Businesses need to ensure that their packaging supplier is able to fulfill their each and every need. As our sister company Case Paper describes it, packaging suppliers need to be “On the Case,” with off-the-shelf materials that brands need at a moment’s notice, but also with more inventive enhancements that can transform ordinary packaging into amazing packaging. Below, we’ll recommend four ways that you can get the most out of your packaging supplier.
1. DISCUSS YOUR SUPPLIER’S FULL RANGE OF PACKAGING CAPABILITIES
There are many different types of packaging companies. Some offer a full range of packaging capabilities, and others specialize in a certain industry or a certain type of packaging material. No matter which company you go with, you need to make sure that they have all of the services you need to bring your packaging design to life. Asking about the supplier’s full range of wholesale packaging capabilities can also open your eyes to packaging options that you may have never even considered before and bring your packaging design to the next level. To learn more about how innovative, creative packaging can differentiate brands from the competition, check out our Ultimate Guide to Creative Packaging.
2. REVIEW THE COMPANY’S INVENTORY OF WHOLESALE PACKAGING SUPPLIES
You never know when you’ll need to place a last-minute order that needs to be fulfilled quickly. That’s why it’s very important to go with a supplier that has a large stock of packaging supplies that are ready to ship as quickly as possible. It’s also helpful to ask for the packaging company’s delivery track record to ensure that your operations won’t face any external delays. Testimonies from other customers that highlight high response times and order fulfillment are another thing to look for.
3. Learn About Their Sustainable Packaging Solutions and Partnerships
Recent research has found that 73% of US consumers believe brands should take a stand on issues that reflect their core values, and the issue of sustainability has been steadily growing year after year. In the packaging world, sustainability means more biodegradable or recyclable packaging, more eco-friendly packaging protocols, a reduced carbon footprint, and a commitment to green initiatives. Be sure to ask your supplier about their own waste management practices, their certifications, and which non-profit organizations they partner with and/or support.
4. GET CONNECTED TO YOUR PACKAGING WHOLESALER’S NETWORK
From ideation to production, packaging can involve numerous different parties. There’s the packaging supplier, the printer, the design team, and more, and you want these different entities to work efficiently with one another throughout the process. The packaging supplier’s network of partners or affiliates can help solve sourcing challenges, especially if they have an intimate understanding of one another’s capabilities. It can save brands time and money to know that their reliable packaging wholesaler also has a partnership with, say, an amazing laminates and coatings company that can quite possibly bring your packaging to the next level… I wonder if we know any good ones!