Stuck At Home

Well, I can officially tell you, from the bottom of my heart, that I am sick of COVID19 and all the problems that it has caused. I have been working at home since last March. Can you believe that? It has literally been over a year since I’ve worked in my office. Honestly, I was a huge fan of working at home when everything first started. It was a nice change in routine and meant I didn’t have to wake up early and take my long commute to work everyday, just to have to see some of the people that I didn’t like very much. However, now I can tell you that I miss all my coworkers and am so sick of being at home. 

I’ve come to realize that my commute to work was a nice buffering period between being at work and being at home. I would almost compare it to a permeable membrane of sorts, one that would allow my mind to adjust to the new environment that I would be headed into. Nowadays, however, I spend my time in the same exact chair at the same exact time every morning, a mere hour after I’ve woken up for the day. Again, it was nice to not have to wake up early every morning, but now I am feeling like the days are shorter and I don’t have enough time to relax in the morning.

Being at home has been a lot more taxing in other ways than just work. Obviously, I have been at home even when I’m not working too. That means that my office is now my home and my home is now my office. There is basically no separation between the two, and that can get really depressing. In addition to this, I have become so tired of online shopping. I miss being able to go out to different places and buy stuff alongside friends or families. Now everything seems so pointless. Just a couple clicks away from more shipping boxes being sent to my door - hurray…

I don’t even know how many Amazon orders I have placed since starting quarantine, but it has been a lot. Honestly, I think the amount would shock you. I have gone so far as to create a mountain of shipping boxes in my garage that are just waiting to be recycled (they probably never will be, because I am a terrible person). I guess my takeaway from this pandemic is that the grass is always greener on the other side. Or maybe, my takeaway is that a change is good from time to time, and now I’m ready for the change back to being in the office rather than at home. 

Maybe I can get real philosophical and say that grass is always greener on the other side, but only until you’ve grazed too long or laid too long, and the grass becomes stubby, brown, and matted. I guess it’s better to assume that nothing will make you happy forever, and that moderation is more important than indulgence. 

All in all, I hope that we can return back to normal life soon, because I am getting so sick of being at home and wearing a mask and all that. I will definitely get the vaccination as soon as I can.

Finding the Right Kind of Packaging

The most important part of any business venture is, of course, the product that you are selling. You spend time on research and development, scaling up production, and securing buyers and retail partners. One step you can't forget, however, is to choose the right kind of packaging to bring your quality product to the customer. Whether you're an experienced business veteran selling a product with specifications you've never shipped before or a new startup who's never meddled in the world of shipping ever before, it's crucial to find the right kind of packaging to keep your product safe and sound during transit. This means choosing the type and size of packaging that suits your product best. 

The first question you need to ask is whether your product needs rigid or flexible packaging. Rigid packaging is any kind of packaging that cannot be forced into another shape. Obviously, this means it is the opposite of flexible packaging. Rigid packaging will help keep breakables safe (with the right padding) and provide a support mechanism for the product inside. Boxes, jars, bottles, and various kinds of metal packaging fit this description. Rigid packaging obviously has the advantage of standing up to shipping pressures better than flexible packaging, though this comes at a higher cost both to manufacture and to ship.

Flexible packaging is the opposite of rigid packaging. It moves and bends with your product. Flexible pouches, plastic wrap, and shrink wrap are examples of flexible packaging. One advantage of flexible packaging over rigid packaging is that it is less costly to ship and tends to be much lighter weight. Flexible packaging also involves much less raw material than does rigid packaging, which helps to keep the cost of the packaging itself down. Flexible packaging has become much more popular in the last several years due to its low cost and cheap materials. 

The question now is which kind of packaging, rigid or flexible, is best for you and your specific product. If your product is fragile or easily breakable then obviously rigid packaging is the right choice for you. If you care about making sure to keep your carbon footprint down then flexible packaging will be preferable. If your desire is to cut shipping costs, then once again you will probably want to opt for flexible packaging. Start with your end goal and work from there. The kind of packaging that you will need will become obvious.

If you want a cheaper option, find the kind of flexible packaging that works best for your product. Many products like DVDs and other rectangular non-breakable objects require little more than plastic shrink wrap. Other products can fit neatly into different kinds of loose plastic bags like blister packs. The cheapest option for rigid packaging is of course the classic cardboard bow, which works well for electronics and home appliances. You might find, however, that you need something sturdier. In this case, explore glass jars or various kinds of metal containers to keep your product safe (especially if it's breakable). It doesn't have to be a headache to choose the right packaging! Just ask yourself a few common sense question and the answer will become clear. 

The Importance Of Using Eco-Friendly Packaging For Your Product

The success of your product in the marketplace depends significantly on the use of the right packaging materials. That makes the packaging design a factor you cannot overlook. At the same time, you have to make sure that your packaging can protect your product, communicate with customers, and present your offerings. It also has to bring forward the right image of your company.

With consumers taking notice of brands’ commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging, choosing recyclable packaging materials for product packaging has become increasingly necessary.

Consumers want companies to go with a responsible approach

A recent study studied purchasing decisions of more than 19,000 consumers from 28 countries. The findings highlighted the importance of materials used in the product packaging.

This information allows manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to elevate their brands in the eyes of consumers. They can present a caring, forward-thinking, and compassionate company image.

• About 69% of 3,500 consumers in North America are happy to pay more for environmentally friendly products.
• More than 50% of surveyed people are willing to adopt purchasing habits that have a positive impact on the environment.
• About 80% of North Americans want to know the source of products they buy. About 69% of them will pay money to companies that provide such information.
• 40% of consumers around the world want to choose products that are eco-friendly and align with their values.

Building a positive relationship with consumers

Since consumers pay a significant amount of attention to how a company emphasizes the environmental impact of a product, businesses must ensure that they have a positive reputation in this department.

However, more than 90% of businesses acknowledge that adopting greener manufacturing and packaging solutions has become necessary. In such a scenario, standing out from your competition can be a tough ask.

About 80% of millennial customers want companies they buy from to commit to eco-friendly practices. So, if you want to capture this audience, you will have to focus on their demands and preferences. That will help you improve your ROI.

Importance of using eco-friendly packaging

Packaging materials you use are crucial. An overuse of plastics in product packaging has led to the packaging industry, in general, being portrayed in a negative light.

Your customers want to see that your product is packaged responsibly using materials that are not a threat to the environment.

The best way is to start assessing your current packaging and see how you can bring improvements to make the product packaging eco-friendly.

Different types of eco-friendly packaging materials

You can choose from a wide range of eco-friendly packaging materials. You can customize these materials to attract attention to your brand.

• One of the most recyclable and biodegradable materials is corrugated cardboard. This material is used for producing boxes, mailers, and cartons of all sizes and styles. From standard-sized to custom-designed boxes, you can choose from a wide range of options.
• Flexible packaging is yet another sustainable packaging solution. While it is usually made of plastic, its smaller size ensures a reduced carbon footprint.

There are a lot of other packaging options available that can help reduce the environmental impact of packaging wastes. You can discuss these options with your packaging vendor.

Don't Give Up On Your Small Business.

Owning and operating your own business can be difficult, to say the least. Times are always changing, and oftentimes it can feel hard to stay on top of each new trend that every year brings. Inflation rates, taxes, tastes and preferences, and other economic factors can all get thrown up to question at times, making it hard to feel like you are staying on top of things. I have heard from many of my business-owner friends that times are even more difficult with COVID19 lockdown. Since most brick and mortar businesses are being forced to shut down in the name of keeping the public safer from the virus, business owners are having a hard time earning enough revenue to pay for their liabilities each month. My heart goes out to these people who are struggling during this time, and I really hope that things in our world can eventually return to some sense of normalcy once this is all over. However, with the current state of the world and the market, small business owners must find ways to adapt.

While smaller-scale businesses are struggling in the context of a literal storefront, there is no doubt that small businesses are flourishing in regards to the e-commerce industry. Though the lockdown forces many brick and mortar small businesses to cease current operations, there is a greater opportunity for selling goods and services through e-commerce. E-commerce is an extremely lucrative business, and the term can be used with great ambiguity as far as what constitutes an e-commerce sale or purchase. Many small businesses are seeing great success by selling their products online. Websites make it very easy to partner with and participate in e-commerce to get your business up and running through the world of the internet. It also helps that technology like phones, laptops, and tablets have become available to almost everyone, meaning there are now more e-commerce customers looking to buy things online than ever before.

If your small business is struggling to make ends meet or to stay relevant in the current market, e-commerce might be a great opportunity for you. With relatively low shipping costs and relative ease of entry for those looking into utilizing the e-commerce market, there has truly never been a better time to be involved with e-commerce. All it takes is some quick research, perhaps some packing supplies or shipping boxes, and an internet connection; it is really easy to set up an online store or purchasing program. 

As an example, my mother sells candles on the side of her current occupation and does all of her selling through e-commerce. She doesn't even have to worry about shipping boxes or other packing accessories because she sells to local people in her community. Most of her sales are made through Facebook, and then her customers pick up her candles outside her home on the porch. This extremely simple method of e-commerce is very effective, easy, and COVID friendly.

I tell you this story so that you may see how easy it is to get started with e-commerce. Small business owners have been through a lot this year, and my hope for you is that you can continue selling your product or service with the use of e-commerce. Even with the added complications of COVID, I encourage you to keep pressing on in your business venture with the help of e-commerce.

How Useful Are Corrugated Cardboard Pallets?

Seeing a corrugated cardboard box for the first time may instantly prompt you into thinking of it as a magic trick. You may wonder how a simple cardboard box can hold up so many items. You may also wait for this entire load to squish into a pile of cardboard when a forklift puts it down. The first question you may have in your mind would be “do corrugated cardboard pallets work?”

The short answer is yes. Not only do those pallets work well, but they offer a lot of benefits that you might not like to miss if you are a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor. You will find yourself needing to use this solution to manage stacks of goods and products on a pallet.

Why do corrugated cardboard pallets work?

As unbelievable it may sound, a cardboard pallet can hold up to 10,000 pounds of weight. The key is to distribute this entire load properly. To compare things a bit, it is worth mentioning that a traditional wooden pallet can hold up to 4,600 pounds of weight. The question is how a cardboard pallet can hold this much weight.

Corrugated cardboard consists of two layers sandwiching a grooved layer. This structure adds to the durability and shock resistance of the entire box. These pallets work much better than traditional pallets due to the enhanced ability to hold up bulkier loads.

Benefits of cardboard pallets

The most significant advantage of a corrugated cardboard pallet is its less weight compared to the traditional pallet. When you ship your products across the skies or down the highways, you also pay for the pallet weight. Remember, your pallets are not the products you are selling. They are the means to hold your products during shipping.

The average weight of a wooden pallet is somewhere between 30 and 70 pounds. Corresponding corrugated pallets, on the other hand, weigh between 13 and 19 pounds. Choosing corrugated cardboard pallets over traditional pallets can help you squash down costs significantly.

Let’s say you have a shipping container with 20 pallets. Each of those wooden pallets weighs 70 pounds. The total additional weight you will be carrying in your truck will be 1,400 pounds. However, using the same number of 19-pound corrugated cardboard pallets will add 380 pounds to the shipping container. That means you can reduce 1000 pounds of weight just by shifting from wooden pallets to corrugated cardboard pallets. It will translate into a tremendous cost saving for your business.

There are several other benefits associated with the use of corrugated cardboard pallets. For instance, they are easy to produce, cheaper to incorporate, and easier to dispose of. Moreover, these pallets are safe to use because they do not use any nails or other extensive stapling. The pointing tips of these nails used on wooden pallets can prove hazardous for packaging personnel.

It will be worth mentioning while summing up this post that corrugated boxes are not always the best choice. Some circumstances may necessitate the use of wooden pallets only. You can discuss your requirements and all circumstances with your packaging vendor.

Protecting Fragile Items During moves

 Moving is a nightmare, but also it’s a fun way to start all over again. It can feel like it’s tiresome and incredibly time consuming. It’s vital to ensure that you give yourself the time to use these supplies when you organize and then pack the belongings in order to transport all of these. This is especially true for items that are breakable. If you want to make sure that the items that are fragile are protected, here are some trips to ensure it’s all protected for your move. 

Purchase and Prepare  

You want to make sure that you prepare correctly for the process of moving.

You should make an inventory of the items that are fragile in order to pack them. 

Once you’ve created this inventory, you’ll be able to get a feel for the supplies necessary to protect and purchase these items. It’s also better to have extras whenever you’re packing materials, as this is something that usually costs much less than if it gets damaged while moving. There are a ton of different supplies that you can get.

Some of the items that you should have for packing include the following: 

• Tape. It’s great because it protects everything. You can never have too much. You’ll want to double seal anything that’s heavy, and then use tape that’s fragile for anything that’s breakable. 

• Cardboard boxes of different sizes. If you have heavier items, throw them into boxes that are smaller so that they don’t break. Ensure that all of the boxes are high quality, and make sure that the box is not flimsy or has any give to this sort of thing.

• Packaging paper: this is vital for wrapping and then protecting the valuables that you have. You’ll want to wrap everything individually, and sometimes with multiple types of layers. Paper for packaging is also great for layering that bottom part of the boxes, and then stuffing the space that’s loose around there so that it doesn’t shift when you move it.

• Bubble wrap to ensure that everything has the right protection to this. That way, you don’t have to worry about it poking holes when you wrap these important types of items. 

• Covid filler so that you have a way for the items to ensure that they’re not moving around after they’ve been packed. You want a variety of different options when it comes to the filler that’s there. 

• Cardboard that’s pliable.  These are important because they offer protection, and let you pack items that are oddly shaped together into boxes, adding a player of protection 

• Blankets for moving so that you can move picture frames, mirrors, TVs art, and also furniture that’s antique. 

Be mindful of items. 

You want to make sure that you take special care when you’re putting together these items inside boxes. 

For starters, dishes should be wrapped and then stacked in a vertical manner. Don’t forget that it’s okay to utilize packing paper on the bottom portion of the box, filling in these gaps between this. glasses should have some stuffing of packing paper, and then wrapped in an individual manner. Use pliable cardboard for cups to separate them or get dividers.

Make sure that you have a good box for electronics and accessories, wrapping them and adding them to moving blankets.

You should always be mindful of packaging, and play it smart. Do this during a move, and you’ll reduce the breakage of items, and things will be easier for your move than they were before, especially if it’s all packed accordingly.

Tips to Crate the Best branded packaging experience

 With more and more ecommerce items and a lot of items within the stream, it’s hard for retailers to set their items apart from different sellers.

When you extend out the branding to different customized packaging, it’s the best way for you to stand out. More than half of shoppers will become customers that repeat if the retailer utilizes this correct, premium type of packaging.

It’s great for unboxing, with a lot of people looking to these unboxing videos to get the different items. There is also a unique type of feeling that comes from this. A lot of businesses are making a material that’s made to inspire different customers so that they show the unboxing to different people, and it’s basically a free advertising campaign for you. 

What is Branded Packaging Experience 

This is basically where you choose the correct packaging in order to fit the brand, and has a strategic item presentation. It is also used in creating packaging that’s custom, in order to improve the value for different customers by offering better unboxing overall. 

Remember, the impression is made in order to create an unboxing experience that will help with your needs.  It’s something that’s good for retailers online, and also, it’s good for customers too, especially if you want to offer more memorable opportunities overall. 

Ways to Make Branded Unboxing A Thing 

Here are some ways to make branded unboxing great for you.

First, get some tissue paper that’s printed. You can incorporate logos and different aspects of the company in this. For instance, if you’re a supply store selling pet care items, you can get branded tissue paper with little animals on it.  This is cute, and obviously for the audience, since they are animal lovers, this is great too, as it makes it look very cute, and shows your brand off well.

Then there is customized packaging tape. This can include logos, brands, and so much more. This is a pretty effective tool for solid color packaging.  They’ll notice this tape immediately, and it tells them that you care about the packaging, and want to make it shine. 

Mailing bags are another one.  Getting them custom is really cool. You can get these in white and black, with different designs and shapes that are properly colored by the person who gets them.  

You can offer whimsical opportunities and fun, and it’s one that can definitely offer a better break. 

For customers that do have kids, or even kid relatives, this is something that’s great for improving the conversations with them, and also, it can help you get free referrals as well from this packaging to others. 

Make the unboxing experience Shine 

When you’re able to create an unboxing experience that really shines, it changes the way things are. Getting the right packaging, from the design process, all the way out to the delivery process, can help you really enhance the design. 

There are a lot of different packaging solutions, and you’ll be able to even get them in eco friendly types of solutions.

When people receive this, they’ll be able to, with this, create the best types of experience that they can the moment that they open up. You will, with this, offer not only a fun experience to customers, but also the beginning of a new point of receipt with the customers that are there.  

Work on this, offer branding that shines, and from there, make it so that you’re able to craft a fun packaging that will make you happy, and make the customers more than happy too.