Whether you’re a first-time buyer or have years of experience, make sure you have a checklist to hand when buying your personalised packaging for a new product, or from a new supplier.
It’s very easy to miss out a step, or forget to get a colleague’s key input, or realise too late that the person who needs to authorise the order is on holiday or sick leave. For a stress-free experience, just follow the checklist. The better prepared you are, the quicker, easier, and more streamlined the process.
It doesn’t replace your relationship with your packaging supplier – who will still be happy to work with you on any of the points and answer any questions – but it helps you to understand and keep track of all the factors involved in the design and manufacture of your bespoke packaging.
This blog is your guide to the areas you should be thinking about and decisions that need to be made. If you want, you can download and print off the checklist to physically tick off the points, reminding you of what’s been completed and what needs to be done next.
What is your budget for your packaging?
It’s so important to set aside a budget in advance. This will help to inform all your decisions and save you a lot of time.
How much does your product weigh?
The weight, size, and shape of your product will help determine the packaging design and materials that will best protect your goods.
What is the packaging specification (spec) of your current/existing packaging?
Your packaging supplier will need this information when they test your current packaging to check it matches the spec. It’s not unheard of to find out your high spec packaging actually contains lower quality materials, affecting the performance of your packaging. Similarly, your existing packaging may have been over spec’d for what you need it to do, meaning you’re paying more than you need to. Gathering and analysing these details will help your supplier to plan the right bespoke solution for your product.
How will your product be sent out for delivery?
For products being sent out on a pallet, you need to consider how many boxes you want to fit on each pallet. If you need 10 boxes all stacked up on top of each other, the boxes must have the appropriate crushing strength to withstand the weight. If your products are going direct to the customer via courier, think about the trials and tribulations the boxes will go through. Knocks and falls are common whether by human error or from being bumped in transit by other parcels of varying shapes, sizes, and weights. Securing your product inside the box is paramount with drop tests to ensure your packaging performs under pressure. You may also want to focus on other areas, such as a packaging solution that will fit through a standard letter box.
What do you want your packaging to look like?
Don’t worry, you aren’t expected to have all the answers! But any of your thoughts and ideas are helpful, for example if you want:
What materials do you want to use?
You aren’t expected to know the difference between corrugated double wall tolerances versus single wall (although maybe you do!), but you do have to decide which materials you want to use in your packaging. Happily, this is something your packaging supplier can guide you through, making recommendations, and explaining why you should or shouldn’t use a particular material in your case. Areas to think about include:
What sort of print branding would you like?
Consider how you want your print branding to look on the inside and/or outside of the box, and how many colours you want to use. Bear in mind the more colours you use, the greater the cost. This may be a job for your own in-house design team, or an external design agency, or in collaboration with your packaging supplier.
Decide if you want to keep it simple with company logo and information such as shipping requirements, delivery instructions, and barcodes. Or create a powerful first impression with your packaging, making it a true extension of your brand.
Have you sent your artwork to your packaging supplier?
Your packaging supplier will need some form of artwork from you. Either a complete print branding design, if you’re arranging this yourself, or at the very least a company logo which your supplier will use when creating a design for you.
Have you received the packaging sample?
Your packaging supplier will send you a sample of your packaging in the correct style and size for you. This allows you to see for yourself exactly what you are getting and how your product looks and fits in the box. If there are any issues, you can raise them with the supplier who will make the necessary tweaks and create another sample for you.
Have you approved the packaging design?
Don’t forget that once you are happy with the sample, it must be authorised. The person with the appropriate authority to sign off the design may be someone in the purchasing team, a production or quality manager or director, or an operations director.
Do you want to test the packaging yourself?
Some businesses like their initial order to be a small run so they can conduct their own trials before committing to a larger order. This is a good opportunity to check all aspects of your packaging process including packing, palletising, storage, and delivery to make sure there are no unforeseen problems.
Have you placed your order?
Once you have approved the packaging you can place your order.
Have you received the print design proofs?
After you have placed your order for your packaging, you will need to authorise any print branding being used. Yes, that’s right, after your order has been placed. This is because of the time and expense involved in making final print proofs. The factory doesn’t want to create tooling or plates only to find the customer has changed their mind and will not be placing an order after all. So, to summarise:
Have you given final print approval?
After the final print proof has been authorised by the appropriate person in your business, it’s all systems go. Your packaging is manufactured, printed, and delivered or held in stock.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when ensuring your personalised packaging looks and functions exactly the way you want it to. But there is expertise at hand to guide you through the whole process. Make the most of your packaging supplier’s knowledge and experience: share your problems and ideas, ask them questions, and test their creativity. And keep a checklist like this one handy to break it down into bite-sized pieces, making your bespoke packaging purchase as smooth and effortless as possible.
Download a handy packaging checklist.
If you would like some advice on custom packaging for your business, or to book an in-depth bespoke packaging appointment at our Packaging Creation Lounge, get in touch.
For those who make food products, making a great item is what they do best. But once it's time to package that product, things can get complicated. They have to rely on other experts to ensure the product remains great when a customer opens it. So, a big question pops up: What should you look for in a packaging supplier?
Based on our long experience in the New Zealand packaging industry, we've got some tips. In short, a good packaging supplier should:
Let's dive into each point.
Think about this: what if your bank and credit card company were different? And what if there was an issue? You'd be stuck between two companies blaming each other. This can happen in packaging too. For example, a company lost a big shipment because the packaging seal broke during transport. They had three different suppliers, and no one took responsibility.
Using one supplier for both equipment and materials can save a lot of headaches. They know everything about the products they offer, which means if there's a problem, there's just one place you need to call.
Just like a car, packaging systems need regular care. Look for a supplier that helps with setup, ongoing service, and even emergency repairs. You don't want someone who just sells you equipment and then disappears.
Every business is unique. It's important to find a packaging supplier who understands your needs and offers payment plans that work for you. This might be a regular service contract or a one-time purchase, depending on what's best for your finances.
While there are some generic packaging options, they might not be the best fit for your product. A good supplier will take the time to understand your needs and offer solutions that are tailor-made for your product.
Your business might grow, so it's smart to think ahead. When choosing a packaging system, consider not just your current needs, but where you want to be in a year or more. A good supplier will help you think through these scenarios.
Ask potential suppliers to show you examples of their past work. This gives you an idea of their quality and expertise. If they're suggesting something new, they should be open about it and explain how they plan to ensure success.
In the end, you want a supplier who's open, honest, and knows their stuff.