Why Stand-Up Pouches are Becoming a Popular Choice

Packaging is one of the most dynamic aspects of any marketing strategy. Even with a strong brand, companies are still struggling to keep up with the new and innovative packaging trends. However, there are little-known packaging trends that have been present for decades, one of which is Stand-up pouches. This packaging solution is considered a classic and is found to be convenient and versatile by various companies. 

Stand-up pouches, also referred to as SUPs, are fitted with resealable zippers or spouts and can be used to carry powder, liquid, and solid items. This packaging solution is increasingly becoming popular among people who are looking to reduce waste and boost efficiency. A study by Freedonia Group revealed that the demand for SUPs in the United States is set to grow at a CAGR of 6% of $2.9billion by 2022. Here are some of the benefits of Stand-up Pouches. 

Benefits of SUPs to Consumers, Manufacturers, and Brands

As stated before, SUPs come with various benefits depending on the nature of a product. These include;

Resealability

Stand-up pouches are designed with resealable zippers or spouts, which is a plus to most consumers. Due it resealable feature, perishable items such as fruits can stay fresh a little longer. On top of that, this feature makes it easy for people with dexterity and other disabilities to use. 

Clear windows

Most SUPs are transparent, allowing the consumer to view the contents. This helps increase the chances of the customer buying the product. As highlighted by a recent article by Forbes. Most customers go beyond the list of ingredients included on the label. They want to see the physical product before making a decision on the purchase. 

Recyclability

This packaging solution is often recyclable. They are also made from recyclable and sustainable materials, one of the key ingredients to sustainable production in today’s market. However, these pouches tend to lose their recyclable nature when you introduce multiple layers, including other barrier layers. 

Few Materials

SUPS require little materials to make compared to other types of packaging. This means a reduction of manufacturing cost, waste, and lowering of the carbon footprint. Their light nature also means a reduction in transport costs. With increasing awareness of sustainable production, more consumers are looking for sustainable packaging solutions with a retail appeal. 

Durability

Despite their flexible nature, Stand-up pouches are hardy and can remain standing even when half-full. This makes the best choice for items or products that are used intermittently. 

Spouts

SUPs fitted with spouts on top all liquid and semi-solid products such as sauces to be easily poured without creating a mess. 

Handle

There are stand-up pouches fitted with a handle to ease carrying. This way, consumers don’t have to buy another bag to carry them in. 

Technomic’s 2018 study revealed that more people are replacing the conventional three meals a day routine with eating smaller items or snacks throughout the day. A trend that is supported by the growing use of SUPs. 

Manufacturing Challenges Facing Stand-up Pouches

SUPs have numerous benefits. However, they may not be the best choices for some people. This packaging solution may present certain challenges when it comes to packaging and manufacturing. Some of these include;

Machinery challenges- setting up and operating the filling machinery needed can be quite expensive.

Inefficiency- despite the pouches being an efficient means of storage, the filling system may prove unreliable since it is dependent on the speed of the current equipment. 

Unsuitability- not all products are a perfect fit for SUPs.

Protect you Packages

This year it is even more important that your shipping supplies be of the highest quality and ready to go.  It is 2020 and the covid-19 pandemic and nationwide riots have made shipping items more complicated.  With the uncertainty that is not only in the economy but in the simple ecommerce markets shipping items can be a little more scary or bring about a lot more uncertainty. So I want to go through a list of things to do rather you own a store, are shipping things to a friend, or just are receiving items.

If you are going to be sending an item then there are some things you can do to help keep it safe.  First is to order a custom box from an actual store that sells boxes.  Don't just go to Walmart and buy a box, go get a double thick or heavy duty box that can take a beating.  Why do I say this?  Well because riots have taken over lots of cities in the United States and if your package is caught in one it is better to have it hold up if it goes through that mayhem.  Then I would suggest you pack it with high quality shipping supplies.  

This means that you should pack it with peanuts, air pocketed plastic, or bubble wrap.  Making sure your items are packed so they won't move and have a cushion in case they get dropped or thrown is very important.  It is more likely now than ever that packages will face some harsh conditions and may even be attacked by a mob.  This is shocking, but it is important to make sure they are stronger than ever.

Get your items insured.  This is the next and most important part of shipping in todays market. Make sure you have insurance if you are the one who the liability falls on if the pacakge does not arrive or arrives damaged.  Many packages that go into rioting cities simply never come back out and are looted and stolen and you don't want to be the one with the liability and if you are you want to be insured.If it is going to be an expensive or irreplaceable item then at least get some compensation for it if it never makes it to you. If you are using USPS do not use their insurance company because they will 95% not pay out on it.  Buy independent insurance.

Moving Across the Country

When I graduated college I was a young inexperienced individual with the whole world ahead of me.  I had many choices to make that concerned where I would start my future.  I did lots of research on cities and jobs that I was qualified for and what amount I would need to make and where I could be the most efficient with my money.  Having debt to pay off I needed to live in an area that paid lots of money and the cost of living was low so I could pay debt off. This is a complicated equation in the United States because many different cities have very different economy’s and the pay to cost valuation is very different.  Eventually I landed on the idea of moving to Nashville Tennessee.  This decision was based off the fact that I was hired to do a job that would pay for a high education and allow me to get my doctorate degree for free.

I decided it was time to go look for a place to live in Nashville. After the highing process I had driven down there many times and had a good understanding of the layout.  While down there for one portion of my interview I decided to go apartment shopping.  I visited 5 different places in one day and finally made my decision.  From here on out I went shopping for shipping supplies to make sure I had the correct amount of boxes and tape for my trip. 

Next thing i had to do was find a way to get down to Nashville Tennessee the most economical way possible with all my possessions. I had just moved from college and still had all my old shipping supplies aka old boxes and most of my stuff was packed up.  Unfortunately the boxes were flimsy after the move and they were not going to make another trip.  So I decided to purchases new ones and it was a good idea in the long run.  Instead of having stacking issues I was able to rent a uhaul trailer and borrow a truck.

  With the proper boxes I was able to efficiently stack all my possessions in the trailer.  The trailer was able to be smaller do to the efficiency and I was able to borrow a truck to pull a smaller trailer and pay less money to move. I would suggest being efficient in all things and and it allowed me to move safely and for less money.

Buying the Right tape

Nothing can be more frustrating then purchasing the wrong materials for work.  Having products not only fail you but your co-workers is an annoying and disheartening occurrence.  When products are unable to be shipped due to lack of proper shipping supplies being ordered it can not only be costly, but possibly career ending. Yes, that does sound extreme, but have you ever missed shipping a batch of marketing materials to a client by an entire week due to having the wrong tape and boxes?  It sounds like a simple fix, but in some cases it really isn't’.

So make sure you have a supply schedule put in place so you won’t be caught off guard.  I would suggest making sure your tape, boxes, and labels are ordered a week ahead of time before they are needed to be used.  This sounds excessive, but if your order changes or they send scotch tape instead of packing tape, you will have time to fox the problem.  It also gives you time to correct the unexpected visual problems that may occur.

It is amazing how important looks can be when it comes to shipping. If you are going to be using high end products and shipping to high end individuals looks are everything.  Having a dark colored packing tape can ruin the aesthetic look if the tape needed to be clear. So make sure your shipping supplies are color coordinated and also efficient. 

Don’t always go after the cheapest products.  Sometimes it is worth paying the extra money for tape that will not only look good buy stick well.  Some tape streaks when it's pulled from the role and if it's clear tape it is very noticeable.  It looks bad.  Can you imagine shipping a 1 thousand dollar marketing proposal and the tape makes the package look like its worth 2 dollars! Yikes, scary, but also it's a very important point. Don’t cheap out on things that matter.

Make sure you are purchasing the correct quantity. This sounds trivial, but it can save your company thousands of dollars by knowing how much you need and buying the proper amount in bulk. Packing tape comes in all different shapes, roles, and sizes. So map out each project by the correct size and amount.  Once you know what each project takes, you can order the amount for projects scheduled in the future. This means you may be able to buy in bulk.  In general you can save as much as 50% the cost of tape by buying a higher quantities. If you are shipping products all the time this can be thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars saved every single year. Yes, it is tedious to take the time to measure the quantity of tape per job but it can certainly be worth it in the long run.

How to Balance Sustainability and Opulence in your Product Packaging

Luxury packaging is important for a lot of brands. When you give them a package that looks good and also feels good, they’ll know that you care about what’s inside, generating excitement and understanding amongst customers.

But the main problem with luxury packaging is balancing sustainability with a product packaging that really feels nice.   

High-end branding and consumer experience matters, so make sure you have this precarious balance in place. The challenge of balancing the opulent design with the practices and materials of eco-friendly packaging is a big factor in this, and here, we’ll go over how you can be sustainable while also giving your product packaging something that shines. 

High-Quality sustainable Materials Matter 

There are some high-quality sustainable materials that work well. glass is the first one that many companies go to. Sure it’s fragile, but it’s also incredibly sustainable, being one of the best reusable packaging ideas that you can try. It does require some planning for shipping and product optimization so the glass doesn’t break, but if you can master that, this is a great option for luxury gift boxes and such.

The second one is metal. Metal packaging such as aluminum and the like are all great options. Again, sustainable and also looks and feels good. metal has a feeling of value to it, which can as well be a huge part of the overall feelings that come about with this. 

You should also consider paper. Not all paper is going to work, so make sure that it’s responsibly sourced. But, if you do this, you’ll definitely have people clamoring for your items. These days, there’s a lot more sustainable luxury gift boxes, as they are in demand by many of the customers at hand. 

Reusable and Refillable 

Another thing that you should consider as well are eco friendly features of design, including refillable sorts of containers or reusable types of packaging.   Refillable items are great, as they allow a customer to fill them up again and again while using them.

Reusable is the same way. If you can show that the packaging can be used to hold the item, the customer might be less inclined to toss it, as they see that there’s a benefit to keeping the box for display purposes and whatnot.

This is a good way to create an eco-friendly design, and in the world of packaging, you’ll be glad that you did. 

The Benefits and Challenges of Doing This 

Why should you care about luxury packaging being eco-friendly? Well, it’s because a lot of people are looking for companies that are focused on sustainability, especially in the world of luxury.

You want to make sure that you align the prestige of the brand with the growing need for sustainability within this market. All of that culminating together can play a major part.

The biggest challenge that comes with this, is the cost factor. The costs for luxury packaging is a lot already, but going sustainable is important as well. you want to make sure that the costs still bring profit margins.

The second one is sourcing. A lot of high-end and sustainable materials cost a lot, and you want to make sure you don’t compromise on the quality of design, ensuring that you’re getting the items from a good place.

But a lot of brands are using this. Many high-end makeup retailers and jewelry brands love to use this, as it helps create a feeling of excitement and design.

You’ll be glad that you did this, and the benefits of the packaging incentives that you put forth.

Budgeting for Packaging

For a lot of businesses, the first impressions matter. Offering the best unboxing that you can is great, but it can cost a pretty penny. For those looking to work out exactly what’s needed, can help with saving money from the different supplies that are there. Here are a few kinds of ways to ensure that you’ve got different packaging that fits the budget that you have.

A few things to :Look Into 

The first thing that you need to look into, is the different aspects of your business. Look at your products, what you’re planning to sell, and the types of products that are there. Do they tend to break? Will you have to transport them a certain way? Do they need to be protected from the elements? Are they perishable items? Or are they items like clothing that’s less inclined to be damaged?

These questions are vital for ensuring the practicality and the usage of the different packaging supplies that are out there.  Packaging that’s functional is your first thing, especially since it’s what will keep everything neatly in place. If the product is broken by the time it reaches the customers, they’re going to be upset. The next thing is you have to look at the way the packaging will look. Do you have a vision of what this might look like? Are you a fan of mailers over using regular cardboard boxes? There are different things to consider with this, and when you’re looking at the budget that you have you’ll get an idea of the right kinds of ideas to help you improve your packaging experience. 

Look into Different Suppliers 

There are tons of different suppliers out there and you’ll find that you want to find someone that fits the budget, offers you exactly what you need, and the like. Some even offer bulk discounts, especially if you buy a lot, or other types of options. Always look at the reviews too, since this can help you determine the suppliers. 

Set Aside an Emergency Fund 

For some people, they have the packaging planned, but then, they find out that the packaging that they used won’t fit, or maybe, you’ve run out. This can be a bit scary, but to save yourself money, being planned in advance is important for you. Packaging is vital for branding and practicality, and you should make sure that you have the packaging that’s absolutely necessary to use. 

Make Sure the Options are Correct for your needs 

You also want to make sure that the printing and branding is correct for your needs.  There are different printing options for you to choose from this. If you’ve got small orders, you can use digital printing, and it’s good for testing the packaging, but usually, it doesn’t look as good. Flexo printing is usually a bit more expensive, but this is one of the more cost-effective ones. Litho printing is good for those who want to have high-quality packaging for your needs. 

Be wise with spending. 

Finally, make sure that you spend correctly, and don’t spend too much, or spend too little.  If you’re looking to get products that are cheaper, you’ll be able to spend a bit wisely on packaging on this and spend less. For luxury packaging, you should try to spend a little bit more so you don't come off as cheap.  Don’t’ be a frivolous individual with this, but also, make sure you don’t’ skimp out on his that it makes you look badly. Consider all of these to help with offsetting the costs and making you a better person for spending wisely. 

Packaging Designs for some toys you have

 If you’re someone who loves to craft some great, remarkable toys that you will want to sell to others, then you’re not alone. Here are some great toys that you can utilize, and those that will definitely work. Whether it’s puzzles, model cars, or even robots, these toys offer a unique perspective, and the packaging does offer this too. 

The first we are going to look at, is Dinky Toys, which is a British toy brand that definitely is worth checking out for the sole reason that it can offer some great product packaging to choose from.  They are famous for their model cars, with over eighty years of car making under their belts.  The recent product packaging was redesigned by a Belgian student by the name of Pierre Lorimer, who recently created new packaging for people to use. 

Antler is a popular playing cards company, and Ginger Monkey, an agency known for these cards, recently put together some nature, and they’ve managed to create beautiful forests, hills that are rolling, and even mountains that are snow capped on their packaging. They took real locations in California as their inspiration to create this. 

Now, let’s look at puzzles. If you’re someone who loves puzzles, you’re not alone. They’re timeless, and perfect for you to look at some puzzle packaging newer packaging to check out.  The recent packaging got inspired by different  pop culture and media.  You’ve probably wondered what other cool puzzle packaging there is. A lot of people who package these puzzles add to them unique imagery that’s clear and distinct. This also provides a story, and also tells those who love to put together puzzles what the character is supposed to look like on the packaging. 

Star Wars has been a super popular property for decades, and these days, the toys are able to combine packaging that communicates different features  of the different toys that are out there. They utilize different finishes to reinforce the quality of the products. Every side of this box is then utilized to further explain the software, and the hardware functionalities of such, which can be a great way for you to really sell the toy and its packaging. 

Finally, let’s look at some dart boards packaging. People do buy dart boards still. A game of magnetic, or regular darts is always a fun time for a lot of people. The packaging also reflects this, because you can get a dart board with some packaging that’s similar to the classic toys that are out there, and they also offer different toys with a 50s style sort of graphical nod.  It’s a great way to really market this, and to provide you with the right product packaging and design that you want.

When you’re designing toy packaging, you want to look at the types of people buying the toys, and then give them a unique demographic for them to work with. It can take a little bit of time in order to perfect this, simply because there are always people who want something different, and some customers or toys do need specific types of packaging to help with this. We hope, however, that these different packaging ideas bring you a packaging style that you can love, and one that will surely provide the packaging line with the right kind of items that you’ll be able to share with others. 

Toys and toy packaging is all the rage for a lot of people, and here we went over all of the fun, unique ways to really market this.