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CS Packaging, Inc.

1270 Douglas Road, Batavia, IL 60510
(630) 690-1300

Product Packaging

CUSTOM FLOOR & COUNTER TOP DISPLAYS: STANDING OUT (+ BUDGETING FOR IT)

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custom floor and counter top displays Image courtesy of ODM Group.

In business, the “elevator pitch” is crucial – a story, anecdote, or explanation of a product that can be delivered in the time it takes an elevator to reach its destination.

In the B2C sphere, your packaging and presentation become that elevator pitch — and the harder they are to see, enjoy, or understand, the harder you’ll have to work to sell your products.

You need to design and budget for custom floor and counter top displays that not only capture the eye, but the imagination of your customers as well. So how can you make that happen?

The Key Is Custom Floor & Counter Top Displays

If your goal is for your in-store displays to capture the attention of customers, they need to be unique; customizing your displays is one of the best ways to accomplish this.

But, the world of customization inherently means there are endless options, and it can be complicated deciding what and how to customize in the way that’s best for your business.

We’ve put together some areas to focus on for custom that should give a good starting point for standing out.

Confirm Brand Identity Through Color

If you were asked which soda had a red and white label, and which had a red and blue one, chances are you’d know them instantly as Coca-Cola® and Pepsi®, respectively.

Color is familiar and appeals to consumers of all ages. Color can also easily convey your brand identity and company message.  Want to convey natural, wholesome, and eco-friendly? Go for a vibrant shade of green. Want people to feel happy or cheerful about your product? Vibrant orange or lemon yellow will do the trick.

It’s also one of the easiest ways to get “bang for your budget buck” when it comes to planning, creating, and placing displays – a brightly-colored display works as a billboard that summons attention while holding your product.

Bring Your Display to Life

While you won’t be able to Frankenstein some jumper cables to your custom floor and countertop displays, you can certainly equip them with a battery pack or plug.

Moving components, lights, sound, music, and light sensor triggers ensure that your display places itself actively in customer perception, rather than waiting passively to be noticed. Some stores tend to be naturally quiet, making sound a particularly useful tactic.

Some enterprising companies are even fitting their displays with holding frames for tablet computers, which display a commercial or explainer video whenever a customer walks by.

Make Sure Your Display Can Go the Distance

Designing modular displays that can be quickly and easily set up directly from a shipping box means that your products will always be shown in the best light. The more complex and complicated a display is, the greater the risk of a component breaking or becoming lost in transit or storage.

Looks are only one facet of a great custom display – make sure it can stay looking attractive and professional, even if a few customers decide to invade its personal space, or a curious passing child gets a little grabby.

Your display tells your story when you can’t be there to do it in person – make sure it has the voice you want to represent your company!

Ultimately, well-designed custom floor or countertop display should be:

  • Easy to set up
  • Easy to spot across a crowded store
  • Easy for store personnel to maintain and upkeep
  • Another way to enhance brand identity

Want some help figuring out the ideal custom floor or counter top display? We can help!

RETENTION & SUSPENSION PACKAGING: WHAT IT IS AND WHY YOU NEED IT

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 retention and suspension packaging

If you’re unfamiliar with retention and suspension packaging and the increasingly important role it plays in e-commerce packaging, allow us to explain:

Let’s say you ordered some sort of expensive electronic product online, like a laptop.

You’re obviously excited for it to arrive at your home, and you may have even thought about the perceived risk that you took in ordering it online rather than at the store.

The risk we’re talking about? Shipping.

Retention and Suspension Packaging Eliminates Risk

Yes, product packaging isn’t too much of an issue for soft goods that are purchased online, but for expensive, fragile things like computers, it’s a different story.

After all, packages get tossed around, might be dropped or even stacked on top of one another as they go from Point A to Point B.

The last thing you want to do is have to worry about returning a damaged or busted product upon home delivery. And that’s where retention and suspension packaging come into play.

How Does Suspension Packaging Work?

Retention and suspension packaging uses special corrugated inserts and plastic flexible film.

The inserts fit into the shipping box and work to suspend the product so that it’s more centrally located within the open airspace of the box and away from the major points of impact.

Additionally, the product is secured into place with plastic flexible film, which prevents it from slipping around or moving within the box itself.

What Are the Benefits of Suspension Packaging?

  • Customizable.
  • Reusable.
  • Impresses customers.
  • Is easy to assemble and install.

There are several benefits to using retention and suspension packaging. For starters, it presents a more cost effective alternative to conventional means of secure shipping, which often involves the use of foam, die cut molds or other materials.

Here’s a look at some of the key benefits to this type of packaging:

It’s easily customizable:

Because products are secured in place with flexible plastic film, most retention and suspension packaging is a one-size-fits-all type of solution thanks to the conforming properties of the film itself.

It’s reusable:

The flexible film used to hold products can be easily reused, as it maintains its effectiveness.

Noting this, it’s a more eco-friendly option.

It looks great:

On most packages you’ve opened over the years, you likely had to dig through the box and break apart foam to get to the product you bought.

This creates a bit of a mess that you’re left to clean. When you open a box with retention and suspension packaging, you’re able to see the product right then and there as soon as the box is opened.

There’s no digging around or messy cleanup. In fact, the corrugated retention inserts can be recycled too.

It’s easy:

Retention and suspension packaging is easy to assemble and install.

Switch to Suspension

Keeping your product safe is a top-priority for your business.

If you’re looking to upgrade your packaging, but aren’t sure where to start — just call Bob!

CUSTOM SHIPPING CARTON FAQS

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custom shipping carton FAQs

As a product manufacturer or shipping agent, you know how important it is to have high-quality shipping cartons.

You intuitively know that you want your product to arrive in great condition, and realize that shoddy packaging leads to a lot of returns.

But, you still might have some questions about custom shipping cartons, so we’re here to answer them.

What Will it Take to Protect Your Product?

First and foremost, you want a happy customer who buys your product again or tells their friends and business associates about how great your company is.

They won’t do that if your item arrives broken because you opted for cheaper packaging.

To properly protect your product, make sure your carton:

  • Is strong enough based on product weight.
  • Includes partitions to keep products from crashing into each other inside the box.
  • Has edge protectors to provide corner integrity.
  • Uses custom molded pulp trays or air cushion packaging to protect delicate glass or electronic items.
  • Is properly sealed so it won’t open during shipping.

What Impression Do You Want to Make?

Of course, you want your customer to enjoy your product, but you also want to make a good impression. A custom printed box makes a perfect first impression on customers and gets them excited about what is inside, but it also makes a positive impression on every person who handles your carton on the way to its final destination.

Think about other areas you can customize such as the shipping tape or air cushioning to complete the picture of a professional organization.

What Should You Print on Your Shipping Carton?

You want to make life easier for everyone along the shipping line, especially if there are other companies which resell your product or include it in their manufacturing process.

This might include such items as:

  • Your company name
  • Product SKU
  • Gross and net weight of the carton
  • Carton dimensions
  • Carton count

For products with special handling guidelines, you might need to include phrases like “fragile” or “this end up.”

If you are shipping to a retailer like Walmart or a product congregator like Amazon, pay particular attention to the information they want included on your cartons.

What Do You Legally Need to Put On Your Shipping Carton?

This might not be something you thought of before, but there are legal requirements for shipping packages.

  • Hazardous materials must be clearly identified.
  • Flammable items must be marked.

International shipments may require more information for customs clearance.

This could include weight marketing in pounds and kilograms, sizes in inches and centimeters, international pictorial symbols for handling requirements, country of origin and port of entry, and an ingredients list, if applicable, in the destination country’s language.

It never pays to skimp on packaging and presentation. Custom shipping cartons not only make sure your product arrives in good condition, they make sure your company looks good, too.

PACKAGING AND SHIPPING SUPPLIES TO BUDGET FOR IN 2019

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packaging and shipping supplies budget

The key to the overall success of any business is the quality of their products. Ideally, products don’t just meet a need — but they’re quality designed and made, long-lasting and easy to use.

And while much attention is placed on product development and quality control during the design, engineering and manufacturing processes, there’s an important end-of-line task that also cannot be downplayed.

We’re talking about packaging and shipping the product. Yes, a great product is ideal, but it does the end user no good if it’s broken, damaged or not working when the consumer goes to use it.

The right packaging and shipping products can help safely get a product from Point A to Point B, whether that Point B is a retail store or consumers themselves.

It’s why it’s so essential to budget for these costs on an annual basis, as not having the right solutions in your warehouse is going to do more to harm your business than it will do to help it. 

5 Important Packaging & Shipping Supplies to Budget For

Here’s a look at the packaging and shipping supplies that you need to be budgeting for:

1.Boxes

Every business likely uses some type of boxes for packaging purposes. Whether the product is large enough to take up a single box, or many of the same product are packaged into the box for shipment, boxes are simple yet arguably the most important type of packaging you can have in your warehouse.

A lot of businesses make the mistake of thinking that since most cardboard boxes look the same, they all perform the same.

Box considerations include:

Make sure you select the right box (or boxes) for your product. Boxes are priced by type and quantity ordered. They can range anywhere from about a quarter to several dollars per box.

2. Protective Packaging

After you’ve settled on the type of box or boxes you need, you then need to “think inside the box” to account for the protective packaging solutions that are going to prevent your product from moving around and potentially breaking while in transit.

Just think of all the people that handle your product as it goes from Point A to Point B and you’ll see what we mean.

Some popular types of protective packaging solutions include:

Pricing is largely dictated on what you purchase. Other forms of protective packaging such as heavy-duty bubble wrap, for instance, can cost more than $150 per master roll. Foam can cost more than $700 per bundle. Loose fill tends to be the most affordable protective packaging, running less than $20 per 7 cubic feet of bag.

Although up front the cost of protective packaging can cause a little sticker shock, it is oftentimes worth it in the long run to invest now — and save the headache (and money) of dealing with products that arrive broken to customers.

3. Machinery

Sealing shrink film systems, heat guns, pallet trucks and platform trucks are all examples of some of the machinery and equipment that’s necessary to help bolster warehouse packaging.

Make sure to budget appropriately for any of these items. Heavy-duty pallet trucks can cost more than $1,000, shrink film systems can cost in the $500 range and heat guns run about $80 per item.

Packaging and shipping equipment helps streamline operations and get product out faster and safer, helping you save both money and mishap down the line.

4. Tape and Other Shipping Supplies

Things like tape, box edge protectors, shrink film, and ties must all be accounted for in any firm’s packaging operations. These may seem like small accessories, but they play an important role in sealing boxes, protecting box edges, wrapping pallets and more.

As these are packaging accessories, they’re generally much cheaper to acquire than the primary packaging supplies, like boxes and protective packaging.

Edge protectors can cost more than $1,000 per skid (there’s usually 2,240 items per skid), while standard ties cost as little as $7 per case. Shrink film rolls can cost a few hundred dollars per case and sealing tape costs can range from $60 to about $600 per case depending on what type of tape is needed.

When it comes to your packaging and shipping operations, don’t forget about the little things. They can make a big difference – both in your operations and in what you have to budget.

5. Safety Accessories/ Other Supplies for the Warehouse:

In addition to everything we’ve mentioned on this list so far, there are various safety accessories and items that you’ll likely need in the warehouse as part of a packaging and shipping operation.

These include gloves ($20 to $60 per case), safety masks ($140 to $440 per case), safety glasses (up to $34 per case), first aid kits (about $150 per kit), ear protection (up to $50 per case), hard hats ($60 per case) and back support belts (about $35 per case). Shelving and storage solutions should also be considered.

Wire shelves can cost up to $500, while heavy-duty storage bins can run up to $90 per item.

What Else Should Be Included in Your Budget?

As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into packaging and shipping than what might initially meet the eye. And all of these expenditures need to be accounted for in your company’s budgeting.

So if you haven’t yet already done so, be sure to take stock of all the packaging and shipping items you have and what you expect to need this year.

Be prepared so that you can ensure product moves out swiftly and your product arrives in great shape at its final destination.

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS: SAVE SEA TURTLES

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Nothing beats the sound of the pop of a can before you start drinking your favorite beverage. Plus, we can all agree that there’s nothing more satisfying than enjoying the cold beverage inside the can on a hot day. 

But have you ever thought about what damage those plastic rings holding your 6-pack together are doing to the environment? 

The truth is — it’s less than pleasant. The good news is, with new packaging technology, we can lessen our damage to the environment. 

Biodegradable Six Pack Packaging: Why It’s So Important

According to a study conducted by The Ocean Conservancy’s 2015 Ocean Trash Index, plastic is the single greatest detriment to sea turtles.

In fact, this style of packaging (shown below) is the most common piece of garbage that can be found in sea turtles’ stomachs, and tangled around their body — inhibiting their ability to swim, eat, and grow. 

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How New Packaging Can Help

Biodegradable rings will hold your six pack just as well as the old school plastic variety, but without harming wildlife, your pets, or the environment.

What makes these rings so unique?

The packaging of these rings is considered not to be harmful if consumed by animals that may be exposed to it in the ocean, out in the wild, or even in your backyard.

Sustainable Packaging Solutions & The Modern Buyer

Now more than than ever before buyers are being motivated to make purchasing decisions based on how environmentally friendly the product is.

In order to retain their market share, vendors and suppliers are creating more options for packaging that fall under the “Green” category to appease eco-friendly buyers.

In addition to biodegradable 6-pack rings, other sustainable packaging solutions include:

Recycled Content Air Cushioning

This green air cushioning is more than just green in color, it is also a great, environmentally friendly, protective packaging solution. 

 It’s designed to protect your product in a more sustainable way, without sacrificing your products safety during shipping. This protection is an easy shipping supply switch for a number of markets, including:

  • Fine jewelry
  • Glassware
  • Food
  • Electronics 
  • + More

Not only will customers be delighted when they open the vendor’s package with the product in-tact, but they will be proud to know they are part of a sustainable solution for the environment. 

Custom Molded Pulp Trays 

Similar to recycled content air cushioning, pulp trays protect your product while protecting the environment — making it an easy switch for any business.

 Not only are molded pulp trays often made out of recycled materials, they can be recycled again after use.

Additionally, this packaging:

  • Is not affected by extreme temperatures
  • Is water resistant 
  • Reduces the percentage of damaged merchandise by over 50%

Switch to Sustainable: Talk to Your Packaging and Shipping Product Supplier

Curious about other eco-friendly packaging options for your business?

Talk to a packaging expert today — and they’ll help you find the perfect solution that will keep your products safe, and keep the user experience guilt free.

PROS AND CONS OF CUSTOM CORRUGATED PACKAGING

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pros and cons of custom corrugated packaging

When it comes to packaging, is the stock route or the custom route right for you? Stock packaging is exactly what it sounds like — packaging that comes ready-made and in standard formats.

Custom packaging, on the other hand, can be tailor-made to fit a specific product, promote brand awareness or relay a message right on the box.

So what’s best for you?

Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of custom corrugated packaging for you to consider when it comes to selecting your next packaging run:

4 Pros of Custom Corrugated Packaging

There are many significant advantages to going the custom corrugated route. Some of them are as follows:

1. Brand Building

This is one of the biggest benefits to going the custom route for your next run of corrugated packaging. Customizing boxes can help differentiate your brand from your competitors.

Whether it’s an advanced box design, a high-quality printing job or some sort of value-added feature, sometimes investing in a custom package format can also provide a competitive advantage and help build further brand awareness. These benefits alone are usually enough to placing a custom packaging order.

2. Purpose-built Packaging

With a standard package, you’re essentially purchasing a box to fit the product. Conversely, with a custom package, you can take the product and create packaging to fit it to the box.

This can help eliminate any wasted space, decrease the necessity for protective packaging materials, which can save money, and even result in cheaper shipping prices due to decreased weight.

3. Enhanced Protection

Arguably the biggest benefit of custom packaging is the ability to offer enhanced product protection. Like we noted earlier, a package that’s custom-made to fit a product means you can also fine-tune the protective packaging that’s used. In addition to this, a package that fits the product also helps keep the product more snug and secure as it is.

And finally, a better protected product also helps build trust with consumers, as there’s perhaps nothing more disappointing than opening a package only to find that the product inside is broken or damaged.

Custom corrugated packages are especially ideal for high-value or fragile items, such as electronics, glass and more. Just think of how many people might interact with a package before it reaches its final destination. For many companies, customization to ensure safekeeping is a very worthwhile investment.

4. Recyclability

This final benefit doesn’t have so much to do with the customization as it does with the corrugated material the package is being made from. And by that, we’re referring to the recyclability of corrugated material, which is a key differentiator from its plastic packaging counterparts.

Customizing packaging that’s also recyclable can offer a nice one-two punch, serving both as a brand building tool and helping to establish your company as one with sustainability in mind.

If sustainability is important to your company, you can even convey that message to the end user on your custom package.

3 Cons of Custom Corrugated Packaging

Though the pros of custom packaging are notable, there are some disadvantages to going this route that also bear mentioning:

1. Cost

This is arguably the biggest disadvantage of going the custom corrugated packaging route, as any package that’s not standardized is going to cost more. This may especially be a challenge for startup firms or small businesses that may not be able to absorb the price increase of custom packaging and are also unable or unwilling to pass any additional cost on to their customers.

2. Lead Time

Stock packaging is usually always readily available. The same can’t be said for custom packaging. Custom packages aren’t just lying around the warehouse waiting for someone to place an order, they need to be created.

Depending on the scope of the custom package, this can add some significant lead time to packaging runs, which aren’t always ideal in this first-to-market world that most companies operate in these days.

3. Additional Details

Finally, another potentially complicating factor with custom packaging is that more tooling, inks and dyes may be required to create the package that is desired. This can lead to both of the aforementioned: increased costs and increased lead time.

How much of an increase there is in both categories is largely specific to the package that’s needed, but it’s something that must be considered when weighing the pros and cons of custom corrugated packaging.

What Type of Corrugated Packaging is Best for You?

What type of corrugated packaging is right for your company and your application?

Both stock and custom packaging have their place, it’s just up to you to determine what type of format fits with the product or application you’re offering.

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