Driven by economic and environmental concerns, packaging today has become lighter, more versatile and designed to satisfy more than one need. With innovative design, a shipping box can be a convenient and effective presentation box or carrying case. This design was inspired by a customer who...
We help our customers communicate through their packaging, but few jobs we’ve completed are as personally satisfying as the work we recently did for www.SeaOtters.com.
Spend a few minutes on their web site and you’ll understand why this organization is so concerned about the health and well being of this endangered species. This is an organization that deserves and needs our support, and I encourage you to visit their site to “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
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Like most industries, the corrugated business loves acronyms, and these are two of the most common.
RSC Boxes
RSC stands for “regular slotted carton” and is the typical box construction that results in four flaps on the bottom box opening and four flaps at the top opening. On a rectangular box, the smaller side panel flaps are the minor flaps, and the larger, longer ones creating the box length are called the major panels. The key point distinguishing an RSC box is that the major panels meet in the middle where they are typically taped together using plastic or water-activated tape.
FOL boxes
This acronym stands for “Full Overlap,” which is what the flaps in this case do. In some cases, two panels are cut so they extend all the way to the opposite side, but in many cases all four panels are cut and designed to completely overlap. The photo above clearly shows the difference in the flap lengths on a similar size carton.
When you first call Luna Sandals and are greeted by a recording of the friendly voice of the company owner and founder, introducing himself as Bare Foot Ted, you realize you are connecting with a unique company.
Ted and many of his staff are accomplished “barefoot” runners, and it was that passion for his sport that led him to create the premier huarache style sandal. I encourage every reader to visit the www.lunasandals.com web site and store to get a little flavor of this company, their people and the products they make.
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The term “so good it melts in your mouth” is over-hyped and so over used it has nearly lost all meaning. However, it really is an accurate description of the candy product made by one of our newest Globe Guard customers.
Barbary Brix is a San Francisco-based company that makes candy the way it used to be made before high-production equipment and cost-saving recipes became the norm. Check out the delicious assortment of unique flavors they offer on their online Barbary Brix candy store. My wife was almost immediately addicted to their “Salty Dog” flavor, and as one who enjoys nuts with his caramel, I am now a huge fan of “The Prospector.”
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We are very quickly becoming a leading source for stock size die cut mailer boxes that can be custom printed with YOUR name, logo, return address, etc. The photos included in this post show off two of our most popular stock mailer sizes that have been custom printed to create an attractive and unique look.
What’s the benefit of utilizing a stock size?
We are able to save our customers time and money if we can avoid making a cutting die and are able to use one of the dies we already have on hand. Depending on a number of variables, a new cutting die for a mailer of this type can cost $500 to $800. What is at times even more important is that using an already made die saves time, in most cases a minimum of one week.
I’ll put it bluntly but politely - most secondary packaging (boxes, tape, etc.) we receive from overseas is not very good. People have shared countless stories with us about boxes that smell funny, are weak, thinner than expected, don’t stack well, don’t hold up in shipment, etc. And it matters little whether the packaging originates in China, India or almost any place else on the globe.
Domestically produced boxes, even boxes like our 100% recycled content Globe Guard® boxes, are better and stronger than the vast majority of corrugated boxes that are used to ship the imported products we all purchase. It is widely accepted that when the US buyer negotiates a lower price with a foreign manufacturer, one of the areas that is most easily cheapened is the packaging used for shipping it here.
Programs that send new or promotional product samples to the home have been around for a while, but in most cases they are directed and financed by manufacturers eager to get their products into consumers' hands.
The Conscious Box is different in that manufacturers cannot “buy” their way into your home. The products are carefully reviewed and approved for their authenticity as well as for the value they deliver to subscribers. The program is also an excellent way for consumer/subscribers to learn about and try new fair trade or eco-friendly products offered by small- to mid-size manufacturers.
L’Oreal is serious about sustainability, and that commitment goes well beyond the surface. You might say like beauty, it’s more than skin deep.
They have proactively helped lead the cosmetics industry, making their products and primary packaging as sustainable as possible. I am pleased to say they also see the value of making their secondary packaging consistent with everything else they do and believe.
This world famous French company consists of 27 different brands, many of which are household names. Domestically in the U.S., they include retail consumer brands like Maybelline, Softsheen and Garnier, as well as professional product lines including Matrix, Redken and Pureology, to name just a few.
Evertune is a company that has received a lot of well-deserved applause for creating an innovation that is changing the world of music. The company’s lead product, the award-winning Evertune guitar bridge, is able to keep a guitar in perfect tune forever.
What also makes Evertune unique is company CEO Mark Chayet’s commitment to sustainable packaging that is quality, low cost and effective. Though to some those three requirements may seem almost contradictory, Mark was determined, and his search eventually led him to Globe Guard® products and Salazar Packaging.