When companies look for a new packaging supplier, they often focus one thing: pricing. While pricing is certainly a factor, it is far from being the most important. Hopefully, after reading this post you will agree wholeheartedly. When you find a supplier that checks the boxes outlined below, your chances of making a successful transition will be excellent.
Roughly in order of importance, here are six attributes your new supplier must have.
1. Reliability
Packaging should never be considered low priority, a necessary evil, or a commodity. When a packaging product arrives late, or if the quality is poor, the effect on your operation could be as serious as a shut down production line, inability to ship, and/or excessive product damage.
The most important thing to weigh in a new packaging supplier is reliability. Ask for the data on the firm’s fill rates, on-time deliveries, and returns/rejections. During the vetting process take note of how promptly they return phone calls/emails and how thoroughly they follow-up.
2. Quality Products
It’s tempting to settle for lower-grade packaging products to save a little money. However, due to reasons just noted, skimping on quality can be expensive. At the very least, your new potential supplier should have a good-better-best selection of your key packaging products, so you always have options.
3. Stability
Assess the stability of both the packaging distributor and the manufacturers it represents:
- How long has the distributor been in business? Is it financially stable? Does it have its own staff, or does it rely on third parties for fulfillment or customer service? In today’s gig economy, many companies are a patchwork of independent agents. If the distributor has a full staff and warehouse facilities, it has far more control over getting you what you need when you need it.
- Are the manufacturers represented by the distributor established, with solid reputations? Packaging manufacturers come and go; some are much more reliable than others. Be sure to investigate.
4. Creativity
The time will come when you need packaging design solutions or packaging process improvement of some kind. Does the potential distributor have the expertise to create affordable and sustainable packaging design and recommend alternatives that increase throughput, reduce storage requirements, improve ergonomics, and other improvements critical to your operation? The biggest and most long-lasting savings in packaging come from just this sort of activity.
5. Overall Fit
If you take on this new packaging supplier, will you be a big fish in a little pond, or a little fish in a big pond? Typically, it is to your benefit to be a big fish, as you will be prioritized whenever a problem or emergency arises. However, the answer is not always clear-cut. Large, national distributors have the widest possible selection of products and services, but service tends to be impersonal and not very flexible. Smaller distributors have a narrower range of products and services but provide very personal service and can be as flexible as necessary.
Also, make sure a new supplier can scale with you. If you outgrow your supplier, you will have to start the process of a new supplier search all over, probably at a time when you’re too busy to give that project the attention it deserves.
6. Pricing
Pricing of course cannot be ignored. Pricing that is too high means either the packaging supplier is not really suited to meet that particular demand, or they misunderstood the type of product or service requirement you’re looking for.
At the other extreme, you know what they say about something that is too good to be true. Exceedingly low prices means either the supplier is offering an inferior product or intends to provide bargain basement service along with the bargain basement price.
Packaging suppliers best fitting your needs will quote competitive prices that are justified by the quality and service that go along with the products.
Let’s Talk!
If you are looking for a new packaging supplier, or know someone who is, we welcome a chance to be considered! Please call us at 630-551-1700 or contact us through the website to learn more about our capabilities.
Related posts:
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/blog/how-to-find-a-great-domestic-packaging-supplier/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/blog/4-ways-to-know-you-need-a-new-packaging-supplier/