Packaging Supplies All Retailers Need

Whether you’ve got colored, paper bags or anything that’s sustainable, you want to make sure that you’ve got enough. With more and more worried about how eco friendly stuff is, it’s important that you also look at the eco-friendly aspects of some of you products  here are some of the best items to have, and also what you should replace the less eco-friendly items with, since they are useful based on the needs of a retailer, and what a person might want to use. 

Poly Bags 

For any items that are loose and small, you should get resealable or flat poly bags, which are good for small items that can be purchased in large quantities. Both manufacturers and retailers need this, especially if you do use fulfillment options. Craft and hardware stores, along with office suppliers definitely need this for their packaging. The beauty of poly bags is they’re perfect for larger or smaller items as well, so if you’re a bigger, or smaller retailer, you’ve got this covered. 

Packaging Safe for electronics 

If you’d like to sell anything that’s a form of an electronic, you want to make sure certain that all of the materials that are used in this are kept safe. Keeping a lot of the major items safe from shock and damage is important. That’s because typical packaging doesn’t dampen charges that happen, which results in the product actually not working period once it gets to the store. Poly bags, anti-static foam, bubble wrapping, labels, loose fill, tape, and a lot more are something that all packaging retailers should look at to get the job done. 

Storing aspects 

Organized storage is vital for all operations. That’s because, ensuring everything is in the right place and separated is important. Racks that are wired, shelving, and so much more are good for keeping everything together, and it’s something that lets you properly navigate all of your shelves, making everything so much better and more efficient. 

Cartons that Fold 

Folding cartons are great for a ton of different reasons, and they can hold charging cords, other accessories, and it does offer easier fulfillment options. The cool thing about folding cartons is that they do have specific types for specific industries, such as those to protect do cements and paper, which is good not just for regular products, but also other types f retailers too. 

Gifting Boxes 

Finally, we have gifting boxes, which are good for all businesses, especially for a retailer, since it can help with special items and packaging that offer a ton of major benefits. There are also gift wrapped types that are great and are convenient for a ton of shoppers.  Those such as jewelry boxes, or boxes for clothing in particular are some of the best. This is because they’re convenient, and they fit the items as needed. They can be boxed up, which means customers won’t need to browse different packaging places to get the right product sizes. You should also look at additives for this, and also make sure that they fit the packaging. 

If you need some tissue paper or crinkle paper to make the gift wrapping a bit more positive, and to really help it stand out during the holidays, that’s a great way to do it. Adding different little filler and packaging materials is something that does enhance your impression, and also lets you have the best gifts that you can from this. If you’re looking stand out, then definitely making sure that you have the right gift wrapping paper and packaging contents is one of the best ways.

The Three most common Problems with Packaging

When it comes to packaging, having the right kind of packaging is vital, and super important. With more and mor items being shipped to far-off locations than ever thought before lots of companies need to look at the best way to present all of their packaging. Companies also must consider the various issues that come with larger and more inflated requirements for packaging. Here are the three most common packaging problems that occur. 

Protection Issues 

We want something to be protected especially if we paid good money for it. Most of us have been there, where we get something, are excited to finally open it, and then it’s just broken and damaged. This is usually resolved through getting a replacement, but the problem is, the waiting period is long, frustrating, and it does lead to reviews that are negative, and future customer loss. While some of this is blamed on warehouse staff along with delivery drivers, the correct packaging is one of the most key factors that come out of this when it comes to protecting the items that are sent out as well. With custom packaging, you can make sure that nothing the company sends is damaged or is broken too. 

Waste 

Another big problem is the waste. By waste, we mean companies adding to much or too little packaging, and this eventually catches up in the long haul too, hurting the company both environmentally, and financially too. Customers don’t appreciate cleaning up packaging after they receive it, and too much packaging is something that’s a big no-no for businesses too. You want to make sure that the packaging that’s used is good for the environment and is safe for it too. 

Sustainability 

As more and more companies are going for green initiatives, there is a great deal of influence and responsibility that comes with the image overall. Now, more than ever before, customers want eco-friendly products and packaging, and want to feel confident in the companies that they support and buy from as well. 

There are different things you can do with this one. The best way to do this one is to look at the different kinds of packaging, and to see if there is something sort of changes you can make with this. Custom packaging is something that’s tricky too though, since a ton of suppliers usually make things the wrong or weird shape, but with a proper packaging supplier, this can be something that’s a thing of the past. 

You can definitely find someone that understands how to just make your packaging good for long-distance shipping, minimizes damage without going too crazy with the packaging.These three problems are where a ton of brands need to look at when they’re trying to make sure that they get the right packaging, and through the improving of packaging, you’ll be able to easily and creatively make the right choices. For a lot of people, building the right packaging business and brand is good for you, and you’ll be able to, with this as well, be able to vie customers what they want. 

You also can, with this too, also fix the other problematic packaging aspect, which is time. get quick packaging from a packaging supplier that doesn’t break the bank, is good for the environment, and also is not too excessive, but also accounts for the bumps and jars along the way. When you look into this, and you do take the proper precautions, you’ll be able to build a better, more rewarding packaging experience for your business as well.

Popular paper grades in packaging

A lot of industries and manufacturers do offer various materials that business owners can try out. With a lot of options, you may wonder the type of material that you want to use, since paperboard is the most common type, it’s versatile, and it comes in a variety of different grades of paper. There are different types, and it’s important to understand the difference between each. 

Clay-coated News Backboard 

Also known as CCNB, this is one that’s made from a combination of newsprint that’s recycled a mixed paper that’s secondary, and older corrugated kinds of containers. This is definitely used for folding cartons that are at a lower cost due to the quality of the printing and the lower tensile strength. 

Pet products, detergent, and other cartons use this. They do absorb a lot of water when the get wet, and while it is cost effective, this is usually one that a lot of people don’t use, simply because of how weak I tis the second water gets involved. 

Solid Bleached Sulfate 

This is a board type that’s the best for packaging of products, since it does pulp the fibers and proceeds to bleach it. It’s then refined, created into boxes, and the quality of the white parts of this on the outside and inside make the printing optimal. 

It’s good for debossing and embossing, spot UV printing, along with hot foil stamping since it does offer a higher grade quality. Confectionary, tobacco products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and items that are baked usually use these kinds of products for their packaging. 

Folding Box board 

This is one that’s made from a mechanically manufactured kind of material that is basically a pulp that’s been created to become more durable and strong too. The surface of this tend sot be smoother, offering the best opportunities for also making sure that you can get the best offset printing out there. 

While SBS is something that’s made from the total chemical pulp period, the folding box board uses a composition that’s stiffer, and much better. Both of these do utilize a virgin fiber that’s great for product packaging of all kinds. This is used for foods, different cosmetics, various pharmaceuticals, and also is used as one of the top substrates for packaging especially in India, because of how versatile this is. 

Kraft and Coated unbleached Kraft 

This is a type of packaging that’s something that’s becoming more and more popular since recycled packaging is becoming a lot more popular. Most of this is made from an unbleached wood pulp, and it is something that’s thicker, and much more durable in terms of construction. This is coated with polyethylene resins, and this is something that’s food-safe, and best for takeout too. 

This is versatile, safe for food, makes everything a lot more tear-resistant, and also is sturdy to grease and water, and great for those who want printing that is of a higher quality. While this is tear resistant, sturdy, and durable, this is also made with a clay that coats the top of it, which makes it one of the best for printing options. It’s important though that if you do use this, you consider the color of the packaging. It has the brown color from the wood pulp, so you should be mindful of the colors that are used. 

They’re great for a lot of packaging that offers a feel that’s natural. 

There are tons of other options, and you also need to look at the strength, durability, and the thickness of this, in order to figure out the best product for you. 

How to work with 3PL Companies

A 3PL company is something that can help with fulfillment, and it can help you get the most that you can, with appropriate pricing and many picks, with very little fees too. With ecommerce changing a lot during the pandemic, finding the right 3PL services can help you actually not have to increase prices, build customer fulfillment, offer proper operations and fulfillment centers which work well, and it’s important to look into. 

When’s it Time to Change 

Outsourcing your fulfillment is great, especially if you want an alternative to shipping from the comfort of your home. But when is it time to change your 3PL fulfillment center. Well for starters, if they’re screwing up orders, that’s a big sign. 

They’re in charge of your business, and when it entails you holding and shipping orders in ways that are secure, consistent, and quick, you need something that’ll make sure that you’re taken care of. Another time is when they’re not evolving with the market. Ecommerce is constantly changing, and the expectations that customers have aren’t the same as they were even a year or so again. Can the 3PL you’re using keep up with this? Do they have new technology, fulfillment centers, operations, and different facilities, then that’s fine, keep them. But if it’s a lot of the same thing, then you’re going to not be happy, and you’re going to realize that they’re not properly optimized either. Not all of the 3PLs that are there have the resources which are needed to keep everything there, so you will need something that does scale with you. 

The Growing Pains 

For some businesses, they start to experience what we call growing pains, where they start to grow immensely, but that comes with problems. The problems being that you’re outgrowing or about to outgrow the 3PL that you have. This does come with the territory of you also not working with a company that expands on the latest technology. 

But there are differ systems of inventory out there, and you want something that offers fulfillment and not just on-demand solutions. You need a warehouse that’ll grow with you, and that’ll be able to scale with you. This is another big red flag, since if they can’t expand with you, then it’s not worth investing in. This also applies to international instances too. International shipping ca put a strain on a 3PL, since they may only handle those domestic orders. But luckily, there are different ways to properly handle this, and different ways to truly benefit from this too. 

The Support Lacks 

The one thing you should also be mindful of, is inventory support. If you notice that there is a problem with updating the inventory, you need to know how to reach out to the current 3PL that you have and get the answers that you need in a way that’s timely. A 3PL is considered good in most cases if it is able to answer those hard-hitting questions that you have, and they are considered more than just a provider of services, but a partner to work with too.  You want someone who knows how to smoothly run the show without issues. ‘

Their support of course, has the intent to help you have a more transparent view of the operations of the business, and also be a partner that you can contact in order to improve and grow the business. With that said, making sur that you have a 3PL that will take care of you is important, since in a lot of cases, it helps.