find used and broken shingles to help make an actual roof. This is another ask for broken and unsellable shingles in the building supplies department and many of the times you will find they are more than happy to help. Most manager will even make sure you get what you need.

But don’t be afraid to ask and don’t be afraid to be told no.  Not everyone has a heart and many young people simply do not know enough hardship to have mercy.  So you may need to ask at a few different stores. But know that Lowes and HOme depot like to be right next to each other for sales purposes so if you are at one the other is usually close by!

Candy Cravings

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The one thing that always gets me when summer starts is the midnight summer cravings.  Boy it sure is hard to start working on your body when the need for your favorite candy box hits.  Especially, since this year is 2020 and getting out and getting your favorite candy could be considered a crime.  Leaving homes for non essentials is strictly forbidden across much of the United States at the moment so it is a bit of a conundrum if you ask me.  Now how do you go about getting said candy boxes during the pandemic well here are a few tips from me. Also I am not a lawyer and suggest you follow your state guidelines at all times and seek legal advice from a practicing lawyer in your state.

Now when the craving hits I feel that it is worth going out and getting because life goes on and I am not going to suffer for what has been shown to be a pandemic that is less deadly than the common flu.  So my first thing to do is look for something essential in the home that I could stock up on.  This could be food, toilet paper, or any other number of household items that comes to mind.

Then I decide which one I need and make a list for it and then head to the car.  Don’t forget your facemask though.  Even though it has been proven not to stop the spread of covid-19 some companies are requireming them and now some states are requiring them as well. Ironic how it could come to this when facts are being thrown to the side for political pandering and shots on instagram.  But it may be necessary to play along to not go to jail and to get your candy of choice.

Now another way I go about getting my favorite snacks is going to refuel my car.  You can never say gas is not essential and being topped off is important for many different reasons especially depending on the season and now the lack of gas due to oil plummeting as well. Where I live many gas stations are as good as grocery stores and stock many of my favorite things. So I am able to get some gas and fill up on my favorite snacks too.  That is essential in more than one way because your mind is important and if you really need something then go ahead and fill your psychological need as well.