5 Must-Ask Questions For Choosing A Packaging Supplier

04 Nov.,2024

 

5 Must-Ask Questions For Choosing A Packaging Supplier

5 Must-Ask Questions For Choosing A Packaging Supplier

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Packaging is becoming an increasingly common and high-demand utility for businesses around the world. For an e-commerce business, the first direct touchpoint that your brand has with your customer is when they receive the package and unbox it. Studies related to the psychology of shopping show that, &#;packaging plays a major, if not dominant, role in purchasing decisions.&#;

Providing a fulfilling packaging experience to your customer still remains a relatively under-utilized marketing opportunity and if used properly, it can have a huge impact on positively affecting the sales of your product.

Investing in a good packaging supplier is the first step. This decision can have a tremendously positive effect on your sales as well as revenue. But making this selection can be a daunting task as various factors come into play here.

We have made this job easier for you by answering 5 important questions for selecting the right packaging supplier for your business.

1. Do they offer custom packaging?

Custom packaging is a leading industry trend in and it is here to stay. By incorporating custom packaging, you are enhancing your brand&#;s value by multifold. Through customized packaging, you can build an everlasting connection with your customers by ensuring that they have an unforgettable unboxing experience.

Custom packaging strengthens your company&#;s branding. When your product&#;s package has your company&#;s trademark color, design, and logo, your brand creates a stronger identity, and customers develop a great brand affinity. This can ultimately increase sales and revenue for your company.

What takes the cake in customized packaging is that it makes room for innovation and creativity that allows your brand to apply a personalized touch to your packages. These personalized touches enable your brand to establish an emotional connection with your customer and make them feel valued, when they unbox the product. That is why it is imperative that when you select a packaging company, ensure that they provide custom packaging services.

2. What quality of packaging products do they use?

The quality of the packaging is as important as the product itself. If the packaging is made of lower quality material, your product is more likely to get damaged during the shipping process.

It is necessary to make an informed choice when it comes to selecting shipping materials. Ensuring that the material is safe enough and ensures an effortless unboxing process with minimal waste is also essential.

There are three main types of packaging:

  • Corrugated boxes
  • Chipboard and paperboard boxes
  • Polybags

To choose the best packaging for your business, it is crucial that you pin down and select the optimum packaging material that suits your particular product the best and then check if the packaging supplier you select offers that or not. Packaging can be very unique for different kinds of products that is why it is essential to know what kind works best for your product before making a decision.

3. Do they use sustainable and environmentally friendly products?


The sustainability of your packaging is just as important as what is inside the package.  According to a recent survey on sustainable products and packaging, 80% of participants said they felt it was &#;important or extremely important&#; for companies to design environmentally conscious products.

As consumers are getting conscious about their carbon footprint, they are more like to support brands that share their values. At Arka, we are cognizant of this reality and our focus is on sustainably. We ensure environmentally friendly packaging through:

  • Using sustainable packaging that can be repurposed
  • Shipping items in bulk
  • Offering carbon-neutral shipping by offsetting emissions
  • Recycling on behalf of our suppliers and offer shipping-friendly items
  • Reducing the size of your packaging
  • Using compostable mailers
  • Working with wholesalers to reduce individual shipments and limit return shipping
  • Offering a returns program for your empty product containers

4. What is their pricing like?

Pricing is very important. Especially if you are on a budget. Look for packaging companies that provide the best offers. See if they sell in large or bulk quantities. Instead of using standardized box sizes, evaluate the sizes of your products, and ensure that the company you are selecting offers boxes of different sizes. This way, you won&#;t have to pay for the dimensional volume rate.

Furthermore, another great trick to save money on the packaging is by using custom stickers or custom tapes that have your company&#;s logo or trademark design printed on them.

Check if the company which you have selected offers these services. This way, you will be able to keep your costs low while also providing your customers with a great packaging experience that they deserve.

5. How is their customer service?

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Good customer service is critical across all industries but when it comes to selecting the right packaging supplier, it is vital that you go with a company that has good customer service. If there is a shipment that is lost or an order that has to be refunded, a smart and skilled customer representative will cater to your company&#;s packaging needs instantaneously.

It is always a great idea to do a thorough background check of the kind of customer service that the packaging supplier that you are selecting offers and then make the decision based on that.

Conclusion

Packaging has numerous benefits for your company, your customers, and even for the environment, as light packaging reduces the carbon footprint. That is why if you already haven&#;t selected a packaging supplier, now is a great time to start and these helpful tips will make your decision-making process easier.

For more information, check out this free of cost course on the packaging.  The course is taught by Philip Akhzar, CEO of Arka. It helps you navigate through the nuts and bolts of the packaging industry and also allows you to learn the best practices about packaging your product.

The Five Most Important Questions To Ask When ...

Evaluating new and alternative packaging options can be overwhelming. Besides choosing the right components, you also have to consider if they meet the quality and security requirements of your industry &#; all at the right price. Lingering supply chain challenges can also call into question many packaging providers&#; available inventory.

Researching the right supplier that checks all the boxes is a tedious process. You want to make sure your supplier can provide packaging options that keep you on schedule without cutting corners. It can be difficult to keep all your details, needs, and questions straight. To make it easier, we&#;ve outlined the top five questions to ask when looking at your packaging options.

1. Does your supplier have the safest and most innovative packaging options?

One of the first questions to ask packaging suppliers is if they carry the safest and most innovative products. Pipeline Packaging uses a network of more than 400 global suppliers to provide customers a breadth of choice. Using our distributor advantage, we leverage our buying power to secure an inventory of high-quality products at a competitive price.

Pipeline Packaging sales representative Bo Patterson has been working in the packaging industry since . He focuses on securing the right hazardous packaging for customers manufacturing industrial chemicals.

&#;We&#;re always committed to embracing new products and testing systems on a daily basis,&#; said Patterson. &#;Pipeline knows how important it is to provide customers with the latest, most innovative, and secure packaging options on the market.&#;

Pipeline not only presents endless packaging options but also an additional dose of nimbleness. Unlike a manufacturer, our distributor&#;s advantage grants a great deal of flexibility when it comes to finding the right product for you, including additional testing services, which is especially vital for those handling hazardous materials.

2. Can they guarantee enough stock for your order?

Inventory is everything when it comes to packaging. For example, without stock for packaging options like one-gallon paint cans, there&#;s nowhere to put your paints, coatings, or adhesives. Or, if you&#;re operating in pharmaceuticals, you need readily available pharmaceutical glass jars that balance the right specifications with tamper-proof technology. No matter the industry, without packaging, your operation comes to a screeching halt.

&#;Pipeline Packaging understands what&#;s at stake,&#; said Tim Winings, Pipeline Packaging&#;s vice president of sales. &#;That&#;s why we&#;ve developed an inventory stocking program that gives customers peace of mind and prepares us to better serve their needs.&#;

The inventory stocking program uses written agreements to guarantee certain packaging options and quantities over a 12-month timeframe. Customers can even adjust their product needs on a quarterly basis. Pipeline&#;s goal is for customers to never worry about whether the container they need for orange juice, cleaning chemicals, or medical packaging will arrive on time as needed.

&#;These agreements help us help our customers,&#; added Winings. &#;They&#;re part of what makes Pipeline different and allows us to develop true partnerships with our customers.&#;

3. Does your supplier have the right tools to meet your needs?

Besides assured agreements, Pipeline satisfies customer packaging options by investing in technology. A key component of our inventory stocking program relies on innovative AI-powered software to predict customer demand and help us determine the right amount of product to order. Using these innovative tools, we gain access to robust supply chain information, from market forecasts, material needs, and warehouse availability, that assists us in making the right recommendations for our customers.

A materials distribution expert for several decades, inventory planning manager Christine Markiewitz assists the sales team in planning and forecasting specific packaging options throughout Pipeline&#;s nationwide network of warehouses.

&#;The software program contains a multitude of tools within tools,&#; said Markiewitz. &#;We not only get a full forecast of the supply chain, but also how those predictions will affect a specific customer in a specific industry. We can chart current conditions and future expectations and deliver that analysis to our sales team, which can then relay it to the customer.&#;

In a world that&#;s full of uncertainty, this level of accurate data and material assurance is priceless for your business. It&#;s important to understand whether your supplier has access to these types of tools to keep your operation on track.

4. Is your packaging supplier partnering with you for success?

Though inventory, tools, and systems all provide a huge advantage, the best packaging suppliers are those who are committed to partnering with you for success. At Pipeline Packaging, we aren&#;t just looking to fulfill your orders with multiple packaging options. We want to help you grow your business through the power of collaboration.

This partnership begins from the moment we meet. After discussing your packaging needs, the Pipeline sales team will then turn to inventory team members like Markiewitz. With their expertise and resources, they&#;ll investigate our network to source the best products across states and continents to find the right packaging options. After sharing our carefully crafted recommendations and input, we leave the final packaging decisions to you and your team to determine the best fit for your specific needs.

&#;It&#;s really a group effort,&#; added Markiewitz. &#;We know we&#;re only as strong as our customers. If they don&#;t succeed, neither do we. That&#;s why we really treasure personal relationships with customers more than anything. These strong and lasting partnerships are the catalyst for the growth of both parties.&#;

5. Is your supplier so good that you never have to think about your packaging?

So far, we&#;ve analyzed multiple questions, but this one is perhaps the most valuable consideration. While the previous questions reveal important details about how different suppliers approach your packaging options, the best indicator for the right supplier is one that makes your selection process as easy as possible.

Pipeline Packaging specializes in creating the perfect comprehensive packaging solutions for our customers, but that mission doesn&#;t just involve curating robust packaging options. It means using all of our resources, like our distributor advantage, the latest software, and our value-added services, to create a one-stop shop for our customers.

It&#;s true, finding the right packaging options can be exhausting, but with Pipeline Packaging, the process has never been smoother. Contact us today so you never have to think about your packaging again.

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