Tag Archives: box packing

How to Boost Unboxing Through Packaging 

One great thing about the rise of social media, is that we now have more ways to communicate with others, and for businesses, it’s how a lot of people are able to boost their relationships with their customers too. In a way, social media is one of the most powerful types of marketing tools for people, and it offers a more positive effect on people. One way for people to actually improve their brand messaging is via unboxing, and we’ll go over how packaging is impacted by this.

The Rise of Video Marketing 

Video marketing is super popular, and it can account for over three quarters of the traffic that’s there. Between the different queries that google gets, the videos that are uploaded to YouTube every single minute, and also the rise in video marketing producing more leads than ever before, it’s something that a lot of customers are using because it’s so beneficial. 

The power of Unboxing 

Unboxing is something that can make or break companies, and that’s the truth of it. It’s something that can also be used to generate new leads. But, it also can have other implications too if you’re not careful. The packaging and ecommerce success is innately intertwined. The customer’s experience however, gets married when you go into this, get the product, and it ends up being put into some shoddy package.  This is something that can impact the overall happiness of the customer if you’re not careful.

Story sharing is a huge part of their social media world. customers will share the product experiences that they want to. These experiences can be streamed on different websites, and unboxing videos are used in a bunch of cases.

The problem however, is how the packaging looks if you do this wrong. If you don’t give them the ideal experience, or if the product is broken, then you’re going to have to shoulder the burden of this.

How to Succeed with this unboxing experience

How can you improve this? Well, there are a few things that you need to do.

The first thing is give them the product in a way where it’s not damaged. This is super important, because if the product comes back damaged, they’re not going to share it, at least not in the way that you want them to. The protective packaging plays a focal part, and it’s why people need this.

The second thing is to get creative.  You want to give them packaging that ultimately stands out, and also, gives the product information to help with the purchases that they have.

Finally, you want the product packaging to have camera appeal. What this means is, you want to show it off in a way that looks good in front of the camera. Show how it’s easy to open, the durability of this, the way the product is presented, how it’s recycled, and even the branded packaging. The correct packaging also improves the appeal for people to look at this.

If you have packaging that is reusable, then you’ll be able to show that off too, and that’s a great way to get views on the products that are there.

For a lot of businesses, this is something for them to remember. It’s imperative for you to have the right packaging for people to share with others. Having packaging that people want to send to others, to show off and give out as something exciting, is really good, and with this, you’ll be able to build that foundation that you want to, and to improve everything overall. 

Shrink Wrapping Chocolates 

If you’re someone who loves to bake chocolates and make them, you’re not alone. But, if you’re someone who likes to ship these, you’ve probably run into the issue of making sure that they don’t melt. Well, one solution to do this is shrink wrapping them with heat. This can actually be done without them melting as well. 

It’s vital to make sure that the chocolates get wrapped either with a bit of chill to them, or if they’re at room temperature. However, you don’t want to pop these bad boys in the freezer, as this will create condensation too. The correct machines, and the materials used, offer a more professional appearance, and it secures different products, and provides an easier opening, and better clarity that comes with this too.

A good idea of the type of finished product that you’ll get also determines the equipment that’ll you want to buy from this. you want to make sure that you wrap this correctly, because with anything that’s heat-sensitive like chocolate, there’s a specific sort of way to do it.

How to Do It 

The best way to use this, is to have some polyolefin shrink wrapping, as this is approved by the FDA to be used with contact from foods directly. You should go for the thinner type of film, as this is better when coming into contact with the chocolate directly, as it requires lowered levels of heat, and a better opening that’s easier too.

There are other materials that also change as well, based on the film and machines which are needed. You can use a box to help create a bigger packaging length, but it also requires more types of equipment, and bigger ones too. 

There are paper types of products that do fold as well, while the film shrinks, so it’s important to be mindful because this might cause the packaging to be distorted and uneven. If you’re going to use packaging materials that are uneven, you should consider many things before you buy these supplies. 

Bulk or Individual 

If you’re going to shrink wrapping these, you usually need to also consider whether you’re going to shrink wrap both of these, or individually.  If you’re going to do this with bulk, you’ll need a bigger machine and bigger film too. The machines and the materials that help with the bulk pack offer a chance for the product to shrink packs which are smaller too.

As for how many you can get, this ultimately depends on the demand, and the equipment that is there. it’s imperative that you’re going to want the correct types of equipment, as the wrong kind will create issues with the labor, and also might slow down the entire process that’s there.

When you’re looking to get into shrink wrapping items, you also need to focus on the budget that’s there.  you should make sure that you have the size and the efficiency to make this work. If you have a machine that’s slower and smaller, it’ll cost a bit less than anything that’s bigger and faster, but also, you need to make sure that you have the right ideas in place.

When you’re looking to have the correct shrink wrapping process, you need to factor in all of these. The machines that are there also do play a part of this.  It definitely is important to make sure that you have something that prevents the melting of the chocolate.  Usually, tunnels and heat guns are the way to go, to help shrink wrap the item, while also maintaining form. 

Differences in Stretch Film 

There are many kinds of stretch film that offer a variety of uses.  The varieties of this do address some common problems including the size of the load, the weight of this, and the like. There are also stretch films that you can get that are used to protect the UV rays from getting into the product, reduce the static, which is great for electronics, reduce condensation of the product, and the like.

There are two major types of stretch film, the blown stretch film, and there is the cast stretch film.  Here, we’ll talk about these types, and other common ones. 

Blown Stretch Film 

This is one that’s created through blown extrusion and that process utilizes a vertical sort of die that extrudes out the plastic, melting it to create a tube that’s thin. The air then gets blown directly into the center portion of the tube, forming air bubbles with this. 

The amount of this that’s blown does determine the width overall of the film that’s finished.  They constantly rotate the film, so the speed of this and how it gets pulled in an upward manner determines the film’s thickness.

While it travels upwards to the nip rollers at the top, this film starts to cool down. Once that bubble is then collapsed onto a tube that’s flat, they then move this to the next set of rollers, and from there, they then are woven to the core, and for larger ones, one side of this sits to create a large width of stretch film. 

The advantages of this are that you can use this for higher loads and it has a better stretch capacity. It’s also considered better for the load retention that you need. It’s also better in terms of memory, so it’ll stay in a tight manner for a much longer time period. It’s also resistant to tearing, and it’s great for loads that have edges which are sharp. 

This tends to be more expensive though, so the costs of this do tend to be a problem for others. It’s also got a chance that it might not be as clear, due to the crystallization that happens with this.

Cast Stretch Film 

This is made with cast extrusion, and in this process, they utilize a die that’s horizontal, and from there, they melt the plastic, force this through that horizontal die, and from there, it then sits flat, and it comes out in a shape that’s flat.  The size of this does determine how thick it is.

It then goes through some nip rollers that are chilled, and then, the trim is then made in a way that’s a specified type of width, and this is done after they cool this film. The film then gets pushed over the other chilled rollers, and further cooled. Then, at the end of this, is where the film gets placed, and they get packaged into cases so that they can be shipped. 

It’s much cheaper, and it usually costs a lot less. It’s also better for clarity and optics too, since the film gets cooled down faster during cast extrusion, and the crystals are far less here. 

They also have better tear resistance too. The biggest disadvantage is that over time, it doesn’t really hold the shape, so it’s bad for load retention. So if you’re going to be using this for a long period of time, you may want to consider using the blown options, rather than cast, so that it keeps the same integrity that it’s had up to this point too. 

Why You Should Get a Sample Box 

If you’re someone who has a specific type of packaging, you might want to consider sample boxes. While it might seem like a good idea on paper, when you get a box and attempt to put it together, it may require a bit of tweaking. We’ll go over here, why you should get a sample box for your packaging needs.

Test the fit

Another thing to check before you ship it out is to test the fit. It’s hard to determine those dimensions that are exact, especially for products that are shaped weirdly. A sample box is a great way to evaluate the design and the structure, and also ensure that the packaging fits the product in a secure manner. When a box leaves room to move around, there is a chance that it will break. Plus customers will see that as a waste of space.

If it’s too small, then you risk product damage because you can’t offer any sort of cushion. You want to test this early, so that you can accommodate this product, so that it fits the needs that are there in a comfortable manner, and to help you get the best results that you can.

Check Quality 

You want to make sure that the printing, the finishes, and the like look good. While it might be good on paper to have some kind of finish, when you get the finished product, it might not look good. This is important, because a good printing output helps to showcase the brand to others better.

If your artwork wasn’t actively converted correctly, you can work with the designer to help with this. You may need to fine tune the details, and produce samples so that it’s good, and appealing to the customers. Checking quality early on, before you order boxes, will help you spend less down the line, and improve the way that the box communicates to others.

Add Finishing Touches

Finishing touches are good, because they let you find the flaws you didn’t see within the proofs. Sometimes, the proofs might look good, but when you get the sample box, you may want to tweak the fonts, adding some minor modifications to ensure that the product that you get at the end does look good. A lot of businesses blind themselves to the errors, and they may not care about it. but you know who will care about it?

The customer. A lot of times, customers have eyes like hawks, and they will notice those design flaws. When you get a box, make sure that all finalized tweaks are done so that you’re not getting customers upset. Plus, if you do have a good box, but a customer has a suggestion, you can add it down the line.

First impressions matter, and it’s vital to have a box that looks good, and one that showcases the best work possible. A sample box allows you to properly judge the box before it’s shipped out to customers.

There are tons of options for samples too, and you can ask for existing samples, which are there to help you determine if the thickness, the stock, and the printing or cutting is best for this. You can also test the package durability as well with existing samples.

You can also get custom ones from certain retailers, and these are made with you in mind, giving you an idea of what this will look like when it’s produced, giving you a feel for the quality, and it can also help you  determine whether you need to change things or not. Overall, get a sample, and make the changes now before it’s too late. 

What Freeze Drying Food Is 

If you’ve heard about freeze drying food and packaging, and have been curious about this, you’re not the only one. Many people want foods that are shelf-stable, and according to the current reports, this trend has grown. A lot of customers are moving towards items that aren’t perishable, and they want to have foods that are freeze-dried, making this immensely popular. 

For those just learning about this, you might wonder what it is, and here, we’ll go over this newfound technology, and why people are jumping on this. 

What is It? 

This is basically called lyophilization, which is basically the dehydration of food, where the moisture is then taken out, and it prevents the spoilage of items, building a better shelf life. 

Normal dehydration gets rid of a bit of the heat, but freeze drying is done on super cold levels of temperatures. 

This is actually considered to be the ultimate method to dry things, since this preserves various nutrients, the compounds, the texture, the color, even food flavor. But the downside to this, is that it can cost a lot, which is why this wasn’t limited to food production for those who are in space, specialty foods, and some sports foods that athletes eat.

Nowadays though, there is more freeze dried foods than ever before, including convenience store foods and the like, and there are many companies getting onto this as well. 

How this works 

It’s a process, and it uses something called sublimation, which is basically a process of changing the water that’s free within foods from solid into glasses, such as water vapor, without hitting the liquid levels either. It’s complicated, and it requires three parts.

The first, is the freezing part, which is the most important. It gets below triple point, which is another word for past the different phases, and is usually done with atmospheric pressure.

Then, after that you get sublimation, the drying part of this, lowering your pressures, and adding the heat to make this start to sublimate. This creates a vacuum that controls some pressures, speeding up the process of this as well. 

Finally, you’ve got absorption, and this is the process that’s the second part of the phase of drying, where it gets rid of the water that’s not frozen in there, and it usually increases this temperature to slightly past 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

The foods to Try 

There are tons of foods that can be freeze dried, but some of the most common ones are as follows: \–  veggies and fruits 

  • Grains and some legumes 
  • Teas, coffee, and juices 
  • Whole meals 
  • Legumes and grains 
  • Meats, eggs and seafood 
  • Sweeteners and some spices in liquid form 

Some of the most popular freeze-dried foods that people like to have are strawberries, bananas, milk, coffee that’s instant, chili con carne, syrup, and also pad Thai. 

These are usually stored and packaged within different spaces, and when it’s done correctly, this can last up to 25 years.  How does it make it necessary? Well, usually the environment protects this. 

It needs to be in areas that are cool, before 70 degrees, are nice and dry so that they’re not humid, don’t have oxygen in there, since it can reduce the oxidation from happening, and finally, it has to be dark, since some of the antioxidants will decrease when the sunlight hits them 

If you’re interested in these foods, consider adding these to your lists of foods to package, and also some of the other great foods that you can have as well. Try it today to see if you like it. 

What are the True Costs of Repackaging 

One thing that’s incredibly frustrating for companies is repackaging. When products are wrongfully packaged, or defective, this causes repackaging. While a lot of packaging suppliers do like to have repackaging, since it increases revenue, the best way to do this is to not have to repackage the products. Most places want to see you save some money. When you repackage stuff, it costs more labor, time, and money, which is why a lot of companies would like to avoid this sort of thing. But a lot of companies don’t even think that it’s a huge deal and repackaging usually only costs a couple hundred dollars. 

But that’s going to happen every so often, and that causes a lot of things to add up super quickly, and you can have thousands over the year lost from this. When it’s not unchecked, it’s very costly.

So now that you get the costs of this, what can you do to save yourself money with repackaging, and how can you prevent it from happening?  How costly is it? It’s much more costly than one might think when they first look at this.

First thing is that it causes materials to be wasted. This is usually a self-explanatory cost, but   when you repackage stuff, you have to get new materials, new products, and the like, and that adds up.

Another place where it’s wasteful is the labor. For most packages that must be done over, you’ll have to waste more labor, costing double or even triple what it normally should, especially if you have to fully repackage everything that’s there. It also diminishes productivity.  If you’re repackaging 5% of the products for example, you’re wasting 5% of that time that could be for packaging new stuff on this. 

It also wastes energy in an environmental sense. You’re wasting the materials, spending more energy to get the package redone. This is actually harmful for the environment, whether you want to admit it or not. It also creates frustration, which for humans, impacts the morale of people, and reduces productivity.

Finally, you’re also creating a lot more trash too. Those scraps that you accumulate begin to get a lot worse, and that includes storage, handling, and even disposal, so it can also, along with the environmental impact, just be incredibly wasteful for a lot of people too.

So what can someone do? The best way to prevent this, is to do a line audit. That way, you can look at the source of where the problem is, handle this wherever you can, and do something about it too. 

Do you need stuff repackaged 

If you’re constantly repackaging things, or wondering why that’s going on, the first thing you must do is figure out where the problem is coming from.

You’ll want to look at the package itself and figure out exactly the location of where everything’s going wrong.

Depending on the line size, and the like, this also may require you to do other things to help reduce the labor costs, but it’s an investment.  You should always make sure that you check the packaging line, resulting in finding, fixing, and also replacing the issues.

The best thing to do, is to get a supplier on this, and have them look at everything with a fine-toothed comb, in order to ensure that any bottlenecks and the like are then refused, and also fixed before they get worse.

Fix the repackaging line, do something about it, and you’ll begin to notice the changes that happen with your packaging line. 

All About Void Fillers 

For packaging and shipping, you’ll want to make sure that you fill the box correctly as well. Void fill is something that’s used to aid with this, especially when it comes to both shipping, and packaging the products correctly. 

What they Are 

They’re basically a kind of material that’s used for one reason: to fill those gaps that are left within your packaging, used to protect your products as they’re transported, and to protect them from moving about, and being a natural shock absorber.  When you see this for a practical use, you’ll notice that it also offers a natural aesthetic too to the packaging.

The right void fill must be determined by how you’d like it to be cushioned, and the protection along with the padding that’s needed, and the packaging weight. 

Paper Void Filling 

This is very cost-effective, and it’s more than just using paper. Even packaging or newspaper, or crinkled paper or tissue paper is a kind of void filler. While it’s not as strong as the rest, this is the most eco-friendly of the items for the sole reason that it can break down, so if you want to utilize older scraps this is the best way to do this.  It also isn’t as visually appealing, because it can look dirty and messy. 

Filler Wraps 

This is a filler wrap that allows for your products to be protected. The most common one of those is bubble wrap, and it’s used as a protective and cheap means.  It’s got the downside however, of this is not as sustainable as the paper options, so it’s why some people don’t really like it. 

Craft or corrugated paperboard is another one, and this is a more eco-friendly sort of means, and they’re much prettier than bubble wrap, but they don’t absorb the shock as well, and they’re not very malleable. 

Foam Sheeting 

These are sheets that aren’t around just the product, but within the box, and they’re basically a type of protection that’s there between the box itself, and the product that’s in there. 

It’s absorbed in the shock, and while it’s usually good for fragile cookware and glass, this can sometimes cause scratches and dents in some cases. 

Another big thing is that they aren’t very eco-friendly, and they tend to be a waste after you’ve used them once. They also tend to make the packaging much bigger, so if you’re trying to save some money on shipping, you may want to look elsewhere. 

Peanuts 

Peanuts or packaging peanuts are usually known as packing popcorn and are basically loose-fill kinds of packaging that fill up those empty gaps, especially ones that don’t feel uniform. 

They tend to be made either through Styrofoam, or biodegradable options, and are made from cornstarch and wheat types, and they’ve become a new, popular way for you to use this type of filling. 

The packaging peanuts tend to be a lot more eco friendly when made this way, and also cost less energy for you to make them. They also dissolve in water bodies easily, so you don’t have to worry about polluting anything.

The biggest downside, however, is that they tend to be a lot more costly, so if you want to use this, discuss it with your business, as they can sometimes take a lot more out of your budget.

It’s good to get void filling but making sure that you have the right one will help improve your chances of the packaging being safe, and worth it, so assess your options and make a decision from there. 

What to Look for in a Packaging Supply Company 

Packaging plays a major role in most businesses. It’s also the first thing that customers experience when you get a buy from them, and it’s the best way to offer the best branding for this. It is also what ensures that the product does reach the customers in the optimal condition, and it offers better customer satisfaction along with better customer retention too. 

Getting a packaging company that is reliable for the job is not only a necessity, but it’s something that’s essential. Here’s what you should make sure that you look for when choosing packaging supply companies. 

Their Product Range 

The product range is a big part of this, as it’s something that tells you exactly what they all offer, the products that they can give to you, and anything else that they can offer. You should know exactly what they’re offering, and how you can consolidate it to make things a whole lot easier. 

You should also be mindful of the lead times on products, so that you’re on top of the stock for packaging, and to make things easier. 

Pricing That Works 

A lot of people worry about pricing for their packaging. You should be mindful of the quotes that you also look at as well. You shouldn’t sacrifice the customer service and quality to save a few bucks though. The goal is to be balanced, and to make sure that you’re getting top value for the money that you’re putting into it. 

A Supply chain that Works 

Supply chains are vital for making sure that you don’t mess up the packaging supply. If the supply chain doesn’t become strong enough, you’re not going to have enough stock because of many problems. You should check the testimonials of the company before you decide, as they can help to choose the option that best fits your needs. 

Their Expertise 

A packaging expertise is something else that you should have. If you know the industry that they offer and operate within, they’ll also offer you a service which tends to be more reliable. 

Packaging companies should have some sort of expertise on the solutions and expertise that’ll help you supply the proper packaging needs.  You may never be able to really function without someone who knows this information, since they can make the ideal packaging solutions that work. 

You should also make sure that they also offer custom product packaging too. Custom products and packaging let you transfer and offer proper branding to your packaging, offering the most consistency that the brand can utilize. 

Good Customer Service 

You should always make sure that you also have a packaging company that’s got good customer service. You should make sure that if there are problems, they’re easy enough for a person to reach. 

You should look at the customer service options that are there, and also make sure that they fit the needs of your business. If you know that they have quality customer service, then you should be good to go. 

Loyalty Programs 

Finally, loyalty programs are always a good option. If you’re looking to save some money, a good loyalty program is an incentive to save lots of money and get some serious discounts. 

You can also take advantage of this, and the potential that these packaging supply companies offer are worth looking into. 

If you’re someone who is looking to get new and better packaging options, then you’re in luck. This is definitely what you should use to vet all of this, and make sure to follow this whenever possible. 

Why Get Packaging Now 

If you’re looking to figure out whether or not buying packaging is good to do right now, the short answer is yes. This is something that should’ve been purchased otherwise. While it may seem lie you can’t, cause you can’t turn back time, but buying packaging at the last minute is not something that’s encouraged by many. 

This isn’t just a bad idea, it’s a costly one, as this is one that causes a ton of headaches that you don’t want. Plus, if you’re struggling to get things sent out, the last thing you want is some packaging to not be there. We’ll go over why this is important now, and also the best ways to buy in our current world. 

Why buy it Now? 

If you’ve been living under a rock, you probably haven’t heard of the supply chain and labor shortages. But for most of us, we know about all the shortages, the conflict that is happening internationally, and a sea of other issues.  The packaging that you need for the future should be grabbed today. 

This is something that may seem like a bold claim, or just a cheesy marketing tactic, but that isn’t the case. You should get the packaging that you need for the future today, up to about 12 months or so. 

The reason for This 

The pandemic, the war with Ukraine, and other black swan events have been causing a lot of problems with the materials and machinery that is needed. In many cases, the supplies and equipment that you need have a ton of lead times which can impact when you get it. That’s why, you need to buy the materials that you need today, and this is something that prevents it from getting off weeks, even months too late.  So what are the factors that are causing all of this. 

The availability of packaging and the materials for packaging are important. This is one that’s become a major snafu due to the major material shortages, and right now, the current machinery has practically no availability. The demand for this is starting to increase, but if you get the future purchases done now, you can avoid paying the premium prices down the road. 

How do you know what’s availible though? Well, talking to someone to help you with this can help you find alternatives if there is nothing, or where to buy the actual packaging that you may need. 

The second thing is the lead times. While the materials and machinery may have lead times that seem normal, some items are so out of stock that it can take up to 13 months to get these. But if you talk to someone to help you find the right packaging that you need, you can get the best packaging based off the lead times and the feedback that’s there to ensure when you’re ready for this. Ignoring this does impact the ability to get items when you absolutely need them. 

Before Buying 

With that of course, you should also make sure to ask questions about the machinery used for packaging and get all of the information that you need right away to make the purchase possible. 

Plenty of people benefit from this, and there are a lot of great ways to find packaging ahead of time. lots of times, the right packaging is there, you just have to go and look for it. With that said, if you think that there is a chance that something is going to be out of stock, then you should make sure to get it to them sooner than later.