Friday 15 September 2017

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. 


Monday 10 July 2017

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. 


Tuesday 13 June 2017

How to Choose the Perfect boxes

There are a few ways to choose the right boxes, especially Chinese takeout boxes. Here, we’ll go over how to choose the perfect takeout box, and something you should always consider.

The Size Matters 

The right size is important, because you want the food to fit inside the box without it being squished down. 

Here are the primary sizes for Chinese takeout boxes: 

  • Small fits a meal, or a singular serving of rice and noodles 

  • Medium, which is good for two or three different servings, especially if you’re sharing or have a small family 

  • Large is best for family feasts, or if you’re having a party. It’s a lot of food, and having a big container prevents spillage. 

Leak Proof is your best friend. 

One of the most important parts of Chinese takeout is that you want to choose something that is leak proof. This is because there are some instances where the leak proof box will help. 



Here are some things to remember: 

  • The kung pao and sweet and sour sauces will leak through weak boxes, and makes the food really soggy 

  • Noodles and hot soups generate moisture, which can ruin the food and the experience that you have 

  • You should choose a box with a liner, as this stops the sauces from fully leaking out of the box 

  • Leak Proof boxes aren’t just liners, but they also have latches to stop leaks, and double walls for an enhanced experience. 

  • Choose the type of leak proof boxes you need based on your menu.   While light sauces might be okay, a heavy sauce or a hot soup will need some leak proof protection additives added. 

Go microwave Safe 

You also want to make sure that you have a box that’s microwave safe. That’s because chances are, there will be leftovers. If the box isn’t, it could be dangerous, and ruin the experience of a customer. Paper boxes are the most popular, but also choose boxes that are microwave safe. That means that the box has a coating atop it that will be used to tolerate plastic, heat, and the like. Don’t use metal or plastic boxes, as they’re not suitable for this. 



Dividers and insulation 

Now, there are some unique boxes that are worth mentioning when choosing takeout boxes.The first are dividers. They’re being used these days to keep the dishes that are different separated out. It also may stop your sauces from being mixed together, so that the fried rice is tasty, and not a mushy mess. The other one is insulation.   This is perfect for hot soup, or spring rolls that just got done. This is preferable, since they will keep the heat inside. alternatively, vented boxes for colder dishes also prevent the ongoing threat of condensation to your foods. 

Get sustainable 

Finally get sustainable boxes. In our world, ecofriendly does matter a lot, but you also want to make sure you get a takeout box that matters. 

Takeout boxes made from materials that are recyclable or are made to be recycled definitely are important. Biodegradable types of options are becoming more available, so you can feel good when you eat your food. 

You should also look for takeout that’s crafted with recycled items including cardboard, and paper.. This does reduce one’s need to cut down trees, and conserves the resources that matter too.You should always look for the recycling symbol on the box, which is the triangle with numbers. 

Choosing the right takeout box matters, and you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes.


Friday 17 March 2017

Shipping Supplies 3

There isn’t much in this world that I hate. I mean I can think of a few things. Wet shoes, hairless cats, anchovies on pizza, you know… the normal stuff. But there is one thing in particular that can really cream my corn, so to speak, when it happens. And that is when I order something from a company and I’m all excited about it, but then when it finally arrives, it’s damaged. And the reason it’s damaged is because the box got damaged. Now, I know sometimes accidents happen. I’m not saying they don’t.  But when your box that used to be a square is not a lopsided rectangle, it’s not a huge stress to realize a problem had to occur. Now, where that problem happened, that’s the mystery. One I may never solve. But I do have a few recommendations for any other business owner, like myself, who would like to avoid these types of situations with their own customers.

 


First things first, we need to have an honest conversation about your shipping supplies and the quality of materials you are using. Of course, a lot of this will depend on the products you are selling, but it is always a good idea to splurge where you can on quality boxes and envelopes in order to ensure your products arrive to your customers in the same way they left your store or warehouse. And contrary to popular belief, not all packaging supplies are made the same. Unfortunately, figuring out which are superior is a matter of trial and error. 

 

Another important aspect to making sure your customers have a good experience with shipping, is the carrier you choose to use. And I won’t name specific names, but just like packaging materials, not all shipping carries are the same either. In fact, you will find that there are some that are far superior to the others, but again, some of this is dependent upon your shipping needs and what the carrier can accomplish for the best price possible.


 

All that to say, you can be as careful as a whisper in a china shop and have the best quality shipping supplies and the best mail carries, and things can still go wrong. It happens. But thankfully there’s shipping insurance for that, you just need to make sure that you have the customer service covered on your end, because you can surely expect an angry phone call or two from a customer who is less than pleased with how their package arrived. 

 

Now of course, you can always get those crazies who see one little nick or dent and want a refund because they’re convinced that their package is now ruined. And as a good business owner I recommend catering to them, because one bad review can spread like wildfire, whereas a happy customer rarely says anything. (But as the saying goes, sometimes no news is good news.) Just make sure you have them send the original package back. (Maybe at their expense…just kidding…but not really.)

 


In summation, if you want an all-around good experience from start to finish with your ecommerce customers, no detail is too small to go unnoticed, especially when it comes to your packaging and shipping quality. Because you can have the best products in the world, but if it never reaches your customers intact, well, that’s really not good for business.