Tag Archives: sustainability

Best Practices to Keep Packaging Costs Low 

Keeping your costs nice and low is a huge part of any plans for businesses. Through the reduction of product costs, you’ll be able to use the right materials. It doesn’t mean you have to cheap out on your [product or cut corners either. 

A few changes do need to happen for you to get cheaper packaging.  Obviously there is buying in bulk, but there are other ways to optimize packaging to lower the costs of delivery. Properly doing your homework and choosing materials that are lighter and more durable can improve the dividends. 

Even the most luxurious packaging is affordable if you use common sense for these guidelines. It streamlines the ordering process, and bolsters sales as well. 

Get High Volume Orders Together 

Design does represent a considerable amount of the total packaging costs. 

Printers have a bunch of “fixed costs” to work with such as color, glue and the like. All of this is built into your final price.  These items that ultimately cost thousands of dollars are hard to make up. 

Through spreading the fixed costs over a ton of different volumes into high volume orders, this cost per time does plummet.  While you may have to pay more initially, over time you’re saving thousands, and bulk ordering also prevents reordering various materials for packaging. 

Use the Right Materials 

The size and the weight of the package all play a part in the ultimate costs. 

For example, the rigid luxury boxes won’t be folded when they are delivered, so the costs will be much larger. 

Some packaging along with printing companies may also attempt to upcharge for the multi-colored inks that are there, a matte finish, decals that are custom, and UV protection on your items.  These add-ons can be a bit, so you have to make the decision on whether this is needed for a product. 

Even just reducing your packaging costs by a few cents will add up. avoid the upcharges that aren’t necessary, saving on materials and your labor. 

Another way to cut this is to also outsource the packaging to people outside of the country.  It can be cheaper, and if you work well together, you’ll have a good packaging partner. 

Outsource if you Can 

You should consider outsourcing outside of the US if you’re trying to do more international options for shipping. Due to the discrepancies in the prices of labor, there is a chance that you can get the same product for a lot less. 

This is something as well that can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you want to communicate with them in the right time zones.  Most of them do have someone in the US, however, that can talk to the manufacturers overseas on your behalf. Always look at the overall logistics when working with someone overseas, since the pandemic has costs freight costs to skyrocket. 

Optimize with Speed to Market 

With the freight costs skyrocketing, one way to stay ahead of others is to look at the different packaging that you need prior to the holiday season. These days will prevent the packaging from arriving in due time. 

If you don’t want to pay for expensive shipping, always plan the packaging and merchandising months in advance.  Don’t try to do the “just in time” types of deliveries, as this will cause the packaging to falter. 

If you follow these steps, you can save money. It might not be a ton right away, but the little things add up. through this, you’ll be able to improve your profit margins too. 

How Transparent Packaging Bolsters Consumer Trust 

We are always told that packaging is better off hidden away in a box. But transparent packaging is something that a lot of consumers are looking at.

It also boosts trust, as it does give you a better preference for what you’re looking for. Lots of customers want something that’s visible, feels honest, and is simple in terms of product presentation. Making this simple and easy is the key here, and a lot of customers will benefit from the results you get from this.

Here, we’ll discuss transparent packaging, and how it will bring a lot of customers together, and really make trust something magical. 

What you Need for Transparent Packaging 

Transparent packaging is really anything that’s see-through, but also it involves being sustainable too. you’re not adding frills and additions that could harm the product, but instead everything outlined there, nice and clean.

Clear materials such as glass is one of the big parts of this. A lot of transparent packaging involves some see-through packing, where you can look at the item. 

But it’s more than that. While glass is great, it’s heavy and not fitting for all types of items. Plastic is another one, but you want something that is sustainable. With the advent of biodegradable plastics being used to really enhance a product, a lot of brands are turning to this for their transparent products. 

Finally, there are films that you can put over the product to see what you’re getting. One example of this is food.   Fish and meats that you buy at the store are made with a clear, see-through film that makes it easy to see the items that are inside. A lot of customers use this, because it gives them a general idea of the types of products there, forming more protection and a good base for the items that are there. 

Overall, transparent packaging requires a striking balance of the product showcase, while also creating some protection from the elements, keeping it clean and away from germs, and also making it look good on the shelf, especially when compared to other items. 

The Benefits and Challenges 

With this type of packaging, you build consumer trust.  They get to see the item prior to the purchase. They see what type of item they’re getting, which can be a make or break aspect for a lot of them.   they get to choose the item that they want, prior to making a purchase. 

However, despite all of these good ideas, there’s’ a few things that you need to keep in mind. you want it to be transparent of course but functional. If the product does need to be kept a certain way, for instance, the packaging must reflect it. shrink wrapping for example, will help with meats that need to be encased in something before they are consumed by the customer, to prevent pathogens. 

Vacuum sealing is really good for items that you will want to protect, especially if they are sensitive to temperature or other changes. 

However, you also need to make sure that it also preserves the product as well. creating a tight seal on some canned items for instance, will protect and preserve the items in there. Once it’s opened, the seal is broken and needs to be consumed. But through this, customers can buy and keep the item for as long as they need to, in order to consume it when they feel it is right.

Transparent packaging is the future, and it drives sales in ways that you never thought possible, especially in hot industries.