Whether you are a small, new company with a minimal budget or a larger, well-financed company launching a new product or brand, you have many key decisions to make. Three of the most critical ones are: your web presence, who will be your 3PL, and your direct-to-consumer packaging.
Each of those priorities includes important subtasks. Building a web presence can quickly lead into the details of web design, social media and SEO. Your 3PL is extremely important because they manage your product and packaging inventory, fulfill your customer orders, as well as other services. Another crucial decision is selecting a packaging partner able to help you create the most effective graphic and structural packaging designs at the lowest possible costs.
Why your packaging matters to your customers.
Your packaging is the first tangible and real contact you have with your customers. Your web site tells them who you want to be. Your packaging, however, tells them who you truly are. A few of the things they learn about you and your company include:
- How customer friendly your packaging is. What is your recycled content percentage? Is that content industrial waste or consumer waste? And perhaps the most important question – is it recyclable, if so, how and where?
- Is it customer (you) friendly from a user/packer perspective. Does it minimize labeling or marking? How is it palletized, stored and shipped?
- Is your e-commerce package end user (recipient) friendly? Does the outside graphic design include or require any opening directions? Does your structural design include a tear strip or feature to make opening easier for your customer.
- Is your packaging eye catching and attractive? Great looking packaging does not have to be expensive if you have the experience.
- Did your packaging protect the product in shipment? Nothing makes a bad initial impression like a banged up, unusable product.
Why your packaging should matter to you.
In most cases, the highest line item cost you will experience is your product itself. Your second greatest cost is typically shipping, followed closely in most cases by the cost of packaging. Here are a couple of truths you will not find on that DIY printed box web site.
- Other than the cost of print plates, printing two or three colors does not cost much more if at all, compared to printing one color. If you want something really attractive, go for it! Print plates are a one-time cost. Your box’s appearance might be for years.
- At a plant with the right equipment, printing inside on a box may not cost much more than printing the outside surface. Again, the cost of print plates cannot be avoided but inside print is what sets one unboxing experience from the other.
- If you and your product demand a box that makes an obvious high-end impression, varnish, soft touch or other premium looks are available. These more exotic finishes are ideal for jewelry, medical, cosmetic and other exceptional direct to consumer products.
- Consider adding items like die cut inserts, dividers and partitions. They will save you time, prevent shipping damage, and also make a great impression for the recipient.
Early next year our company will be celebrating our 20th anniversary. We are amazed at how much the world of custom-branded paper-based packaging has changed in that time. Whether you need corrugated for greater e-commerce strength and protection, or paperboard for lighter duty, retail type applications, techniques that were unavailable or unaffordable not that long ago, are available today at minimal cost. The key is knowing what type of substrate to print on, which printing process can best produce the desired end result at minimal cost.
Annually we deliver millions of e-commerce boxes, and we take great pride in the fact that few companies have the experience and resources we can utilize for you. Call us at 630-551-1700 or contact us via our web site. Our non-commission, branded packaging specialists are eager to learn about your needs and be of service to you.
Related posts:
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/the-perfect-partner-for-your-new-company-or-product-launch/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/what-is-screen-printing-and-is-it-a-great-option-for-you/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/are-you-searching-for-a-new-packaging-supplier/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/does-your-packaging-project-need-a-good-structural-designer/