The Right Packaging Supplies for Products 

You might have a brand new product, and you want to get this out to other people. You might want to make it the bet that it can be. But there is a problem. You don’t know the ideal packaging for these products. Maybe you’re a company that’s established and dealt with this before, but the product might have other requirements that the other items didn’t.

You also may be a startup, and have no clue what the best types of product packaging are out there, and what to use.

Here, we’ll go over the best type of packaging materials to choose, and how you can choose this.

Why it’s Important. 

When you’re choosing materials for packaging, there’s a lot of things that you should consider. It’s more than just one packaging material and working with it. some materials are not correct for certain products.

If you do choose the wrong one, you’re wasting materials, and there is a chance that machinery and money might be wasted, and sometimes, there are safety concerns that eventually do lead to this.

If you’re starting to think about it, you need to choose items, and then, choose the ideal material for the products that are there. 

Rigid Vs. Flexible 

There are two different product types that a lot of businesses go for: rigid and flexible.

Rigid is the packaging that you can’t bend or force out of the current type of way that it is.  These usually are quite solid, and they offer support for the products that are there. they’re known for the strength that they have, preventing damage and breaking in most cases.  This is usually the glass jars, the boxes that are corrugated, and bottles made of hard plastic.

On the flipside, you’ve got flexible packaging, which is basically any sort of packaging material that can be changed in most cases. While flexible is usually malleable and bendable, especially when you look at the rigid packaging, they also are used to wrap around the products there. clamshells, blister packs, shrink and stretch film, even poly bags and roll bags are examples of this too.

There are also the benefits of them being less costly for shipments and very lightweight too. The flexible packaging that’s there also uses far less material, so it’s much more eco friendly too.  They also come with a lower amount of carbon footprints, especially when compared to paper, glass, cardboard, even metal too.

This is super popular, and it’s grown to new heights over the last decade, and it continues to get even higher and higher, due to the fact that it’s more eco friendly compared to the others.

Different Flexible Packaging Supplies 

There are a ton of great flexible packaging supplies that are there. you might wonder if there are different options based on the materials that are there. you might wonder what type of flexible packaging is there for you.  

There are different types of ones to choose from. 

They are: 

  • Shrink film: used to help wrap products such as games, DVDs, books, and other options 
  • Flexible pouches, usually are a pouch from plastic, and usually has an enclosure or foil that’s there 
  • Blister packs, which are basically packaging which creates what’s called a “blister” in order to house the item 
  • Clamshells: they are two plastic types of shells that come together and open up, while also closing, typically used for takeout 

The best way to choose this, is to look at your packaging needs, and from there, make the decision for yourself. 

Laminate Vs. Varnish 

When you’re planning custom materials and labels, you may get asked if you want a varnish or laminated topcoat, and here, we’ll go over this.

What a Topcoat Does 

The product labels that you have come with a variety of label layers, and it’s something that you’ll want to keep in mind. Usually, your face stock, or the label image, is not the top layer.  This is because it’ll help with protecting the label, and also enhances this performance.

There is a layer that’s above this, and it does impact the lifespan and the look of the labels there. This top portion is called the topcoat, and it offers proper protection against both damage and scuffing. It does also impact the way that the label looks as well. 

The two most common are laminate and varnish. Now, do you need this? Well, it’s not mandatory, but there is a protection there. without your topcoat, the ink will rub off this, or it’ll get scratched on the face stock. It also won’t be protected from liquids, moisture, or even oils that might be there too.

Varnish topcoats 

This is a type of coating that’s on a silicone-based sort of liquid. It’s used for labels that are indoor usage, and they’re not super resistant to the presence of moisture, and it offers only minimal amounts of protection when you’re trying to protect this from scuffing, or even smudging too.

Varnish is usually used in a gloss, satin, or matte finish. There are some common usages for this. There is the flood coat that goes over the entire label. There is the spot varnish, which is used to offer specific contrast for these surfaces too. Then, there are dimensional varnish layers, offering that 3-D dimensional effect that comes with this.

What about Laminate 

This is a type of film that’s made with polyester that offers a barrier of plastic, which is one that’s used to protect everything. They offer more texture and sheen to your label. This offers a protection that’s robust when you’re protecting from scuffing, smudging, oil, moisture and the exposure of UV rays that are here too.

Many laminates are made for specific types of applications. They come in gloss and matte, and there is also the thermal transfer, along with secondary types of printing, which is known to be serialization.

Now, you do need to choose these in a couple of different ways, based on the needs that you have.

For starters, if you need something that’s going to be used in temperatures that are extreme, or in the outdoors, you’ll want to make sure that the topcoat is made with this. Typically, lamination is better for this.

But, if you’re going to be using this for ecommerce labels, you’re better off with just using a varnish sort of topcoat, as this can definitely be cheaper in the long haul.

Finally, you’ll want to also look at the lifespan of the label. How long do you need this to exist? For the labels that are applied to plastic and glass jars, or boxes that are corrugated, varnish is going to suffice.

If you need something that is used for longer kinds of packaging, or making it almost permanent, then lamination I’ll be the best way to help boost the appearance of this, and it usually lasts as long as the product. That means, industrial and automotive industries should just use lamination.

Both are good topcoats, but they do have different needs, and you should focus on the needs that you have, before choosing the correct product. 

Cool Ideas for Mailer Boxes

Do you like to send out mailer boxes? They are a great way to get things to customers, but you might wonder whether or not there are different ways to customize these. The answer is yes, and here, we’ll go over the best ways to customize these mailer boxes so that they stand out.

Get Some Dividers

Dividers, or trays that are made of plastic are great for separating items. This is good for selling products that come in sets, or different types of similar products. Separating all of these is great because it creates a divine unboxing experience for those who want to use it, and it also shows that you care about the way that the items come to them, thereby boosting the public repute of the business. 

Get Some Artwork 

It doesn’t have to come in a boring white mailer box! Printed artwork on the box is a great way for it to look better. If you want, you can add logos and other designs using colors for the brand, making it look pleasing and pretty.

It also is great too if you encourage unboxing and videos, as they can show the package off, and they’ll feel excited for the inside contents that are in there.

Stickers 

Stickers that are printed are something that businesses love. They’re not just feasible financially, they’re great for improving the way that you close boxes.

You can get mailer boxes that are blank, and then add some custom stickers. It’s also cheaper than getting custom boxes for these products, and also, it’s a fraction of even just printing artwork on there.

It’s a good way for smaller businesses who don’t have the means to really get the expensive stuff to show off to customers and get them excited for what’s to come.

Print Inside

Another thing that you can do, is make the inside just as exciting as the outside of this. This is great for adding some kind of individuality to this, and you’ll be able to print the details of the contact, any other social media handles, and also some instructions that are on the inner part of the box lid, to make it look even better too.

Colored Boxes for Mailers 

If you’re looking to stand out, but don’t want to just use white mailer boxes, get them custom. You can choose one specific color, and you can then get them in brand colors to make them unique and attractive. 

For small businesses that are starting out, this is a great way to get the other customers that come to you excited as they are a great way to boost the business and sales that are there too.

It’s important that if you do get these, you also don’t get too crazy with this. That’s because they can be a great way for you to stand out, but remember, you don’t want to put the entire marketing budget into this. Get a little bit, and from there, boost the different factors that make them unique, and that as well can help you look even better.

When choosing the stand out, as a small business, you want to consider using these types of custom mailer boxes. They’re cheap, convenient, and they look good. But how do you make them look different?

These are but a few ideas, but if you start with them, you’ll be able to boost your presence, and really make it shine in the process too. Consider using one, or many of these different ways to standout, and you’ll be able to improve your ownability and wellness, and also get more people not only excited for what you have to offer, but also get them on board for a great unboxing experience that you can enjoy, and one that definitely delivers on all fronts, for your own personal needs as well. 

Packaging Inserts for Brand Loyalty 

One good way to make a really great move into building a better, more loyal fanbase of customers, is to actually use packaging inserts. This is a chance for you to make customers smile, and there isn’t a better way to do it than this. Inserts are great, because you can use them to protect the packaging, but also, it allows you to write tiny messages to people. 

What should be Included 

This is basically a must for everyone, especially if you’ve got gratitude towards customers that buy from you. It also is great for marketing brands, and also for promoting social media channels so they can talk about the package that they got. You also might want to look into including the logo of a company, a tiny message, and the like to really personalize this.  This is great too because you can thank people, let them know what’s coming, and also provide some discounts and deals that’ll benefit them. 

Why use Inserts? 

Well, there are actually a lot of benefits that go into inserts, and they include the following: 

  • They’re effective on the costs 
  • They offer a targeted advertisement as well. You’re sending this specifically to people who are interested, so that they can get some more items. 
  • They also boost the unboxing that goes into this, especially if you’re someone who is going to give this to other customers. 
  • They also include endorsements and sponsorships. If you’re looking to get more people involved, then this can work too.
  • They also are great for establishing a brand identity. They’re the perfect opportunity to do this, especially if you’re someone who would like to establish this. 

Examples of such 

What are good examples of this? Well, you want something that does provide value to other people, but below, here are some of the creative packaging inserts, and what you can do to boost the experiences of customers. 

First, you’ve got the product discounts. These are small discounts that you can put into there, little offers that incentivize the customers to buy this, and also leaves them hungry to buy a whole lot more. This is great for first-time customers, as this offers loyalty from the get-go and also gets you to get new people as well. 

Then there are packaging free samples. These are small samples that incentivize customers to try out products. These are especially great for customers who are in cosmetics or other industries that involve consumables. They are great for new products that are there and what you can offer. If you’re dealing with existing customers that want to get to buy more stuff, this is a good example, because this will allow them to try it before they buy it, and they’re going to definitely get the right products for this.

Finally, there are messages that you can get.  This is a small, but sweet thing that everyone can let you do. These short notes and other recommendations are perfect, and they also show the perfect satisfaction too. 

For a lot of people, packaging inserts are a good way to get started in the world of packaging, and if you’re looking to boost your customer base, and want to offer the right supplies that you can, these custom inserts are the way to go. They offer high-quality results, and are perfect for boosting your customer service with others, no matter what world you’re in.

For a lot of people, boosting their own repute with the use of inserts is the way to go, and the future. 

Shopping guides for Shipping Products in 2022 

If you’re looking to get your orders and holiday shopping done early, you’re not alone. Due to the disruption of logistics and supply chains, it’s better to be prepared early on than too late. Here are some of the best ways to ship items, and the best things to look for when you begin to ship items this year and beyond. 

Types of shipping 

There are three popular ways for you to choose the shipping that you’d like.They are: 

  • Air,
  • Ground 
  • Sea 

These are all basically efficient ways to do this, but some are faster than others, and you’ll probably use one or more of these for each shipping.  Usually, you have to use ground for shipping to ports anyways for example. 

Air Shipping 

First, let’s go over the different types of air shipping. Express air is the best way, and they can take as little as three days to get to the customer. DHL is a good one, as they usually get customs clearance real fast.  It’s also pretty time efficient.

However, that doesn’t mean I’s perfect. It’s pretty expensive, but if you do this at fulfillment centers, there are ways to help with offsetting the costs. You’ve also got the standard air forms of shipping, which usually take about 18 days at most to get to. They’re also pretty fast and are very reliable. 

This is great too if you still want to use air shipping but want something a bit more cost effective. 

Sea Shipping 

Sea shipping takes a lot longer, but it also is one of the bests for reducing costs, and when you do this right, it’s reliable. It’s great for delivery times that have a bit more leniency, and for bigger orders, this is the best way to do this.

However, when ordering this during the holidays, this is one you’ve got to manage the logistics for the most, especially if you need stuff to get there at the right time, as this does take a lot longer. 

Standard sea shipping usually can take about 50 days or more sometimes, but it’s also the cheapest way, especially for super big orders. One thing to consider, is for super large orders, this is actually the best for the price. But expect to also add in another week for those huge orders, as they usually don’t fit everywhere.

One thing about this, is that it doesn’t really work well during the holidays, as while it is reliable, it’s not ideal for this time of the year. 

How to Plan this better 

This is important to plan early on.

Ground shipping usually takes about a week or so, but for other kinds of shipping, it can take a whole lot longer. Not to mention, we’re still feeling the effects of the pandemic, so if you’re going to launch a product that’s seasonal, plan this pretty well in advance. 

When you’re planning to ship for the holidays, you should plan about two months beforehand. That means, if you’re planning for Christmas, you should have everything ready to ship out with sea shipping by late October at the very latest, or early November if you’re going to use express shipping.

For the air shipping, you have a bit more leniency, but not a ton.

You should make sure that if you’re going to use specific types of ordering and different means, that you always let the customers know about this, so that they’re able to make purchase decisions beforehand, and aren’t caught holding the bag and frustrated as well.