Lowering Your Shipping Costs Is Easy

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This year I have been through many different things.  My own household moved and even my work decided to change locations.  All were done for fantastic financial reasons and it has taught me many things in the process.  Being thrifty is not the same as being wise, but sometimes they coincide.  I have been put on strict budgets for both my home and also work due to the local lockdowns of 2021  and all the economic chaos it has caused.  This has also made my search a little more complicated due to all the local and state regulations that have been put in place all over the country.  Supply chains are not the same and the delivery of products has been spotty at best.  Learning how to shop during hard times is important. Sourcing products is key.

So where do you start and where did I start?  In the beginning, I really was just looking for the products to move from an apartment to a house.  It was simple life stuff.  I have moved many times and with all of the moves my packaging supplies were simply getting too old and worn out to use again.  This was because I had lots of cheap moving boxes from previous moves, but they had issues.  Those cheap moving boxes were flimsy and were not very stable when any amount of weight was put in them.  My first inclination was to go to a Home Depot or the other big box stores and simply buy some cardboard boxes.  I figured this would be just fine, but when I went there looking for another item I saw the price for these was really expensive.Rather shocking to be honest.

I had to find a different path.  So, I left and decided I would look at other big box stores more for office supplies.  Yet, again I walked in for printer paper and started to look at the moving supplies.  It turned out that they were even more expensive and I got we bit sad at this point.  I went through the trouble of following the time and mask regulations only to find really bad pricing.  This was just not worth the cost, so my next venture was what most people do these days and that was to hit my phone and the web.

Amazon is obviously the first place that I went.  The prime shipping is always nice, but in all honesty, I was not in a big hurry.  Our closing date was a while away. This was also where I went to look for some work products.  We are taking our marking more internally this quarter so I had to look for gift boxes as well.  The variety was OK, but the cost was still pretty high.  Especially for my company, the cost was really high.  Looking for other options is important and wise too.

I went to the manufactures to see what deals I could get.  I found packaging supply companies and decided to look on their websites.  These companies had been around and had each item in bulk pricing.  It turns out they had specific moving packages and even gift boxes.  These were the items that I was looking for and they could be purchased for about half the cost of those big box stores and about 33% less than Amazon.  Use my tips to start at the end and save some tim.

Store your Packages wisely

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This year has not been the best so far.  We lived through the COVID-19 Pandemic and all the lies that came with it.  It made most people’s lives drastically worse and all because of the flu.  The lies were instances and the laws are still in place.  The COVID-19 Pandemic has had many effects on my family. One of the best things it has done is to allow us to spend more time together.  In some ways, this is not preferable, but in others, it has allowed us to work together in ways we wouldn’t have. Still, there are so many worse things that have happened. But we have started working on lots of remodeling projects in our home and even outside.  One of the big projects was our garage.  We wanted more storage and the ability to put our cars in it. This was because we live in an environment that gets cold and snowy.  So when winter comes if you have a garage that can fix a car, it is really nice to use it.  Our garage was unfortunately completely full of all the items we never messed with since we moved in.  It was packed to the brim and our only thought was to throw it all out or to store it in another place.  This led us to our dilapidated shed outback.  We have never touched this area and we thought that it was time to make some use of the space. 

No one wanted to really jump into this project. Really in truth, this was a complicated task because of the state of the shed.  It looked good on the outside, but inside it was beyond nasty. The floor and even the second story was filled with dog crap left over and dried for years. It was basically a nasty barn and that was what my family decided to believe that it was.  So before we could take all the goods from the garage and move them in we had to clean out the shed. This was easier said than done.  

Poop had to go first.  This was done with a gas mask on my face and a shovel.  It was a bad time to put it mildly.  After an hour of sweeping, we decided we needed to step up the cleaning game.  We then got a whole bunch of bleach spray and went to town covering every single inch of that location. From that point on we let it settle in and then I brought out the big guns.  I took our power washer and sprayed the whole location down.  This made sure it was all bleached and clean. 

Then the moving had to happen. We got all of our cheap moving boxes and loaded things up.  It took many hours to get things organized and taped up.  I think having a system for marking and stacking all of those cheap moving boxes is important.  It means knowing where to find things when you need them years later. We also labeled the boxes with the topics of what was in them.  Now we have a workable garage for cars and a shed that is clean and useful. It was worth the work and would not have happened if not for the unconstitutional regulations put on us by our now totalitarian government. 

How Flat Pack shipping is Revolutionizing Large Scale Logistics 

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Flat pack shipping is something that’s become the norm in a lot of shipping areas, to the point where more and more are using this type of technology for efficient storage and transit.   For a lot of companies, this novel change really enhances the packaging experience, giving you something to look forward to.

Here, we’ll go over all of the different ways flat pack shipping changes the game, and how large-scale logistics thrive with this kind of shipping products. 

The applications 

Lots of bulk goods are able to use flat pack shipping. With bulk items, you can put a lot of items in there, and it fits so much, without it being too much to ship. It’s great if you’re a wholesale goods store who wants to ship out more times, and something to consider. 

The other one is disaster relief. When disasters happen, more and more people need the help that they can get. With flat pack shipping, you can do just that, and so much more. 

Modular homes, which are changed and morphed in their own way, also thrive. These homes can be adjusted based on the customer’s needs, and they work wonders. Again, there’s a lot of great benefits to be had with this, and its worth looking into. 

The design Features of this Packaging 

With a flat pack, you’re able to make it with different technology that’s leveraged. 

Foldable panels are one of them. These panels can fold down or go up as needed to section off these items. It’s great, because many people enjoy it, as it gives them something useful to work with, and a whole lot more bang for your buck. 

Lightweight materials are another. The goal is a lot of items being shipped out right away, so having lightweight materials that are easy to ship out such items works wonders. 

Finally, you want to make the assembly easy. You have to work fast with this, and also need to adjust based on what you’re shipping out. Making the assembly mechanism easy for you to use is so important that some people even look for different ways to make this possible. 

Overall, you want it to be quick and easy for setup, and also revolutionizing the logistics as well. 

The Benefits 

There’s a lot of benefits that come with flat pack shipping. Transportation costs do get reduced, and for a lot of people, having flat pack shipping can be so much cheaper for you.

Carbon emissions is another. When carbon emissions are reduced, flat pack shipping also helps with this.   you’re saving a lot of money when you put the items in this, rather than shipping them in bulky, cumbersome boxes that will be a problem down the line. 

The Future Trends 

There’s a lot of future trends to be had with flat pack shipping. Flat pack containers that offer sensors for monitoring in real time is one of them. These sensors are smart technology, leveraging a lot of different features and various modes with this. Overall, it’s great, and for a lot of people, this type of shipping can be good for monitoring real time conditions. For example, if the product gets too warm or too cold, you can even leverage temperature technology. The sky’s the limit with this type of shipping, and is something that a lot of flat pack enjoyers like to utilize. 

Overall, flat pack shipping is the future, a means for you to get your items to the clients, and also enables faster, more effective shipping for everyone that’s involved. 

Does Packaging Matter to You 

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If you’re someone who wants to take your business to the next level, you need to; look at your packaging. Working with a supplier offers great packaging advice and knowledge. But, there is something that you should also consider as well. Does packaging matter to you?  This is a question that’s come up recently, and it’s important for you to consider when designing a successful, effective packaging experience.

What’s More Important 

When you purchase equipment and packaging, does the expertise of the supplier actually matter. Or is the price the major decision?  This is something that is kind of food for thought for a lot of people. Many times, people just look at the numbers on the page, rather than the actual expertise.

But the thing is, if you only look at these, rather than the bigger picture, you’re going to have some issues as well.  if you don’t simply look at the expertise and what they can offer, you might be missing out on a lot of different suppliers.

Plenty of people struggle with finding the right packaging that makes a splash.  Sure, they might be working with a supplier that’s good in terms of price, but then they come back later on and are like “what did I do wrong” when they’re not getting the results. What’s the problem that’s happening here? 

The problem is that their product packaging is being determined based on the price, rather than the costs. This plays a huge role kin the way things go. A lot of people don’t realize how much of a struggle it is for you to just have the packaging in place, but don’t actively have the right retailers that deliver what you need. You might think you’re doing the right thing, but you’re missing a vital part of this.

The Right Supplier Fixes this 

Price points do matter, but a packaging supplier that can deliver on the needs that you have is just s important. Plenty of people walk in and have specific demands on the types of packaging that they need. They’ll work on just getting the product for a certain price, when they miss out on a ton of what’s needed. A packaging supplier that offers a variety of different options is important. It might not be necessary at first glance, but then you’re looking at the different options that are there, this is just as important.

If for example, you get a supplier that offers novel ideas, and packaging that’ll deliver, you’ll see the difference it makes. People will be shocked at the way things are, and also, at the details that you put into this. If you’re someone who is looking to get specific shrink film, or maybe a different flowline for your products, then finding the correct supplier for this will change the game. A lot of times, people don’t do this, and this creates a problem down the line.

They think they have the right solution, but they missed a couple of ideal options in the windows, making it a big problem for them.

With that said, you need to make sure that you focus on all of the different aspects of each, and make sure that you have all of the necessities covered with this. If you don’t, then look at the right types of packaging, and then try to find a supplier that either fits the price, or the expertise, and also, whatever else you need.

Find the ideal one for the job, and you’ll see for yourself the difference that high-quality packaging for a great price delivers. 

Confused by Poly Bag Types?

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Ever grabbed a poly bag to pack something, only to realize it’s not right for the job? Maybe it’s too flimsy for heavy items or doesn’t seal properly, leaving you worried about spills or damage. It’s a real hassle—picking the wrong bag can mess up your plans, whether you’re shipping orders or storing supplies. We’ve all been there, second-guessing our choices at the last minute. Let’s clear it up. Here’s how to pick the perfect poly bag type for your needs, so you pack with ease, keep things safe, and feel like you’ve got it all figured out.

First, picture what you’re packing. For mailing letters or contracts, self-sealing mailer bags are a lifesaver. They have a sticky strip that seals tight with a quick peel. Imagine slipping in a stack of papers and pressing it shut—no tape, no fuss. The opaque plastic hides private details, perfect for sensitive docs. This solves the worry of contents showing through, giving you peace of mind that your mail stays confidential.

For displaying items, like snacks at a market, clear poly bags are the way to go. They let your products shine through, like a window to fresh cookies or colorful beads. Picture shoppers spotting your goods from across the room; the bright display draws them in, boosting sales. Some have gussets—folds that let the bag stand up on its own. This feature tackles the problem of items tipping over, making your stall look neat and professional.

If you’re storing small stuff, like buttons or spices, zip-lock poly bags are your friend. The slider or press-to-close top locks in freshness. Imagine pouring herbs into one and zipping it shut; they stay aromatic for weeks. This reusability saves you from buying new containers, cutting costs and waste, which feels great if you care about the planet. It’s a simple way to stay organized without clutter.

For outdoor use, like camping gear, choose weather-resistant poly bags. These have extra-tough plastic that shrugs off rain or mud. Picture packing a flashlight in one; it stays dry even in a storm, ready for your hike. This durability eases the fear of ruined equipment, letting you adventure with confidence.

Got fragile items? Bubble-lined poly bags add cushioning. They’re like regular bags but with a layer of protective bubbles inside. Imagine wrapping a glass ornament in one; it’s snug and safe, even in a bumpy delivery truck. This protection solves the stress of breakables arriving cracked, keeping your customers happy or your gifts intact.

Mix and match for extra security. Use a clear bag inside an opaque mailer for double protection. Picture sending a handmade scarf: the inner bag shows it off, the outer keeps it private and safe. This combo prevents damage and prying eyes, making you feel like a packing pro.

Where to find these? Online shops or local packaging stores stock all types, often in bulk for less. Imagine having a stash of mailers, clear bags, and zip-locks ready for any task—no more last-minute runs. Test a bag before committing: fill it, seal it, and shake it. If it holds tight, you’re set. This check paints a picture of your items arriving safely, whether stored or shipped.

Picking the right poly bag type makes packing a breeze. You’ll organize, store, or send with confidence, knowing everything’s secure and ready. No more guessing or messes—just the satisfaction of nailing it. Try these tips, and you’ll feel like the smart, prepared person you want to be.

On-Demand Pricing for Niche business Printed Packaging 

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A lot of packaging that’s being used for small businesses and niche products might not need a large-scale warehouse. Sometimes, they just want a flexible pricing option, where they just buy what they need, and then, the items are printed. There isn’t a warehouse, just some printing for when you need it, without having to keep track of a ton of stock. Small businesses don’t need thousands of boxes when starting out, hence why on-demand printed pricing is becoming the norm.

The Tech for Short-Run Printing 

Short-run printing is a little bit different from the typical printing. With a lot of larger orders, you have to buy various prints and plates, which can cost a lot.

Digital printing, or digital presses, are common. This creates a digital image, prints it on the packaging, and then you’re shipping it out. it’s cheap, effective, and the only downside is that, compared to the more extensive printing, it might not have as high of quality.

Speaking of cuts, there’s also die cuts that are modular, which is where it’s moldable to the needs of the packaging. So, if you need a specific size, then there you go.

There’s also web to pack services, where it takes the image on the web, and then puts it to a packaging. Again, straight from the website, simple, and effective.

The Benefits 

With this on-demand printing, there’s a lot of benefits that come with it.

First, it launches much faster than other types of printing.   You’re not dealing with the possibility of longer wait times. so for example, if you’re launching a small collection, instead of preparing the packaging weeks in advance, it’s all just put together in short order.

It also is good for product testing. Sometimes, you might not be sure what is best for this, so you’ll be able to test two designs in a short run, and conduct A/B testing in order to see the effects of this.

Also, for branding, especially with branding that you’re unsure about, you can pivot it, to better suit the needs of what’s out there. Again, it works really well with on-demand printing and packaging for a lot of niche businesses, and will help to make your branding fit as needed. 

It’s Ecofriendly too! 

With this, you’re also hitting on the benefit of it’s eco friendly, minimizing inventory waste. You only print what sells, no more no less, so when you’re done with a run, or don’t need that design, you just shelve it, and don’t have a bunch of boxes just lying about out there collecting dust.

It is great, and it reduces your carbon footprint by a lot, making it even easier for you to use, and better as well in the long haul. 

Overall, with this type of packaging printing, there’s a lot that can be done with it. a lot of custom box companies offer digital printing services, and Printly will also do some customized designs for short runs.

Take a look around. Some of the local retailers such as Staple soar Office Max may also offer some quick, short-run services. Again, it will be cheaper than buying a hundred boxes when you only need like ten.

With limited runs, don’t be afraid to use on-demand printing. Many companies are taking advantage of this, and through using it, are able to build a better focus with their packaging products to suit company needs. So, if you’re torn on where to package and where to begin, consider using printed packaging that’s on demand and see where it goes from there. 

How to Reduce Waste Metrics that the Packaging Waste Analytics Tell you 

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Packaging waste analytics are becoming very popular with companies and consumers. Analytics are numbers, measuring many different facets. With packaging waste analytics, you track the material use of such items, any loss or gain of packaging, and consumer behavior on disposal or recycling.   It may tell you about how many people are recycling, and how many have tossed the items. 

Reducing waste is important for companies, and using analytics is a great thing. Here, we’ll tell you how to use this data, and why it matters. 

Sensors and Digital Twins in Shipping Supplies 

A lot of companies will add sensors and also a twin digitally paired with the physical package. Throughout the journey, from sending out to getting to the customer to even disposal, this can be followed, like a story. 

When the customer tosses the item in the trash, it’s recorded. On the flip side, when you are sending it out to the recycling center, that also gets recorded. 

It also will tell you if the items’ been damaged, any wear and tear on the packaging and whatnot. 

This tells you about how the item fares in transit, and also any inefficiencies that come with packaging transitions. 

Lifecycle Data in Packaging 

A lot of brands are also looking at the packaging lifecycle data. This tells you where it’s going, but also how many times the item gets reused. For instance, maybe your item gets reused five times before it’s tossed away forever, through the recycling centers. Others might tell you how many returns are happening, and the costs of those on the systems. 

Adjusting one’s design based on the levels of returns is good to minimize this. 

There’s also the disposal analytics, which tell you how ecofriendly your items are for disposal. 

Finally, you’ve got usage data, telling you all about whether or not the items just end up in a landfill at the end of the day, or something else. 

Tools for SMEs to Run Waste Audits 

Now, a lot of companies are curious about this, but how do you run waste audits with this data? 

Simple KPIs are one example. These will tell you if people are tossing their items, or if something else is happening. 

Apps are also used. Adjusting an app to fit this is but one example. They tell you, based on statistical and historical data, how many are currently tossing their items.

There’s also measurement methods, which will measure out exactly how much is being tossed away. 

Again, all of these come together, and with these tools, businesses can check from the comfort of their office or at the production facility, the state of things. pretty nifty, huh. 

Data and Design Thinking 

But data is only as useful as the designs that come from such data, right? 

That’s why, when you have this data, you need to translate this to proper design, in order to push for sustainability.

One example is that if you have a lot of returns, adjust the packaging for this. add some eco friendly void fill and other items. 

If the problem is not enough recycling, then the solution is you have to make sure that recycling’s made easy with these items. 

Overall, packaging waste analytics are tools which are used to help you do better with your packaging. But it all comes down to how you use it. packaging is only as good as the items that are inside, as good as your items are able to withstand the changes, so use the data correctly for great results. 

Packaging for Product Performance 

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Packaging is made for many different purposes. One of them is innovative packaging made to improve the longevity and function of the item inside. used for a lot of luxury goods, this type of packaging has a lot of great benefits, and here, we’ll go over why using this kind of packaging can make a splash with your products. 

Product Performance Items Inside 

There’s a lot of different ways that brands accomplish this type of packaging. 

One example is packaging with humidifiers inside. commonly used for cigars and marijuana, it helps with improving the life of the items inside, and reducing the potential for spoilage of such items. 

Another example is UV blocking materials for skincare items. Some skincare items disintegrate when the sun hits them, but with UV blocking rays, they’ll be able to be protected and get protected as well. 

The final one is beverages and drinks. Adding some kind of protection, such  as temperature control, helps to keep the items fresh as can be, offering a better, more enhanced experience for the items that are inside. 

The applications of this 

There’s a lot of industries that benefit from this type of packaging. The most notable is luxury items. Luxury goods are meant to last, and having some kind of packaging that enhances your performance is great. 

Another one is food products. Foodstuffs that are able to be kept and controlled are great, because you’ll be able to reduce the potential for perishables and possible issues with the strength of such items. 

Finally, personal care items. We mentioned skincare, but haircare and cosmetics also benefit from these performance-enhancing initiatives, and there’s a reason why more and more brands are utilizing this for their packaging needs. 

The Benefits 

It’s great for a variety of reasons. With product performance packaging, it adds a layer of premium value to the items inside, making it more coveted and better for people. 

Another one is it offers better protection of the products and items inside, so that they’ll not be compromised whenever the person uses the items. 

The final benefit is better customer satisfaction.   You’ll be able to, with this, have happy customers that will want to buy from you again and again. It’s great, and with more people excited about it, it’s no wonder why people are joining in and using packaging that enhances the overall performance. 

Future Innovations 

Packaging for product performance has some unique innovations.   One such example is the smart packaging being used in this type of product. While we are starting to see it, more and more brands are adopting, making it so that the packaging adjusts itself in real time, based on the product requirements.   You’ll be able to, with this, also get the product in the best shape possible.

Some have also added in QR codes and other features. When you scan it, you can see the current state of the packaging and whether it is edible or safe to use. If it isn’t, you can contact the company and they’ll fix it for you. 

Overall, with a lot of things to consider, your product packaging should be one of the main factoring points. 

We now have more and more ways to engage with a product.   Through this, customers can have a better, more rewarding experience, bolstering the customer satisfaction. Word of mouth will help with the traveling of such product repute, making it even better for everyone that’s involved, both new customers eager to learn about your brand, and to the same returning customers who have fallen for the unique features your product offers. 

Emotional Packaging for B2B 

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Did you know that the myth of “B2B buyers only care about the efficiency of the package” is not true? Though many B2B companies want a product that’s efficient and packaging that fits the item, looking at emotional packaging is also creating a difference. Many business buyers are caring a whole lot more, and this shift is something that you as a packaging supplier need to be aware of. 

Here, we will go over how such emotional packaging is changing the scope of things, and why the original idea that it’s all about efficiency is just not a correct idea anymore. 

The Modern Shift 

Many of the decision-makers are now changing the game, expecting premium, branded experiences that will change the course of things. Many times, these branded experiences stand out. B2B companies are not just average joes buying a product that will improve their business. They want to be treated special too, which can be a bit of a change for many companies. Some may also want to see the branding, and enjoy the more personalized air such a packaging has on their branding as well. 

Strategies to Improve B2B Packaging to Try 

Now, in order to create emotions and emotional packaging, you need to figure out a way to tap into the feelings of such people. 

The first, are message inserts. These inserts will convey a wealth of branded messages that a lot of companies like.   They want to feel connected to you as a brand, hence why you use it.

There’s also customized tape and other options. This type is great, because it can show the name of the brand, a little message, or even colors. Paired with other complimentary packaging elements really makes it shine. 

Also, speaking of other elements, the layout matters. Though in the past brands did not care, the shift’s happened. More brands want thoughtful layouts that will really stand out and make a world of a difference. Building a layout that will cause ripples in effects for you and your brand is a huge shift, but it does work great for those that are interested in making it.

What Emotional Cues to Use 

Some emotional cues stand out more than others. 

Those that showcase gratitude are one example.   Telling them thanks and pushing for that gratification is good. 

Another is personalization.   While you may not want to get too personal, mentioning the business name or the position of the person opening this offers a unique spin, and can make them feel special. 

Finally, confidence. Imbuing confidence into your packaging to make this emotional and stand out plays a huge role.   Invoking such confidence is something that more brands are willing to use, and it can, from all of this, really shine in its own way. 

Examples of This

SAAS welcome kits are one example, for they show off unique design software that will foster a sense of pride and connection to this. 

Another example of this is branded onboarding shipments.   Some of these shipments may need extra branded feelings to this, and adding something that’s emotional and works wonders will enhance the shipment. 

Then, there’s equipment that you ship to companies, but instead of just putting them in any old box, you put them in premium boxes. This works great, and when you pair emotional packaging with B2B elements, it does the job, and will also help with capturing not only the attention of one business, but the attention of many others as word of mouth spreads, thereby highlighting the businesses encouragement for better, higher-quality products.