Looking For Packaging That’s Just Right For Your Job?

Here Are Our Top Tips!

Whatever kind of business you run, there’s no doubt that at some point you’ll use industrial packaging of one kind or another – whether that’s small, personalised cardboard boxes or large, food-grade bulk bags. But with such a wide range on the market, how do you work out the right one for you?

1. Nail Your Criteria

There are a few things to think about before you start to look.

Is your packaging only being used once or does it need to be reusable? What about custom design? Does your packaging need to have your logo on it? Or be an unusual shape or design? What about your green credentials? If you want your business to be seen as taking sustainability and the environment seriously, you need to think really carefully about the industrial packaging you go for.

2. Find The Right Supplier

Once you’ve nailed your criteria – size, shape, durability, reusability and materials –  reach out to your existing suppliers to see if they can give you what you’re after. If not, go elsewhere. Don’t compromise on what you need for the sake of saving time. Remember that the packaging you use says as much about your brand as the products themselves. You don’t have to get the finished product from a single supplier, of course, and you might source the material from one and ask another to cut and prepare it for you.

3. Be Diligent With The Detail

While it might seem like you can source simple plastic bags online easily and pretty cheaply, you’ll be surprised at the variations you’ll be faced with. If you’re ordering in bulk, getting the small stuff wrong can be a costly mistake. So take your time and think about exactly what you need, before you buy. So things like – how many openings do you need and along which edges? Does it need to have a gusset at the bottom so it can stand up independently? And what about the grade of the material – can it cope with the weight of the products you plan to use it for? How will they fit into your production process? Do they need to be supplied flat in a box or would it be easier if they were on a roll? 

4. Consider Customisation

If you can’t find an ‘off the shelf’ solution, it might be time to try the customised route. Although this will generally bump up the costs, it might well be worth it. There’s a range of options you can go for, from simple branding printed on existing products to specific shapes and sizes. And if you do choose the custom route, while it might take a bit of time and cost to get the finished product right, you can often cut costs later by ordering in bulk once the design and die cutting tools are in place.

So, while buying a cardboard box to transport your trinkets or bulk bags to ship sand might seem quite simple on the surface, it really pays to make sure you get the details right, first time around – as it’ll save you bags of time and money in the long run.