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Frame Packaging: Get Your Contents Safely to Your Customer

Posted on 22nd October 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

According to recent figures released by the UK government, over 50% of consumers shop online some or all the time. It’s a trend that looks set to continue. For online businesses, this is excellent news, as long as they can attract those consumers and then turn them into loyal customers.

One of the best ways to do this is to make sure that the products they sell offer value for money. Another is to make sure that these goods arrive at their destination undamaged. For this to happen, a business needs to use the right packaging for their products, especially if those products are fragile.

There are few things more fragile than frames, whether these contain a piece of art or have a future displaying treasured family photos. Depending on their size and construction, the frames themselves can be thin (making them easily breakable). Plus, the glass itself can shatter if not adequately protected.

What, though, is the best way to package a frame? Here, we look at the frame packaging steps to take to make sure frames are packaged properly so that they arrive at their destination damage-free.

Supplies

The first thing any business needs to do is to make sure they have the right types of frame packaging for the items they want to ship. This means boxes that are the right size – they need to fit around the frames securely. It also means supplies to package up the frame itself. These include packaging tape, labels, recycled brown packing paper and other eco-friendly packaging options such as cardboard, paper, shredded paper or even popcorn.

Using The Right Sized Box

While it might be tempting to try and save money by ordering boxes in bulk then making them fit the frame, this isn’t a good idea. Choosing a box that’s too big, for example, and filling it full of additional packaging such as Styrofoam peanuts, can see it shift in transit. As a result, it could end up damaged, meaning a refund or returned order. Furthermore, customers now prioritise green packaging solutions and do not want to see wasteful unrecyclable products such as Styrofoam.

It is much better to find boxes that fit the frames, even if this means ordering smaller quantities. The good news here is that are box manufacturers who specialise in boxes designed for shipping frames. Alternatively, you can opt for a Box on Demand service which creates the right-sized box for every item you want to ship. You can also break down an existing box and resize it for the frame if specialist packaging isn’t available.

Protecting Glass

Most frames include a glass sheet that protects the contents once it’s on the wall. To protect the glass until it’s ready for hanging, use masking tape to place an X across it. This can stop it from moving during shipping. Plus, if it does shatter, it stops it breaking into smaller pieces.

Protecting Artwork

Where artwork isn’t covered by glass it still needs protection from damage. The best way to do this is to use a wrap around the frame and over (but not touching) the art. Commercial wrapping (often made from paper or plastic) is available for shipping purposes. It may be called pallet wrap. You can also find plastic-alternative wrapping that is usually made from corn starch if you want your packaging to be green.

Additional Packaging

It’s best to use the right size frame packaging. However, if the box isn’t an exact fit, you may need to provide extra protection. Use at least two layers of additional packaging. Wrap one layer around the frame lengthwise and one around the frame width-wise. This means it’s less likely to shift in transit. Something else worth thinking about are corner protectors, which should help hold the frame securely in place.

Check For Movement

Before sealing up the box, it’s a good idea to test the package for shipment. However, once a company has a process for frame packaging that works, this won’t be needed. Close the box and lift it, lay it flat and then turn it over. Then reopen the box to check whether there has been any movement. If there isn’t, it’s good to go. If there is, adjust the packaging to reduce the risk of damage to the frame.

Final Packaging

Seal frame packaging securely before shipping it (the same as any other packaging). Make sure to close all seams, covering them with packing tape. It’s important to avoid any gaps or openings. Add a label that clearly shows the name and address of the recipient. Include any shipping instructions on the label. Most important of these is marking the package FRAGILE. Use FRAGILE stickers (rather than writing the word) to look professional. Place them in key locations where they will be easily seen.

Mirror Packaging: The Alternative For Mirror Manufacturers & Retailers

Posted on 25th September 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

When it comes to packaging and transporting mirrors, the process has been relatively consistent for many years.

Typically, it begins with bubble wrap, polystyrene packing peanuts and a box with lots of parcel tape. However, customers are now demanding a new and improved packaging option. They are looking for one that is better for the environment, and that limits wastage.

So, what is the alternative for mirror packaging?

Why retailers should look for alternative mirror packaging

Eliminate waste

When you are shipping a variety of mirrors, the chances are you are using the same size box for as many products as possible. This means more space on the van when shipping which not only costs your business more but also means there are more vans on the road, causing more emissions. Using custom boxes for each mirror you ship eliminates waste, potentially saving you money and reducing your carbon footprint.

Ease of recycling

90% of people say that they would recycle more if it were easier to do so. Consequently, there is a demand for greener packaging that is easy to recycle. If you are using plastic packaging or other materials that do not biodegrade or are not easy to recycle, then it is time to find alternative mirror packaging that customers can recycle.

Using custom boxes made from recycled cardboard is an excellent solution as cardboard is readily recycled and is easy to reuse and repurpose into new packaging every time it is recycled.

Improve customer perception

Consumers are looking for companies that offer eco-friendly options and packaging is an essential aspect of this. With unboxing now being a huge trend, you want to ensure your customers get the right impression of your brand from the second they receive your parcel. One of the best ways to make a good impression of your packaging is to keep it minimal, eco-friendly and easy to repurpose or recycle. Customers are short on time, and your packaging needs to be easy to process.

Enhance the shipping process

Packaging items ready for shipping takes time, money and resources. Furthermore, packaging material takes up lots of space, and the process itself can be space consuming. If you want to make the packaging process more seamless and to keep it speedy, it may be time to think about alternative mirror packaging. Solutions such as Ribble Right Size can minimise the space needed for packaging and speed up the process too.

Reduce breakages

If you find that many customers are returning items because they have been broken or damaged, then it is certainly time to rethink the packaging that you are using. Large boxes, even with void filler mean that there is a lot of space for your products to move, which increases the risk of damage. However, by choosing custom boxes that ensure your mirrors fit snugly inside means, there is less movement and hopefully fewer breakages.

While you may have a higher initial outlay in changing your packaging, it may improve your bottom line in the long run.

Custom boxes – the alternative for mirror packaging

While cardboard may have been around for centuries, it is still one of the easiest, cost-effective and greenest methods of packaging. Corrugated cardboard helps to provide padding as well, which can reduce breakages. If you use custom boxes, then you know the product and its box are the perfect fit.

Consequently, you can reduce wastage, excess space, eliminate void fillers and keep your products as safe as possible during transit. What’s more, when the client receives your parcel in its custom box, it is easy for them to recycle the packaging too.

You can make your custom boxes even green by avoiding bleached boxes and instead focus on using previously recycled card for your packaging. Many corrugated cardboard sellers will now offer a recycled option that can also be recycled again by your customers. This means the lifespan of the cardboard is hugely increased, with the ability to recycle it time and time again.

If you have small areas of space that you need to fill, then biodegradable void filler of paper cushioning can be an excellent alternative for mirror packaging. While custom boxes may be enough, if you want added security that doesn’t use excess unrecyclable plastic, then these can be useful to have in stock in case there are rare cases where they are needed or perhaps need cushioning between multiple mirrors when you are posting more than one at a time in each box.

Custom Boxes: The Answer To Your Products Void Filler Problem

Posted on 25th September 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

Shipping fragile items such as mirrors, furniture or glass is never easy. To make a profit, you need to ensure that your items reach the customer in one piece, with no damage. However, in the busy world of logistics, that is not always easy.

In the past, the most effective way to ensure fragile items were transported safely was thanks to void filler such as foam packing peanuts. However, these days, less is more when it comes to packaging. Consumers are seeking out brands who are greener with their packaging by either using eco-friendly materials and minimising waste. So, if you’re looking to remove void filler from your packaging, but still want to keep your products protected, what should you do instead? The answer lies in custom boxes.

Your void filler problem

As well as being wasteful and not environmentally friendly, void filler comes with numerous other issues. For a start, they are typically expensive to include in your packaging budget. Furthermore, void fillers are incredibly time-consuming, especially when you have multiple items to package and ship each day.

Another issue with void filler is storage. You need an ample space to store void filler. This space can often be better used to store more goods, or you can use the space for other ventures for your business.

You can read more about void filler problems in one of our previous blog posts here.

Eco-friendly shipping

Studies suggest that by 2050, logistics emissions will account for 17% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the world. As a result, there is now more urgency to find ways to cut emissions in the logistics process, especially as e-commerce continues to rise. Eco-friendly shipping not only needs to focus on reusable materials but reducing waste in the whole process; from space to fewer packaging materials.

Keeping packages safe without void filler

The problem with void filler is that it is generally easy to use and can keep products relatively safe. This means it is hard to move away from, especially when there is a risk of eliminating void filler from your packaging. However, to reduce emissions and show off your green credentials to your client base, then removing void filler is essential.

How to eliminate void filler with custom boxes

The reason void filler is used is because the box is too big for the item. However, you can eliminate this issue by using custom boxes. If you ship a lot of products, then you may think it is not feasible to order multiple boxes in custom sizes. However, by using a box on demand service, you can get the perfect size box for every item, as and when you need it. This means you reduce the amount of space you need for packaging storage too.

Benefits of custom boxes

Decrease waste material

Firstly, it is wise to conduct some packaging test runs to determine how much packaging you actually need to keep your product safe. While you may have once used miles of bubble wrap to cover your wall art or mirror products, you may find that you only need one wrap to keep your product snug in the custom box and safe from any logistic mishaps.

From there, you can eliminate the use of wasteful bubble wrap and use corrugated cardboard, that is easy to recycle or perhaps corn starch or mushroom packaging to keep your parcel safe while in transit.

More space in lorries

By using a custom box, you only need to take up the exact amount of space you need. There is no excess to account for on the lorry. This means vehicles can pack more products on to each load, reducing the carbon emissions.

Product safety

Custom boxes actually keep your products safer than standard-sized boxes. This is because there is less space for your product to move around in, which means your product is secure during transport. As a result of your products being safer, there is less risk of customers receiving damaged goods. As a result, your business reduces the cost of reverse logistics, returns and product write-offs. Consequently, this all helps to improve your product revenue.

Improved customer feedback

Customers love the packaging that makes their life easier and limits its impact on the environment. Custom boxes can improve the shopping experience by making reducing waste, making it easy to recycle and customers can know that the cardboard used in custom boxes is already recycled. This leaves the customer with a positive impression of your business and means they are more likely to return to your organisation and buy from you again.

Boxes Are Affecting Your Transportation Cost in Logistics

Posted on 12th April 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

When it comes to logistics, online companies generally spend more on the transport of goods than anything else; some industry experts estimate transportation costs in logistics can run as high as 50%.

This is especially true of ecommerce sites whose business model relies on being able to get their products to their customers as quickly as possible and who don’t have the benefit of bricks and mortar stores where people can ‘click and collect’ their purchases.

How packaging can reduce transportation costs in logistics

Packaging is incredibly important when it comes to shipping goods. It needs to be strong, sturdy and able to protect what’s inside, making sure it reaches its destination in the same condition as it left your warehouse (and keeping your customer happy).

Typically, this has meant online stores using standard-sized boxes and protecting the contents with additional packaging material such as bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts. While this may go a long way to reducing the risk of goods being damaged in transit, it also goes a long way to increasing your transportation costs in logistics because you are basically paying to ship air.

Every cubic inch of your packaging that doesn’t contain your product and contains packaging materials instead – or nothing at all – is costing you money. You can save this money by reducing the size of the boxes you use for your packaging.

If you ship large quantities of goods and have your own delivery trucks, reducing the size of your packaging means you can get more boxes into each vehicle. The more boxes you can get into a truck, the fewer journeys you need to make, and the less you end up spending on fuel.

If you use a courier service or Royal Mail to ship your goods, you will generally be charged by either size or weight. Reducing the size of the packaging will, therefore, automatically save you money.

As reducing the size of your packaging also means a reduction in additional packaging material you’ll also save money if you are charged by weight; your packages will weigh less because they are not only smaller but contain less unnecessary packaging material.

How to protect your goods when you reduce your packaging

Many companies don’t use less packaging, even though they know if they can reduce their transportation costs in logistics because they are afraid their goods will end up getting damaged in transit. It isn’t necessarily the case, however, that this will happen. In fact, if you use the right type of packaging, you could end up with a higher level of protection that you had when using traditional boxes.

A lot of traditional packaging boxes, for example, are what is known as a single wall, which isn’t that strong in reality. Others use corrugated cardboard which is stronger but can still buckle or tear in transit if not handled correctly, which is why additional packaging materials are used. For packaging to help reduce your transportation costs in logistics, you need to look at it in a different way.

Think, instead, of using bespoke packaging. Look for companies who are able to make boxes that fit the items you are selling, including those that offer Right Size Solutions. These not only produce boxes that perfectly fit the goods you want to ship but do so only when you need them. This means you aren’t paying for packaging you don’t need or having to worry about where you need to store it.

Other ways packaging can save you money

As well as saving you money on transportation costs in logistics, getting the size of your packaging right can also save you money when it comes to warehousing. The less packaging you use, the more goods you can store in less space; as most warehouse costs are calculated in square footage, the less you use, the less it will cost.

There are staffing efficiencies too – smaller boxes are easier to handle and often quicker to move by your warehouse teams.

Using Right Size Solutions can also save you money because they automate the process of producing boxes as and when needed. Firstly, you don’t need to find space in your warehouse to store them, which will save you money as we’ve already seen.

In addition, you save time – and more money – because a machine puts them together rather than a person who can probably be better utilised somewhere else in your business.

Why You Need Custom Packaging for Your ecommerce Business

Posted on 12th April 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

Over 75% of people in the UK bought goods or services online last year. This is a staggering figure considering the internet has only just turned twenty, but one that goes a long way to explaining how – in just two decades – we’ve become the world’s third largest ecommerce sector.

This means, however, that if you own an ecommerce business, you are working in a very crowded and increasingly competitive market, one that is constantly changing and requires you to change with it if you want to succeed.

So, whereas once upon a time, your customers were probably more than happy to receive their purchases in a plain brown box and surrounded by brown packaging paper, now they want something more. Something, many of your competitors are probably already offering – custom packaging that turns ordering online from a simple transaction into an experience.

Packaging goes a long way to telling a customer who your company is and what you stand for. It can show them you care about them, value their business and want them to buy from you again. Or, it can show them you aren’t that bothered, that they are nothing more than a sale in a long line of sales and you wouldn’t miss them if they go. Which is why custom packaging is so important and, if you don’t use it already, why you need to make it part of your plans for 2020.

How to make custom packaging work for your eCommerce business

If you want to make custom packaging work for your online business, you need to think about:

Branding: While a plain brown box works just as well as one with a logo from a practical standpoint, it doesn’t help you get your name out there or stand out in a crowd. Branding your boxes mean that not only does your customer know about you, everyone who comes into contact with your box sees your name and may well remember next time they go online.
Messaging: Every company has a USP, something that sets them apart from their competitors. The trick is getting this message across. With custom packaging, you can do this. Food companies, for example, might want people to know their food is always fresh, even if it’s being shipped, or that it’s locally sourced.
Image: In competitive markets, the more you can do to stand out in the crowd, the better, especially if you are starting out or aren’t the biggest player in the field. Your custom packaging can help you do just that. It presents a professional image, one that says you are serious about what you do and won’t let your customers down.
Sustainability: Today’s consumer wants to buy from companies committed to reducing their environmental footprint. Creating custom packaging from recycled/recyclable materials and limiting (or eliminating) the use of plastics tells them what happens to the planet matters to you as much as it does to them and is likely to lead to repeat business.
Sharing: Social media has become increasingly important to ecommerce businesses over the last few years, with people sharing what they like (and don’t) about products online. If the people sharing have large enough followings, it can create a real boost for your business. And they are more likely to share if what arrives on their doorstep has custom packaging – though you need to make sure that packaging looks good on camera!

Protecting what’s on the inside

At the end of the day, what you put in your packaging will always matter more to the customer than the packaging, we know that. Which is why it’s important to get your packaging right because customisation isn’t just about what’s on the outside, it’s about what’s on the inside, and that needs to arrive with your customer in perfect condition.

Think about what you’re shipping and how your packaging can be used to protect its contents. This will probably mean moving away from traditional packaging – standard sized boxes with lots of excess packaging materials to something that fits your products perfectly, keeping them safe until they reach their destination.

If you aren’t sure how this might work, talk to packaging companies such as Ribble, who can talk you through the process and your options, or explore packaging solutions such as Right Size, which allow you to produce perfectly sized packaging for everything you need to ship.

7 Ways To Make Your Packaging More Customer Friendly

Posted on 15th March 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

Each year, the number of people shopping online increases.

In the UK, we have the third largest eCommerce sector in the world, accounting for over £500 billion annually in sales.

As a result, this means there is a need for online businesses to access a wide range of packaging options in order to ship their products.

For years, this need was filled with cardboard boxes produced to standard sizes, resulting in a need for additional – and often excessive – fillers such as bubble wrap. Consumer trends, however, are changing, as are levels of environmental awareness, meaning traditional packaging methods are no longer acceptable.

Consequently, online businesses need to find more customer friendly packaging options. Here, we look at seven such customer-friendly packaging options:

Package Size

The internet is full of customers commenting on the fact that their products were shipped in boxes that were much too big for the items inside. And, while seeing an Instagram post of someone sitting in a large box that was used to deliver a small bottle of shampoo can be funny, it’s actually quite frustrating for customers who are left having to get rid of the packaging.

Today, technology such as Right Size means that your packaging can be made to fit the products themselves, something customers will no doubt appreciate – especially if that packaging can fit through a letterbox.

Pack Smartly

If customers order more than one item from you, think about how these can be packaged to reduce the amount of packaging you use and the risk of any damage. Can items be stored inside each other, for example, or can you use softer products to cushion those that are more breakable?

Harmful Products

Most packaging is mass produced, meaning it may contain chemicals that can harm the environment or cause allergic reactions in humans. Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact chemicals can have and want products and packaging made from less harmful alternatives.

Look for customer friendly packaging options, therefore, that are made from these alternatives; you can buy plastic packaging made from corn starch, for example, or have boxes printed with soy ink, which is biodegradable.

Environmental Impact

One of the main reasons’ customers don’t respond well to packaging that is too large for their order is the negative environmental impact they believe it has; even if the packaging can be recycled, today’s consumers are environmentally aware and will see this as wasteful.

Beyond this, however, your customers will want to know how sustainable your packaging is and the easiest way to let them know is to tell them by having it printed on the packaging – if it’s made of recycled materials for example – they’ll appreciate not having to search your website to find the answers to their questions.

Excess Packaging

Excess packaging isn’t just bad for the environment; it’s bad for the customer, especially if it means they have to spend more time than is necessary for unwrapping your products. When it comes to customer friendly packaging, remember, anything beyond what you need to keep an order free from damage is probably too much and won’t be appreciated.

If anything, it is likely to lead to the customer getting frustrated as they try to pull off additional plastic wrapping or snip through plastic ties.

Branding

People tend to order more online during peak times such as Christmas, at which point they may well get overwhelmed by the number of plain brown boxes arriving on their doorstep. If they’ve ordered gifts for different family members, this can lead to frustrations if they don’t know what is in each box. And, while you won’t want to give the game away by not using any packaging (as Amazon did the other year), having your brand name printed on your packaging can go some way to letting them know just what is inside the box.

Information Sharing

Depending on the products you sell and ship, there may be care instructions you need to share with customers. Making this clear and easy to find on a box or bag will go a long way to creating customer-friendly packaging, especially if it requires customers to do something as soon as their order arrives – storing it in a cool, dark, place, for example.

Packaging can be used to share information on other products that might be of interest too, or to thank customers for their order, something which will definitely be appreciated.

Excess Packaging Is Ruining Your Customer Experience

Posted on 15th March 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

When you run an eCommerce business, getting your products to your customers quickly is essential, as is making sure those customers get what they ordered, and that their goods aren’t damaged in transit.

Which is why you might be tempted to use as much packaging as you can to make orders remain safe and secure until they reach their final destination.

Unfortunately, this can result in excess packaging which, rather than enhancing your customers’ experience, can actually ruin it.

How Does Excess Packaging Ruin the Customer Experience?

Last year, over 1.8 billion people bought products online, and, in the UK, we have seen a 50% increase in online sales compared to a decade ago.

Alongside the growth in online sales, there’s been an increase in customer expectations.

Consumers are no longer happy to have a package arrive in a brown box full of bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts.

Instead, they want an experience from the moment their package arrives. And, ideally, they want that experience to be environmentally friendly, which is where excess packaging can have a negative impact.

Environmental Concerns

While customers want their products to be packaged well, so their goods aren’t damaged, they don’t want that packaging to be wasteful. If the box is too large for the products your shipping, for example, you’ll need to use additional packaging materials to keep that product secure within the box.

No matter the type of packaging and even if it’s recyclable, the impression excess packaging leaves your customer with is that your company is wasteful and doesn’t care about the environment. Plus, having excess packaging can leave them frustrated because they then have to get rid of it, be that in a bin or by making a trip to the local recycling centre.

Make sure, therefore, that you source packaging that comes in a range of sizes that fit the products your selling. Even better, look at options such as Right Size Solutions that allow you to customise the size of your packaging, reducing waste and – ultimately – helping improve your customer’s experience.

Ease of Opening

Excess packaging isn’t just about what you use to wrap the products in to keep them safe. It’s about the products themselves and how they’re packaged. Not only does your packaging need to be the right size for the products inside, but it also needs to be easy to open. Anything too complicated, and your customers won’t be happy.

Children’s toys are a perfect example of this; parents regularly complain about how long it takes to unwrap them. Known as ‘wrap rage’, it’s something major retailers such as Hasbro are addressing with simpler packaging and is something you can do too to improve your customers experience by using only what is needed.

Don’t use extra plastic wrapping, for example, and stay away from things like blister packs and anything else that adds to the time it takes to unpack a product. Remember, though, this doesn’t mean that you should not use any packaging – you still want your goods to arrive undamaged after all – it just means only using as much as you need to make sure this happens.

Ways Packaging Can Improve the Customer Experience

Beyond reducing the amount of packaging, other ways you can improve a customer’s experience, include:

Outer packaging: When customers receive their order in packaging that looks good, it makes them feel special and excited about what’s inside. Use colour if you can to help build this excite and make sure your brand name is prominently displayed.
Quality: Goods are more likely to get damaged if your packaging isn’t up to scratch. And, even if the goods are fine, receiving a box that is ripped or torn doesn’t make a good impression. Make sure, therefore, you use good quality packaging, even if it costs a bit more. If you aren’t sure what type of packaging you need, companies such as Ribble can help you find what works for you.
Unboxing: There’s something special about ordering goods online and having the box arrive. It builds a sense of anticipation. However, once the box is opened, customers want to see what they’ve ordered. This is why unboxing is so important. In fact, unboxing has been a bit of an internet craze for the past few years. Get your packaging right, and you could end up as an online sensation, reaching more customers and making focusing on the unboxing experience well worth it!

5 Reasons Why You Need Right Size Furniture Packaging

Posted on 13th February 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

Any business that stores and transport goods knows getting the right size packaging is essential if they want to operate efficiently and effectively. After all, it keeps productivity levels high and running costs low. This is especially true for furniture manufacturers and suppliers, who have the added complexity of storing and transporting a product that can be large, heavy and bulky.

Traditionally, manufacturers and suppliers have packed their furniture in plastic wrapping or boxes that are too big for what they have inside, filling the space around it with additional packing material such as bubble wrap. Today, technology is allowing them to change the way they work, creating packaging through systems such as Ribble Right Size, that fits the packaging around the furniture itself.

On the surface, this change may seem small. However, if you’re a furniture manufacturer or supplier, there are significant benefits to be had by getting the right size furniture packaging.

Warehouse

No matter how lean a business runs, there’ll always be a product that needs storing. The more efficiently you store your furniture, the less space you’ll need and the less money you’ll spend on warehousing. When you use furniture packaging that isn’t the right size, it takes up more space than it needs to in your warehouse, costing you money.

Saving warehouse space will become increasingly important in coming years as the UK experiences a shortfall in available storage space, making the cost of warehousing per square foot increase. When you use furniture packaging designed to fit precisely to the size of your products, you save space, not only because the packaging itself is smaller but because you can store upwards as well as across a warehouse floor.

Health and Safety

While it’s impossible to avoid all work-based accidents, you can significantly reduce the risk by using furniture packaging that fits the furniture itself. Doing so makes it easier to move using forklift trucks, for example, reducing the amount of heavy lifting your staff have to do and the chances of them hurting themselves in the process (almost 25% of all workplace injuries are due to handling, lifting or carrying).

It also makes stacking products easier, increasing their stability and reducing the likelihood of their falling off shelves or workers tripping over them because they couldn’t be stacked and have been left at ground level.

Transportation Costs

According to research published in 2018, over 30% of businesses worldwide say that they’re using packaging that’s at least 40% too big for the products inside, leading to an extra £35 billion in transportation costs a year.

The 40% extra, or empty, space is caused because businesses rely on standardised packaging which is designed to a certain size, rather than the size of the product it is shipping.

By changing this around, so your furniture packaging is designed to fit your product, you can significantly reduce – if not eliminate – the empty space. This, in turn, lowers transportation costs because you can get more product into each delivery vehicle, meaning fewer trips are needed to deliver your product.

Furniture Damage

In 2017, 40% of consumers reported that the goods they’d received were damaged in some way according to a report by retail association IMRG.

While figures aren’t available for the number of businesses that receive damaged goods from a supplier, it’s fair to assume that, as most damage happens during the shipping process, the figures are relatively similar. Damaged goods can’t be sold, or need to be sold at a discount, meaning they are likely to be returned to you, leaving you to cover the costs or sell them on at a reduced price.

Using furniture packaging that is the right size reduces the likelihood of goods getting damaged because they are less likely to shift in transport as they are more securely packed within the delivery vehicle and there is less empty space for them to move around in.

Operational Efficiencies

For any business, saving time and money are key to a successful business. Using the right size furniture packaging helps you do both by reducing:

Warehousing costs
Transportation costs
Sick days due to work-related accidents.

By investing in technology such as Right Size, it enables you to create the exact amount of packing you need, when you need it, meaning nothing is spent on unnecessary supplies, and nothing goes to waste, which is good for the environment and your business.

How Is Right Size Reducing Packaging Spend?

Posted on 13th February 201921st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

Companies who need to package products for storing and shipping know how expensive it can be, and how important it is to manage their packaging spend to get the best returns on the goods they sell. The packaging they use needs to be fit for purpose, allowing them to ship goods safely, and cost-effective.

Even knowing this, many companies still rely on traditional packaging methods which are neither cost-effective or fit for purpose. They use boxes that aren’t strong enough or aren’t the right size for the products they are looking to store or transport, meaning they end up using excessive (and expensive) packaging materials – bubble wrap, for example – or find themselves shipping ‘empty space’, increasing their transport costs.

So, what should businesses do to alleviate these problems? The answer lies in good packaging.

How are brands reducing packaging spend?

While the answer to this question may vary slightly depending on the industry, in general, reducing packaging spend is done by using good packaging solutions. Packaging should be sized to fit the product, reducing storage requirements and minimising transport costs as a result.

It should be lightweight, making it easy to move, while, at the same time, being strong and sturdy enough to protect its contents. And, it should be easy to assemble when you need it and breakdown when you don’t.

Standardisation

Many businesses believe that to keep their packaging spend low, they need to purchase boxes in bulk and that these boxes should be of standard sizes. However, this can lead to small items being packaged in boxes that are much too big, reducing or eliminating any potential savings through the use of additional packing material or the creation of empty space.

Empty space, which is created when packaging that’s too large for its content is used, can cost companies a lot of money, increasing their packaging spend significantly: recent research estimates empty space costs businesses around £35 billion a year (worldwide) and that up to 40% of most packaging is empty.

How Right Size Solutions reduces packaging spend

Right Size offers an alternative to the idea that standardised boxes are the best way for businesses to reduce packaging spend. Created by Panotec and available in the UK through Ribble Packaging, Right Size allows companies to produce a single box or a batch of boxes to the exact size and shape of the products they’re shipping, reducing packaging spend.

It helps businesses manage their packaging spend by allowing them to produce boxes as and when they need them, meaning they no longer have to order supplies in advance, ‘guestimating’ how many of each size and type of box they need and potentially being left with excess – and unwanted – stock once their products have been shipped. Plus, because they no longer need to order large numbers of boxes in advance, businesses can cut their warehouse costs as less storage space is required for packaging.

By producing boxes that are the exact size needed for the products they contain, the amount of empty space is significantly reduced, if not done away with entirely. This reduces the amount of space necessary to both store packages in a warehouse and to transport them as more can be fitted into each delivery vehicle which, in turn, reduces warehouse and transportation costs. With boxes being made to the right size and eliminating empty space, companies can also reduce the costs of additional packaging materials such as bubble wrap and the cost of shipping the packages themselves (if they aren’t being delivered by van) because they will be smaller and lighter.

Added value

Not only does Right Size help businesses manage their packaging spend, but it also helps them keep operating costs low by:

Reducing the risk of products being damaged in transit because their boxes are the exact size needed.
Improving productivity by reducing turnaround times as staff no longer have to decide what box to use and then fill up the empty space with additional packaging.

Alongside the benefit of reducing the cost of packaging, there are environmental benefits to Right Size. Less packaging means less raw materials are used in their manufacture and less waste is created through unwanted products being ordered.

This is in addition to a company’s reduced carbon footprint as there are fewer delivery vans on the road, meaning fewer fossil fuels are being used. All of this matters to today’s consumer, who wants to see the companies they buy from not only offer excellent value for money but are environmentally responsible as well, meaning Right Size offers not only ways to reduce packaging spend but adds value to the consumer too.

5 Packaging Solutions For Your Products In 2019

Posted on 16th November 201821st June 2022 by definitionconsulting

Packaging products effectively has never been as important as it is today, with stores packed full of a vast range of products from every industry there is more competition than ever to stand out from the rest.

In order to be visible to your customers, as well as offering sustainable and responsible packaging, you need to think very carefully about your packaging solutions and how they are working for you. Your packaging solutions are often the first point of contact potential customers have with your brand and products. Therefore, it is vital to be creative and individual in order for them to choose you over your competitors.

Most customers will look for originality when it comes to packaging solutions and will be drawn to products that are different from the rest. In recent years, customers and brands alike have been focusing more on the materials used in packaging, and the process used to produce them. This is down to calls for packaging solutions to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Customers don’t want to choose products that use excessive and unnecessary packaging solutions. Not only is this bad for the environment, but it is also an extra hassle for disposing of packaging once they get the products home. Businesses should constantly be reviewing and updating their packaging solutions to keep up with trends and stay on top of the game. These are our top five packaging solutions for your products in 2019: