Retail Packaging Supplies: Tips and Tricks
We all need to go shopping. Whether it’s picking up groceries, getting a cup of coffee at the gas station, purchasing medicine at the drug store, or buying a new t-shirt from the local big box shop, we all have to leave the house and hit the stores at one point or another. This is just a simple fact of life for most Americans, but it means big things for those working in the retail industry. Most people don’t often consider what goes into making retail products easily accessible and convenient for consumers, but there are an immense number of elements that must be taken into account. Chief among those is the packaging. Retail packaging supplies are an essential component of the products themselves – from the actual primary packaging that contains the item to the larger secondary and tertiary materials that get the goods from the manufacturer to the store. The following are just a few tips and tricks for retail packaging supplies that you should know.
Considerations for Retail Packaging Supplies
When it comes to the packaging of your retail products, there are a few key considerations that must be kept at the top of your mind. No matter what kind of consumer goods you manufacture or sell, you must always consider the end user. Which packaging is most convenient for the person who buys your products? Which kind offers the most protection? If you sell food or beverages, you need packaging that keeps them safe, fresh, and tasty. Pharmaceuticals must be kept highly secure and untampered with. Clothing can’t be exposed to harsh environmental factors that may fade or damage it.
In addition to considering the person who actually purchases your retail goods, you must also think about the employees who will distribute your items into the store itself. At first, it may not seem like the most important consideration, but it should be among your top priorities. These individuals are the ones who ultimately decide where and how your product is placed. This means that when you make it easier to unpack and display your goods, you could end up in the most premium spot on the shelf. Keep in mind that your secondary packaging should be convenient, easy to access and stack, quickly loadable, and easy to recycle or otherwise dispose of.
Retail Packaging Supplies: What You'll Need
In order to get your products where they need to go, there are a few key retail packaging supplies that you may want to use. Take a look at the breakdown below to get a good idea of where you should start.
Corrugated Boxes: As one of the most ubiquitous packaging products out there, just about all of us have heard of, seen, and used corrugated boxes before. They come in a huge variety of sizes and durability levels, making them a great choice for storing and shipping your goods as they travel to retail environments to be sold.
Box Sealing Tape: Along with your corrugated boxes, you’ll also need carton sealing tape. While packaging tape can often seem like an afterthought, selecting the right kind is crucial to ensuring that your boxes stay securely and tightly shut during the entire supply chain process.
Labels: One fundamental factor in any type of packaging is information. You need to tell the people handling, receiving, and opening your products all of the key details about them – what's inside, storage info, if the items are fragile, and so on. Labels are a simple and highly effective way of placing this information precisely where it needs to be.
Pallets: Getting your goods from Point A to Point B is easier when they’re all packaged as one unit. That’s where pallets come in handy. All of your items go into their corrugated boxes, and then those boxes go on top of a pallet where they’ll be loaded onto trucks and into containers to make their way to the retail shop.
Stretch Film: Once your products are safely on their pallet, you need to keep them there throughout the entire supply chain system. By utilizing stretch film, also called stretch wrap, you can lock down your items with safety and security so that they arrive unharmed.
Cornerboard and Edge Protectors: One hazard that comes along with the use of pallets is forklift damage. Placing protective packaging supplies like cornerboard, angleboard, and edge protectors allows you to keep your goods secure when a forklift prong doesn’t quite hit the correct mark and runs into the wrong spot. These versatile tools can even protect against knives and box cutters as well!
Get the Job Done with Retail Packaging Supplies
Ensuring that your products are safe and undamaged as they travel to retailers is essential to your bottom line and to your customers’ satisfaction. That means you need to utilize the right retail packaging supplies that offer the ideal amount of protection without going overboard. Additionally, taking advantage of automatic packaging equipment, like carton sealers, case erectors, stretch wrap machines, or label applicators, can take your productivity to the next level. Learn more about each and every one of these packaging supplies, as well as the equipment that can help you maximize their potential, by contacting us or giving IPS Packaging & Automation a call at (800) 277-7007 today.
