Making Effective Custom Labels

Custom labels are a great addition to product packaging when sending out orders. They are a good way to convey different messages to customers on receiving their packages and can even be used to better secure packaging. They are distinct and will often draw the eye of an observer, making them also ideal for branding purposes. More so when you pick unusual or colorful designs. however, to properly capitalize on this marketing opportunity, it is important to ensure you adhere to these tips.

Quality Materials

When designing custom printed labels, it is vital to ensure the materials are of good quality and are in keeping with the rest of the packaging. It can reflect badly on your brand if the label you apply is of poor quality and arrives damaged at its destination.

Color

As said, a colorful custom label is great for attracting attention when you want it. Avoid plain black and white designs that often go unnoticed and are therefore a waste of money to invest in. before you can share a message with observers, you need them to be able to notice the label. Thankfully, many providers offer a full range of color options that can be made glossy for even better results.

Shape

You may opt to use custom labels with basic designs like rectangular or circular shapes. However, it can be worthwhile and just as affordable to opt for more creative shapes and sizes that will combine with attractive coloring to draw the attention of whoever sees it. The more unique the overall design, the more curious a person will be to take a closer look and find out what message is being shared.

Message

Labels are not typically that large and are designed to briefly hold the attention of an observer and share a message. The message should therefore be brief. Sticking to a short but sweet message is the best way to get your message across without boring the observer and causing them to lose focus. It is also important to proofread the message. Spelling mistakes can again reflect badly on your brand and in this age of social media, can result in your going viral for the wrong reasons.

Imagery

It helps to pair your written message with colorful imagery that is captivating to look at. Whether it is a cartoon or hologram, choose a visual lure that will make it more worthwhile for an observer to take a closer look at your custom label.

Packing Shipping Boxes Like a Pro

While e-commerce has done much to help businesses continue to thrive even as people are more restricted in movement, it can be a headache to have to send out fragile products in shipping boxes. When you have a product that can easily be damaged, you run the risk of having to make a replacement, often at the cost of the business.

Furthermore, the time delay created by having to send out replacements can add to the dissatisfaction of the customer, encouraging them to take their business elsewhere. Getting the packing done right the first time will improve the chances that the product will arrive at its destination intact and make the positive impression you want with clients. Here is how to get started.

Packing

Fragile items should be carefully packed within the box so they are less affected by vibration and rough handling. Wrapping them up individually with extra padding like newspaper or bubble wrap can help keep them more stable and snugly fitted into the box. It will also help protect the individual items if you are packing more than one item per box. This can avoid them banging into each other as they are shipped.

Sizing

It is best to go for a size of the box that will snugly accommodate the product. Too big a box will mean the product will likely end up banging about inside while in transit, increasing the risk of damage. Too small and it may escape its confines and again, be vulnerable to injury.

Material

There are different types of shipping box materials and designs to choose from. Corrugated shipping boxes are a popular choice due to their affordability, good protection, lightweight design, and recyclable. If you need a more secure design, you can opt for more fluting. Mailers are more rigid and have a self-locking mechanism that makes them best for smaller fragile items. Consider consulting with your packaging supplier to determine what material and design of the box would be best for safeguarding fragile products for shipping.

Label clearly

During shipping, it is commonplace for staff to be less careful when handling boxes, especially when they have much work to do. It helps to remind them to take more care by labeling the boxes for shipping with stickers and writing on the box. They should indicate if the contents are fragile and are to be handled carefully. Some products may need to remain in a certain position, so you can label them “this side up”, alongside arrows. If the product requires special accommodations like refrigeration, it also helps to note this on the label and sides of the box.

Design Ideas to Make A Custom Gift Box Stand Out

There are good reasons to want to include a customized box in your range of packaging materials. Custom gift boxes tend to be more expensive but give the impression that the items inside are also of higher value. This perception often allows businesses that use them for packaging to boost their sales prices without impacting demand negatively.
The higher quality packaging also makes for a more enjoyable unboxing experience that some customers are likely to share with others, helping to boost brand visibility and recognition. Custom gift box designs can also be used to make the client feel special and appreciated by the business. This can make them more inclined to stay loyal and advocate for the brand to others. Here are some simple design ideas you can incorporate to make more of a positive impact on customers.

Share A Message

You can include a thank you message on the box to show your appreciation to clients. You can also switch this up during holiday periods to impart best wishes. Keep it short but sweet. You can also add include contact information like social media handles or a QR code to your business website as another way to engage with clients.

Choose A Special Box

Gift boxes in mailer design are a good option when designing gift boxes. They feature a self-locking feature that means no mess when opening the packaging. They are an elegant design that you can customize using different colors, imagery, and branding messages. This can be done on both the interior and exterior, providing ample surface on which to market your business. They also feature a more rigid design that makes them ideal for securing high-value or delicate products.

Branding

It is important to settle on a brand color and logo that will be consistently applied across your packaging. This helps to make brand recognition easier to reinforce. The choice of color and logo should be in keeping with the values of your organization and a good reflection of what you have to offer. You should also consider what kind of impression it makes on clients.

Custom Graphics

To make your custom gift box design distinct, it may not be best to just opt for a plain color. Mixing up the design with patterns, shapes, and/or imagery can help make your box design more unique. Try to ensure that whatever design you incorporate complements the rest of the design features rather than distract from them. The overall look should make a positive impression on whoever looks at it

Top Packaging Companies in Canada

Packaging companies in Canada
As you look towards establishing your brand in the market, you will find it important to identify the best packaging companies in Canada. These suppliers will be vital in helping your business grow and making a suitable impression on customers. Keep in mind that each time a customer receives your product, the first impression made will be off of the packaging of the item. The more they enjoy their unboxing experience, the more memorable your brand becomes to them and opportunities for securing more sales in the future.

While cost is a key consideration, it should not be the only factor in choosing a packaging supplier. Here are some tips for selecting the right packaging supplier.

Packaging Companies in Canada- Value Addition

When consulting with a packaging supplier, they should be very interested in what kind of products you offer and the impact you want to make with customers. They should be able to provide advice on what kinds of packaging will serve your needs and comply with industry regulations. They should also be able to offer guidance on such issues as Eco-friendly options and what will fit into your budget. From corrugated boxes to folding cartons, you will realize that there are many options when looking for a box in Canada.

Your supplier should also be able to offer design services that can be incorporated if you want to brand your packaging. Ensure you get samples of what the finished product will look like before deciding on which supplier to rely on. Good customer service is also key to sustaining a good ongoing working relationship with your supplier. Look into what kind of reputation the supplier you are considering has in dealing with their clients.

Scale

Though you may be starting as a small business, if all goes well, you can expect orders to grow and consequently your need for packaging. As you consider packaging companies in Canada, ensure they can scale up production to match your demand with time. They should also offer a variety of packaging materials to meet your needs. This can include boxes of various sizes, the inclusion of paper bags, packing tape, and so on.

Their production should be well organized so that you do not have to worry about the delivery of your order even as they are juggling more from other clients. A streamlined supply chain should be in place to avoid problems that may compromise their delivery of packaging when you need it. It also helps when they can offer discounts with bulk orders. This is standard practice in the industry that will help lower your costs.

Reducing The Risk Of Damage With Vodka Packaging

Whether you are a vodka maker, own a liquor store, or just love your spirits, you need to be concerned about vodka packaging. More so when you intend to transport your stocks and do not want to worry about any damage that could cause you financial loss. Most vodka brands will package the liquor in a glass bottle, meaning that if you are shipping, you have to worry about possible breakage. Here are some ways to ensure your stock of vodka gets to its desired destination in good shape.

Use Dividers in Vodka Packaging

If transporting multiple bottles rather than just one vodka box, pack them in a larger box and separate them individually using Styrofoam dividers. Make it as tight a fit as possible to reduce the amount of shifting during transit. The dividers should sit snugly against the bottles, restraining them from bumping into one another. You can obtain cardboard cell boxes from a liquor store that should already come with dividers.

Secure The Edges And Bottom

Ensure the box carrying your vodka bottles is well secured. Reinforce the edges with packing tape as this is where it is most likely to get bumped into. The bottom is also vulnerable due to friction so ensure it is soundly secured. Besides reinforcing with packing tape, consider adding another layer of cardboard internally to make it a firmer surface on which the bottles will sit during transit. You can also add some layers of paper or bubble wrap at the bottom as cushioning, especially if the box is tall, leaving room for the bottles to bounce around even when closed.

Wrap Them Up

If you cannot get dividers, opt to wrap up each bottle to secure it before placing it in a box. Do the same if the dividers or cell boxes you get leave too much room around the bottles. Adding wrapping around the bottles will let them fit more snugly and cope better with the rigors of transport. You can use newspaper or bubble wrap. Be sure to tape down the edges so the wrapping does not easily come undone.

Load Correctly

When loading your vehicle with the boxes containing vodka bottles, avoid stacking anything heavy on top. Be sure to label the box as fragile and breakable so that whoever is handling it will know to take extra care. To ensure good stability, also try to place them on the flattest surface such as the floor or bed of the truck. Keep the box away from the edge, such as the tailgate to avoid the risk of it falling over during unloading.

Things To Test Before Sending Out A Shipping Box

shipping box
As more consumers take advantage of the convenience of online shopping, businesses are being forced to adjust to accommodate shipping demands. Boxes for shipping and other packaging materials are now an essential expense for all types of businesses that deal in merchandise.

A common problem that less experienced businesses are however facing is damaged goods being delivered. It can be frustrating and costly to have to deal with returns due to shipments that were delivered in less than the assured condition. Costly because it compels the business to make a replacement of the product at their own cost.

This issue, therefore, makes it important to ensure certain checks are done before sending out packages for delivery. This is besides ensuring that you have invested in quality packaging that is suitable to the type of product being sent out and the challenges that may be faced during transit.

Shipping Box Label

Always ensure that the label on a shipping box is clearly displayed and legible. Ideally, it should be positioned on the vertical side that is largest. It may seem better to place the label on top, but boxes for shipping are often stacked and this can make a shipping label placed on top harder to view. The label should also be centrally placed. If you position it towards a corner, there is the risk of denting that could make the details on the label less discernible. Not to mention labels on corners are difficult for machines to read.

Weight

Be sure to ascertain the weight of your package before it goes out. Businesses should invest in accurate weighting machines for this purpose. This information should also appear on the label. Knowing the weight of a package can also help when stacking. It is important to ensure that the heaviest items are kept at the bottom of the stack to avoid damage to lighter boxes on top. If the weight is too much, you may also want to consider breaking up the contents into smaller packages.

Give It a Shake

Before you send out small and medium packages, give the shipping box a shake. You should not hear any noise indicating that the contents are moving around. If you however hear some noise, you will need to reopen the box and do some repacking. You can add stuffing like wrapping paper or packing peanuts to help better protect the contents. Alternatively, if you have them, use smaller boxes. This is a basic check that your shipping company may also conduct. If they think the contents are not well-secured, they may send you back with your package to repack.

Merits Of Hybrid Packaging

hybrid packaging
Various materials are utilized to create protective packaging solutions. These can include cardboard, wood, plastic, and metals. While you may be more accustomed to just one type of material being used to make packaging, there are also hybrid options.

Hybrid packaging refers to packaging solutions that are made up of more than just one material. It can also refer to different packaging designs that have been combined to amplify certain safety features in a box. The choice of materials that are combined will depend on what qualities you require for your product. This kind of packaging offers superior protection for products as the designs are customized to ensure maximum strength, safety, and stability. Hybrid boxes tend to be more expensive but still make for a good investment for several key reasons.

Hybrid Packaging Re-usability

The stronger construction of hybrid boxes makes them highly durable and easy to make repeated use of. They are designed to offer extra safety, even with rough handling and long transit. being able to be reused means that they are of great benefit when it comes to environmental concerns. Those that receive them can easily retain them for a long time without needing to source for other packaging materials.

Cost-Effective

In certain industries where these boxes are used for B2B transactions, they can be emptied and taken back for reloading. This is helpful in terms of cost. So despite the initial high outlay for buying the boxes, their ability to be reused means reduced need to keep buying packaging materials, hence providing good savings in the medium to long term.

Fewer returns

The superior protection afforded by hybrid packaging is good for business. Currently, an increasing number of businesses are having to adapt to the online shopping demands of consumers. Many consumers are not even based locally, meaning arrangements have to be made to ship products further afield.

When products arrive damaged, customers will often seek to return them and have the business replace the item at their own cost. To preserve their reputations, businesses tend to comply with this demand. Despite how much extra it can cost to have to cover the additional item and ship it. Opting for this protective packaging is a good way to limit the risk of products being damaged in transit and the business being left responsible for making replacements. This may be especially useful to businesses that deal in high-end commodities and any items being shipped overseas where the cost of transport is much higher.

Is Whiskey Packaging Recyclable?

whiskey packaging
Whisky is one of the most popular hard liquors in the world. Millions of cases are consumed in the US every year. That makes for a lot of waste once the contents are finished. Like many other liquors, it is packaged in glass bottles and placed in a whisky box. Due to the nature of the product and the fact that many brands are often imported, whisky packaging is not reusable.

But can it be recycled? The answer to this is however not clear-cut. In a bid to appear unique, different brands utilize different materials in their packaging designs. Some of the materials are recyclable, while others are not. Those that exclusively use cardboard for their whisky box design are recyclable. Some brands even make a point of indicating that the cartons are fully recyclable on the packaging.

Others however will incorporate metals in their designs. you may be familiar with those whisky bottles that are packaged in cardboard tubes rather than box-style cartons. In some cases, the lid and base of the tube will include metal which may be bonded to cardboard. These types of whisky box designs are problematic when trying to separate trash for recycling.

Recyclable whisky packaging

Whisky distillers can do more to help when it comes to making their packaging recyclable. A good option would be to alter their whisky packaging designs so the bottles are encased in a cardboard carton. Without additions like metal or plastic materials. This will make it a simpler affair when separating the recycling on trash day.
Not only does it help the environment, but it is also a smart costing decision. Cardboard on its own is much cheaper to use for packaging than when it is bonded to other more harmful materials like metal. As much as many whisky brands are considered high-end, there are still ways to make even cardboard packaging appear and feel more luxurious. From die-cut mailers to wooden cases, many sustainable options lend themselves well to showcasing high-end liquors.

Consumers also tend to be more interested in the appearance of the bottle than the box they will simply dispose of after unboxing. Distillers should focus more attention on developing bottle designs that are more alluring than the boxes that are regarded as less important.

It is also noteworthy that cardboard material is quite lightweight. For brands that are shipped across the world, transport costs can be reduced by investing in lighter packaging materials. Consumers may also become more brand loyal to distillers that take a greater interest in minimizing the amount of waste generated from packaging materials. Many are environmentally conscious and more inclined to support brands that share these same values.

Tips for When Moving Wine Boxes to Your New Home

If you have a wine collection that needs to be moved, it is important to be very careful in handling it. Whether the bottles are in wine boxes or not, you should adhere to certain safety guidelines to ensure these easily breakable items can get to their destination in one piece. Broken wine bottles can create a huge mess, not to mention the heartbreaking loss of valuable drinks. Here are a few essential tips that can help along the way.

Clear Opened Stock

If you have a few bottles that are already open, try to simply consume them before moving day. It is not advisable to repack already open bottles, especially if the relocation will take more than a day. Most wines will start to go bad within a week of opening and are best kept refrigerated. Having them in a moving truck that is warm will just increase the rate of spoilage. Consider them the same way you would other perishable items in your refrigerator.

Box Them Up

If you do not buy your wine in boxes, get some. Corrugated cardboard boxes are great for protecting the bottles and giving them insulation. Ensure you use an insert so that the bottles do not end up banging into each other. Styrofoam can also be useful as an insert in wine boxes. Perform a shake test before you load up the box on the truck. If you hear the bottles clanging about, add more packing material so they remain stable. Also, consider reinforcing the edges of the box. You can use tape to do this along the bottom edges and corners.

Label Clearly

Be sure to label every wine box as fragile and to be handled carefully. Also, have an arrow and indicate which way is up. This will ensure your movers know how to correctly handle the box and ensure they do not add anything on top. You will want it properly secured without stacking.

Positioning in Wine Boxes

For bottles with corks rather than metal caps, be sure to position the wine box in a way that will keep the cork moist. That means laying it on its side or even upside down while in transit. This will prevent the cork from drying out and compromising the seal.

For larger wine collections kept in a cellar and being transported further, consider refrigerated transport. A refrigerated truck will provide a controlled environment you can match to your cellar conditions. This is especially needed if the weather is hotter.

Why Corrugated Carton Is Better For Food Packaging

When it comes to food packaging, safety is a key consideration. Because the products are ingested by humans, no business in the industry would want to risk packaging that would contaminate and lead to sickness. Corrugated cartons are a top choice in the packing and delivery of food products for several good reasons.

Hygiene

During the manufacturing process of a corrugated carton, the raw material is exposed to temperatures as high as 100° several times. This process ensures that all bacteria and microbes are destroyed, providing sterile packaging that can be relied upon to be safe for carrying food products. Bacteria and microbes are a risk of contaminating food and causing sickness. They can also impact the shelf life of certain products, causing them to spoil faster.

Cushioning

Corrugated cartons have fluting that provides added cushioning for food products. Many food items, like fruit and baked goods, can easily be damaged during handling and transit. besides disfiguring the food items, this can also lead to breaks in protective barriers that can more easily expose the food items to contamination. With the right packaging, there is less risk that food items will become injured and better chances they will arrive at their destination intact.

Ventilation

Some food products do require packaging that allows for ventilation. Dry food products like cereals and dried fruits may be well-sealed in packaging like plastic without a problem. Other foods like baked and grilled foods will however release moisture when cooling that can drip back into food in closed containers. Packaging that allows for this moisture to be released can help to better preserve the contents. This is why you often see freshly baked goods being placed in boxes for delivery.

Long Delivery

Fresh foods that need to be delivered over long distances should also be packaged in a corrugated carton. This option is ideal thanks to the materials strong build that can better endure long and rough journeys. Many fresh produce items that come from remotely located farms and countries are typically packaged this way to improve the likelihood of them arriving at their end market in good condition.

Moisture Protection

Corrugated boxes have extra layers that make it difficult for moisture to penetrate through to the contents. This is helpful in wet weather conditions and any other situation where there is a chance of exposure to moisture. If moisture is allowed to get to the food, it can cause it to become contaminated and spoil.