There truly is no substitute for experience, and we have a lot of it. Next year will mark our 19th year in business, and with that considerable amount of time comes a lot of insight into this ever-changing industry. We do not use the term “experts” lightly, and we would never claim to be industry-leaders unless we truly believed it and had proven results with hundreds of customers and millions of boxes. Our cost-saving packaging tips are mutually beneficial because we save future customers bottom line dollars, and we save time, effort and frustration in avoiding selling something the customer is not fully satisfied with or doesn’t align with their long-term needs. We want long-lasting relationships, and any good relationship is built on trust, not on selling the most expensive packaging that isn’t a good fit for your products.
Take Advantage of Quantity Discounts/Price Brackets
This applies to all of our packaging products, where ordering in higher volumes will result in lower per unit prices. As a specific example, ordering 1500 instead of 1000 (minimum) corrugated boxes can see savings of about 10-15%. In paperboard, the unit price difference between a 1,000 unit and 2,500 unit order can be as high as 50% or more. In other words, a product paperboard carton that costs $1.00 at 1,000 pieces might only cost $0.50 at 2,500. For this reason, sometimes our minimum may be 2,500 pieces, but it depends on sizing/graphic requirements. For mailer envelopes, the difference between a single case order and multiple cases can mean savings of 20% or more per unit as well. It all has to do with setup time, as for the most part, setup time is typically longer than it takes to actually run the order, so once the machine is running, we want it to run for as long as possible. This could mean substantial savings to you if you find the right sweet spot quantity. Keep in mind also that ordering in bulk will allow you to most economically ship the finished product to your doorstep or fulfillment/storage facility, resulting in additional savings over the long run.
Utilize Low-Cost/Low-Minimum Envelopes
As mentioned above, mailer envelopes can be ordered in as low as one case quantities, even custom printed flexographically, or digitally! Case sizes are generally 200-500 mailers, and these can be a great, affordable alternative when the product being shipped does not require the protection of a shipping box. Start up costs are low, as print plates are not needed on digital prints, and for flexographic, plate pricing is $150.00 per color needed. They are also flat, easy to store and can often ship UPS ground anywhere in the country for less than $50.00 per case.
Add on Inside Print for Free!
It sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t. Printing inside used to mean 25-30% higher cost per unit due to the added machine time needed. With today’s modern equipment, most corrugated die cut mailers and RSCs can be printed inside and outside at the same time in one pass. This means the pricing per unit is the same, pending the amount of colors needed on each size. There is an added print plate cost associated with printing the inside, but this is a one time expense.
Connect with Our Structural Design Team Today
This is unique to Salazar Packaging, because most packaging suppliers do not have our structural design capabilities, and they are not accessible to potential customers who want to discuss strategies, ideas and their vision prior to an order. As always, you can schedule a packaging design consultation with one of our team members for FREE and with no future obligation. We are always willing to give you our time and insights. Structural design is the key to custom packaging cost-savings. From finding out how to reduce packaging skus, reduce unnecessary void fill and excess packaging waste, reducing your packaging size, or eliminating damages/returns, this is all accomplished with a good and experienced structural design team.
Please Contact Us Today
As always, if you have any questions, one of our branded packaging advisors is standing by to assist, with decades of experience behind them. Want to know more about cost saving packaging tips? Please call us at 630-551-1700 or contact us via email at www.SalazarPackaging.com.
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