Tips for Reducing the Cost of Packaging Materials

As an increasing number of companies incorporate home deliveries in their business model, it has become necessary to invest in suitable packaging materials. Even for retailers that receive goods from manufacturers in boxes, additional packaging is usually required to be added on top to conceal the item and label it for delivery.

As packaging materials become a more frequent expense for businesses, it is ideal to identify strategies through which this cost can be kept at a minimum.

Get Customized Packaging

Ordering boxes that conform to the specifications of your products is a good idea. This reduces the waste involved with having to send oversized boxes that will require additional filler to safely contain products. Large boxes are also more expensive to ship and require more storage space. The better fitted the box is, the more economical it will be.

Order Bulk Quantities

This works best when you have a spacious and dry storage area to keep your packaging materials. Making bulk orders from manufacturers helps to secure discount deals you would otherwise not be able to get from a retailer or distributor.

If, however, you lack sufficient storage space, stick to smaller batches, and only boost your stock during peak sales periods when you know you will receive many more orders. Stocking up before these peak periods is important as the packaging manufacturers may have a backlog of orders to fill that may delay your delivery.

Opt for Lightweight Packaging

Many products can be safely contained within lightweight packaging such as cartons and envelops. More so when they are further secured with filler like peanuts and bubble wrap. The filler material is great for absorbing impact while keeping contents secure. You can even make some savings by using alternative filler materials like junk mail, paper waste, old newspapers, and old shredded clothing. Lightweight and smaller sized packaging is again much cheaper to send out for deliveries.

Shop Around for Packaging Materials

Just as in any other business you will find that different packaging solution manufacturers offer different kinds of deals on their product. Identify the selection of packaging items you require and shop around from different manufacturers. Make comparisons on the quotes you are provided with to identify the best deal.

Also, consider a manufacturer that can provide you with boxes that are biodegradable and recyclable. These options tend to not only be more affordable but also good for the environment. Your clients will appreciate your consideration for the environment and the benefit of being able to reuse the boxes for their benefit.

How to Make Your Custom Printed Stock Boxes Stand Out

One of the most effective yet affordable ways of promoting a brand is custom packaging. More than ever before there is a growing need for shipping boxes. Many people now prefer to do their shopping online and have their merchandise delivered to their homes or offices. To safely transport many of these products, they must be contained in boxes.

Since boxes are necessary, additional small investment is all that is needed to personalize them and make them a great platform for reminding people about your brand. Here are a few tips on how to better exploit this opportunity and hopefully encourage more interest and sales for the business.

Choose Correctly Fitted Box Sizes

Custom printed stock boxes should be ordered in sizes that specifically match the products that will be contained within. Ensuring a customized size reduces the need for additional packing materials to keep the contents stable and secure. Too big a box and the content will likely rattle around during transit, and likely to arrive damaged.

It makes for a better presentation when received by the buyer in good condition and well packaged. Invest in a good selection of boxes that match the specifications of your range of products.

Display Your Logo Correctly

Stock boxes with logo should be clearly visible. That means you need to carefully consider the contrast between the logo and the background of the rest of the box. Stronger color contrast means better visibility.

You also need to leave a reasonable amount of clear space around the logo. This makes it easier for the viewer to take in the entirety of the image and brand name without having to take a step back. The central placement of the logo is also pleasing to the eye though left-sided placement can also be more memorable for viewers.

Use Branded Packaging Tape

Shipping tape is often overlooked yet can do much to make your shipment more noticeable to everyone handling it or just passing by. It can be used to reinforce the memory of your brand name, or even festive to wish people happy holidays. Whatever you print on the shipping tape will naturally stand out wherever the package goes and can be a great opportunity to communicate and connect with potential buyers.

Incorporate Filler

This helps to keep your product even better secured within the box. This is particularly important with fragile and high-end items. You can use a wide array of fillers, including foam inserts, bubble wrap, Styrofoam chips, or tissue paper. This also reassures customers that you want your product to arrive at their doorstep safe and sound. It can also make for a more pleasurable unboxing experience.

Why Invest In Branded Shipping Tape

shipping tape
Businesses are constantly looking for ways to promote their brand effectively and affordably. Keeping their products on people’s minds is a great way to encourage them to try out what is on offer and stimulate more sales.

For small and medium-sized businesses, conventional forms of advertising like television and newspaper promos are not usually an option as they can be quite costly. Alternative avenues like custom packaging can however some positive effect while remaining relatively low cost.

Besides boxes, these businesses can also use other shipping tools like packaging tape to help draw attention to their brand. Here is how this can benefit the business.

Value Addition

With interesting and appealing packaging, you give the impression that your product is of good value. Branded shipping tape is highly noticeable as it is what holds the box together. When customized in an attractive way it makes people think that what is inside the box has also been carefully and creatively put together by the seller.

Boosts Marketing Efforts

Unboxing has become a big deal for boosting brand awareness. There are now tons of YouTube videos of industry experts and influencers unboxing products before testing them out. They make a big deal of how the product is delivered within its packaging and will usually give viewers a 360° view of the box before opening it. A tastefully designed box with customized tape impresses right off the bat.

Communicate with Potential Clients

Besides being decorative, you can put all kinds of information on your custom shipping tape. You can include the name of your flagship products, your email and web address, and even QR codes. This is a simple way to keep reminding existing and potential clients of your business presence and how they can find out more about you and your products.

Adds Personality

Besides being a unique method of reminding clients of your presence, custom packaging can also be a good way to make a more personal connection. From saying ‘Thank You’ to wishing clients ‘Happy Holidays’, there is a myriad of positive and heartfelt messages you can share to show appreciation and let people know what values your business has been built upon.

Affordability

Custom packaging is one of the cheapest ways to promote a brand. You will likely require boxes and packaging tape anyway to put together orders for shipping. It costs just a little extra to customize this packaging. And if you make bulk orders directly from the manufacturer, you get to save even more money through discount deals.

8 BEST TIPS TO PAIR WINE LABELS WITH FOOD (SIMPLIFIED)

Here are eight best tips to pair wine labels with your favorite dish. Do not let the thousands of wine boxes in the market intimidate you. This is a simplified way to combine your food and wine with ease. Apply these easy steps to eliminate confusion. Let us take a sip and begin.

1. WINE LABELS: KEEP IT SIMPLE

There are many wine labels out there. The key is to keep it simple. Start with the basic of the basics. Pick a favorite wine you truly enjoy. Choose something you would drink by itself as a stand-alone drink. This is a foolproof way to assure that even if your pairing were not perfect, it still would not be a disaster. Just as there are many ways to mix ingredients to create a meal, there are many ways to combine your dish with your wine. The combination is subjective. Wine is a personal experience. “Wine is bottled poetry,” Robert Lewis Stevenson.

To start, distinguish the main types of wine. Second, determine if it is a light-bodied, medium-bodied or full-bodied wine. Learning these differences is the key for easy pairing.

2. WINE BOXES: 5 MAIN TYPES OF WINE

Disregard the plethora of wine boxes that are out in the market. There are generally five main types of wine. They are white wine, red wine, rosé wine, sparkling wine and fortified wine.

White Wine

White wines come from white, yellow, green, and even red grapes. Fermented white wine are without the grape skins. The majority of white wines have a light, zesty, fruity, acidic and fresh clean taste. It is translucent in color with a delicate aroma. White wines are generally light-bodied.

Red Wine

Red wines come from red, black, blue or purple colored grapes. Fermented red wines are with their skins, seeds and sometimes stems. Because of its extended fermentation, they tend to have higher tannins. Tannin in wine adds bitterness, dryness and astringency and can vary in strength.

Red Wine: Light, Medium and Full

Light-bodied red wines are fruity. They have a lighter tannin, bright acidity and red fruit flavors. They tend to grow from cooler climates.

Medium-bodied wines will have medium levels of fruit flavor, tannin and acidity. They still evoke fruit flavors and have transition to the darker fruits. These strong hints include black cherry, plum, blueberry and blackberry.

Full-bodied red wines are savory and richer. They have complex flavors, bold tasting notes, and powerful aroma. Full-bodied wines have intense flavor, dark red in color and dry. Full-bodied wines tend to grow from warmer climates.

Rosé Wine

Rosé wines are also made with red wine grapes but are fermented at a reduced time. Rosé is a dry wine that tastes similar to many white wines. Rosé wines are not sweet. A Rosé also has the fruitiness of the red wine. Rosé comes in many shades of pink, peach, pale orange and near purple. A rosé offers a bright, more refreshing flavor than its deep red counterparts.

Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wines are bubbly and carbonated. They have high levels of carbon dioxide due to secondary fermentation. This contributes to their exciting fizzy characteristics. The infamous loud opening “pop” of a corkscrew comes from the celebrated, sparkly French champagne. Some white wines and rosé wines are also sparkling wine. They can range from being very sweet to very dry.

Fortified Wine

Fortified wines have added distilled spirits, and it is usually brandy. Grape brandy is the most common type of fortified wine. They are viscous or syrupy. They are traditionally sweet red wine that can range from dry to semi-dry styles.

3. WINE BODY WEIGHT

If you know the body weight of the wine, the easier it is to pair it with a meal. A light dish goes well with a light-bodied wine. A heavy dish goes well with a full-bodied wine. The combination should be a heavenly match. Idealistically, the wine should not overpower the dish. The dish should not overpower the wine. It is a beautiful balance. It is a harmonious dance between the two.

How can we know if the wine is light-bodied, medium-bodied or full-bodied? The secret is to look at the alcohol percentage. It is a very easy formula to remember. Low alcohol levels mean light-bodied wines. High alcohol levels mean heavy full-bodied wines. The more alcohol it has, the heavier and viscous it becomes.

Here are the alcohol percentages

Light

Light-bodied wines are under 12.5 % alcohol. Generally, these white wines are crisp and refreshing.

Medium

Medium-bodied wines are between 12.5% to 13.5% alcohol.

FULL

Full-bodied wines have an alcohol content over 13.5%. The majority of heavy-bodied wines are red.

Now that we distinguished the wines in their categories, let us break it down further to the different types of meals.

4. APPETIZERS / HORS D’OEUVRES

Eliminate the guesswork of pairing wines with your appetizers. When eating hors d’oeuvres, reach for a crisp white wine, sparkling wine or a bright and fruity rosé wine. An appetizer’s purpose is to boost your appetite prior to the main meal. A light mini meal matches perfectly with a light wine. The wine and food should complement one another. What better way to wake up your palate than to accompany it with a crisp white wine, sparkling wine or a refreshing rosé.

5. WHITE WINE FOR LIGHT DISHES

A light-bodied white wine should have the same potency as the dish. Therefore, a light-bodied white wine matches perfectly with light dishes. Most white wines pair easily with a light salad, pasta with light/white sauce, chicken, fish, turkey or pork.

Pay attention to spicy dishes with a lot of black pepper, red peppers, wasabi or jalapeños. To balance off spicy dishes, choose wines that are softer, slightly sweeter, creamier and less acidic in taste. Spicy dishes goes well with wines such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Moscatos or Chenin Blancs.

6. RED WINE FOR HEAVIER DISHES

Keep it effortless. Heavy entrees and red wine are divine. Red wines are intense, bold, rich and savory. Heavy dishes are intense, bold, rich and savory too. They both have the same characteristics. They blend nicely because one is not overpowering the other.

Here are a few dishes that pair well with red wine. A sample includes hard cheese, prime rib, red meat, T-bone steaks, pasta with red tomato sauce, filet mignon, barbecue chicken, grilled steak, or hearty stew.

7. VERSATILE SPARKLING WINE

Sparkling wines are not only bubbly and fizzy, but they are also very versatile. Sparkling wine is a good palate cleanser. They go perfect with anything salty. They also compliment fruit-based or buttery desserts very easily.

Some sparkling wine include French Champagne, Italian Prosecco and Spanish Cava. Sparkling wines marries well with shrimp, smoked salmon, shellfish, soft-cheese, tarts, crepes, cheesecake, and shortbread cookies.

8. FORTIFIED WINE

Savored as a before or after dinner drink, the added distilled spirits in fortified wine gives it its unique syrupy taste. Fortified wines are often termed as a dessert wine. It pairs perfectly with nuts, cheese, fruit tarts and chocolate-based desserts. They also make a great cooking wine.

The most common fortified wines are Marsala, Madeira, Port, Sherry, Vermouth and Commandaria wine.

CONCLUSION

Knowing the simple five categories of wine and the three-body type of wines is an easy way to gauge how to pair it with your favorite dish.

ONE STEP FURTHER

If you decide to deepen your knowledge, there are many expert advices from professional sommeliers, books and articles.

Perhaps you would like to explore a few tasting rooms and wineries. There are many famous wineries in Italy, France, Portugal and America. Unbelievably, there are also many wineries in Canada. If you should happen to be here in Canada, come see the beautiful wineries in Kelowna, Penticton, Osoyoos BC, and Kamloops BC. Fine-tune your wine pairing craft as you expand your palate’s taste for fine wine and dining. Saluti! Salud! À votre santé ! Cheers!

Cardboard Corrugated Containers: Better Packaging

corrugated containers
The quality of the product you supply will have the biggest impact on whether you will receive repeat business and positive reviews. The packaging does however influence first impressions. It can make those that are around to want to try your product, sight unseen. To help tap into this effect, here are some strategies you can apply.

Be Shape Creative

A square or rectangular box is often to be expected when you have ordered a product. A mailing tube makes for a different reaction. There is a lot of flexibility that can be exercised when it comes to the dimensions of your product packaging. You can have custom that follow the shape of particular products. The arrival of an unusually shaped package can be an interesting curiosity. Unboxing items has even become a social media phenomenon where first impressions count for much.

Captivate with Color

You can further customize your packaging with interesting color and color effects. You can make adjustments during specific holidays and discount periods. To reinforce the image of your brand, try to incorporate your company colors and logo in the packaging. This will gradually help to make your brand more recognizable.

Use Imagery

Lit candles and wreaths for Christmas, or spooky ghosts and ghouls for Halloween, you have plenty of options when it comes to enhancing your packaging, especially around the holidays. You can even use it as an opportunity to promote a cause or charity you support. This means that more than making your packaging more attractive, you can also use it to demonstrate your care for needy, the environment, and more. Place imagery on the label or the corrugated containers themselves.

Why Corrugated?

Cardboard corrugated boxes are an ideal option for product packaging. They protect products. That means a lower risk of damage to the contents if they suffer some impact. They are also lightweight, so besides the weight of the product within, they can be very easy to transport. Corrugated containers have a superior feel to them many consumers appreciate. Knowing that a business respects them enough to deliver its product in quality packaging makes for a positive impression.

The sound construction also makes them great for re-use. Many people appreciate being able to use their delivery boxes for other purposes around the home and office. In addition, once they are no longer useful, they are easily biodegradable and recyclable, so whomever way you dispose of them, you will not harm the environment.

How to Use Mailing Tubes to Boost Your Brand

mailing tubes
Branding is often about image, how customers and other businesses view your business. The more favorably they consider your brand, the more likely they are to buy from you and speak well of your business. Besides the quality of your product or services, your brand can also be affected by how you send out your mail. Here are some tips on how to use mailing tubes to better market your business.

Adding Variety

Most mail that is delivered to homes and businesses comes in the standard packaging of envelopes and boxes. Using shipping tubes is a good way to add a different shape into the mix. When people receive mail, there is not often the expectation that there will be something exciting to open. An unusual delivery helps to perk things up. Many items can be shipped this way, including even mundane documents. Rolling up documents and securing them in a fiber tube better protects them and ensures they arrive without folds or creases.

Customization

Shipping tubes can be customized in different sizes and colors. This is an excellent opportunity to brand your mailing tubes with company colors or whatever other formats to commemorate a celebration. For instance, you can use red and pink colors during Valentine’s Day period to honor the occasion. Depending on the kind of business you run, this can be a good chance to market and keep up with trends.

The use of graphics and other printed information can also help impart a good impression to recipients. This provides an additional means by which to wow customers through creative arts. The tubes can also be customized in terms of dimensions. You can work with a manufacturer to tailor your tubes to suit whatever type of items you want to ship.

Added Protection

Using shipping tubes is also a good way to better secure your documents or whatever other items you deliver within. While most tubes are made of standard cardboard material, they can be further reinforced to provide better protection or support for heavier content.

There are also several options when it comes to the end closures. You can opt for plastic or metal end plugs that can add an element of sophistication or practicality, depending on what you are aiming for.

Distribute Promotional Materials

As mentioned, there are many things you can package in a tube. The unique design of this packaging makes for a more interesting unboxing experience. You do not have to strain to look for what regular mail you can send this way. You can make this a part of your marketing approach. From calendars to water bottles, you can distribute many branded promotional materials in this format to all kinds of targeted audiences.

Benefits of Corrugated Eco-Friendly Packaging

Reap the benefits of designing an Eco-friendly packaging any way you like. Eco Friendly custom boxes are recyclable and biodegradable. Save the environment. Save some money. This is how.

eco-friendly packaging

Eco-Friendly Packaging

When businesses send out merchandise, documents, or marketing material through the mail, how they package it matters. It is all part of the presentation. Choosing the right approach can help to make a good impression on the recipient of the package. It helps anyone else handling or viewing it along the way.

Eco-Friendly Custom Boxes (Cost-Effectiveness)

Corrugated Eco-friendly custom boxes can seem costly on sight. This may be partly because they are customizable. This ability to have them made to various dimensions and colors does not however mean they are expensive. In reality, the cost of the materials can be quite low. When paired with a manufacturer who has invested well in the right machinery, it can translate to a much lower cost than you would expect. You can ensure further cost savings by making comparisons of various providers. You may find that some providers are located further away, but offer a lower cost per unit and bulk discounts.

Environmental Consciousness

Younger generations have become increasingly aware of how delicate the environment can be and make good efforts to not be a part of the problem. They consequently prefer to associate with businesses and brands that share this consciousness. Choosing to use Eco-friendly packaging that is recyclable and biodegradable is a sign that your business is also concerned about the environment and will be another reason for this demographic to want to patronize you.

Security

These custom boxes are quite sturdy and make the ideal packaging to secure even sensitive merchandise. Strong yet supportive cardboard reinforced with recycled paper makes for durable packaging you can rely on to hold your goods securely in place and cushioned while in transit. Their robust construction also means that the packaging can be reused multiple times before there is a need to dispose of it. This further adds to their Eco-friendliness.

Customization

For any business, the packaging should be customizable. The ability to have packaging tailored to suit specific dimensions of your products or promotional material is vital. Also being able to customize to match company colors or incorporate a variety of images or print helps. The creativity that goes into branding Eco-friendly packaging can be useful in drawing the eyes of potential clients to your products. It can also make your brand more memorable and promote interest you can convert into sales.

Why Consider a Comment Box for Customer Feedback

comment box
There are many ways through which businesses can seek customer opinions. From online surveys to social media comments, people have come to appreciate the many ways they can communicate with the companies they patronize. Whether the service or product was good or bad, they can make themselves feel heard.

There is however still a place for the old fashioned approach of comment boxes. We have all seen them in stores, offices, banks, and so on. They invite visitors to the premises to fill a comment card and drop it into the box. Much like how you use a ballot box during elections. They are a great way of collecting anonymous opinions, which offer several benefits over online options.

Encourages Honesty

The anonymity factor when using a comment box tends to make people free to express their opinion. People are instinctively more defensive when they think something will be traced back to them. Comment boxes allow people to write down comments without having to provide their names or addresses if they do not want to. This is less intimidating and encourages more honest discourse.

Emboldens Employees

Employees can be even more reticent as they feel that a negative opinion may endanger their jobs. Being allowed to give feedback through the anonymity of a comment box makes them feel braver and willing to risk sharing their thoughts. For top management, the opinions of front line staff should be seriously considered as they are the ones interacting with the customers most. They can also provide feedback on their supervisors and how they address their concerns. It is a good way to find out what is happening in the trenches.

Accessible to Everyone

Customer feedback that is collected online tends to be often be skewed. This is because certain demographics are frequently excluded. Seniors are usually a part of this as they do not use online resources to the same extent as younger generations. This is despite them making up a considerable portion of the client base thanks to their purchasing power. Offering them comment boxes within stores they frequent would provide them just as easy an opportunity to give their feedback.

Can Invite Communication

Although comment boxes encourage anonymity, those that use them can still provide contact details, if they want. This is often done where a customer would like to have a particular issue addressed and given feedback themselves. Those that do provide contact information will have opened up a channel of communication that businesses can use to fix whatever problem and redeem their reputation in the eyes of the client.

Packaging Labels Important Components

packaging labels
Whatever product you send out into the market, it should have a label. This is a simple means of conveying important information on the product. The amount of details will often vary depending on the type of product. For instance, the label on a computer CPU will greatly differ from that on a wine bottle. Here are some of the vital details all packaging labels designs should include:

Packaging Labels Display the Brand

The packaging labels display the brand name. Position it at the top or center of the label. Make the brand name clear. Keep in mind the name does not necessarily have to incorporate the manufacturer’s name. It can, however, also include the company logo that instantly identifies the manufacturer.

Type of Product

While the aisle in which the product is stocked will certainly give a clue, it is still advisable to indicate just what the product is. Some shoppers can be confused with faced with so many items to choose from. This also helps in narrowing down the product detail for those shopping online.

Weight and/or Size

Package labels should always indicate weights, especially for food items. The choice of standard or metric units will depend on location, but indicate the weight and size, especially if sold internationally. Food items should also include nutritional information, broken down according to quantity. This can help consumers who need to track their diet.

Coding

Barcodes increase the speed of checkout. Retailers will use this in their systems to recognize the product when scanned and bring up the pricing. QR codes have also become quite popularly used on package labels for connecting consumers directly to official websites of manufacturers and promotions. A QR code is scanned using a smartphone and takes them directly to whatever landing page the manufacturer wants them to view.

Contact Details

Whether it is the manufacturer or wholesaler, there should be company contact details included for accountability. On the package labels, there should be the company name and address. Do not worry too much, consumers may also want to reach out to appreciate the company, or to become a distributor.

Certifications and Awards

This is a good way to market the product. Including mention or imagery of certifications or awards on the label helps legitimize the product. It allows consumers to also confirm that the product has met or surpassed certain standards. This can prove helpful in boosting the brand.

Finding a Packaging Supplier for Retail Business

packaging supplier
Retail businesses tend to have different packaging needs as compared to manufacturers and wholesalers. The large suppliers are more interested in packaging that can accommodate bulk deliveries. Depending on the product, however, they may also need to package their items individually for onward sales to final consumers. When making deliveries, they, however, deal with bulk orders that call for larger shipping boxes.

Retailers tend to receive much smaller orders from their end-user clients and require a packaging supplier that can meet this demand. Here are some simple tips on how to choose this type of supplier from a field of multiple candidates.

Consider Their Packaging Material

Most items, especially if non-breakable, can be comfortably accommodated in light packaging material. Cardboard is a popular choice. Its thickness can be customized to whatever level of protection you need for your products. Overall, its lightweight nature is a big benefit as it reduces the cost of transportation. Pick packaging specialists that are well adapted to customizing shipping boxes that suit your needs and budget.

Look For Versatility

While delivery boxes to consumers may be the biggest priority, you may likely require other boxing designs. Retailers will undertake a variety of marketing campaigns to promote their products to the market. They will attend trade shows, offer samples in-house, and even provide shoppers with gift wrapping materials during the holiday seasons. All these types of events can call for the use of customized boxes like suitcase boxes, mailers, and gift boxes.

Packaging specialists that can cater to the different needs of their customers make work easier. Though likely to be ordered in smaller quantities, retailers can likely negotiate for better deals from a supplier they already deal with. They will also be already familiar with the quality of the product. Versatile suppliers can also often scale up their production to match the growth of their client retailers.

Bulk Deals

Find a packaging supplier that will offer you bulk deals. Smaller orders typically come at higher rates. Aim for bigger purchases just before the holiday and sale seasons when the demand for your products will be highest. Bulk purchases are normally cheaper and are a good way to ensure you can comfortably deliver client orders as they come in as you have a good stock. You can also use this as an opportunity to test their turnaround time and determine if they are a good fit for your business.