Single Sourcing Your Packaging: The Hidden Risk

Single-sourcing may sound like a more viable option forproduct packaging. Building a good relationship with a top supplier and be reliant on them for all of your supply chain requirements seem to have many benefits, including effective trouble management and dispute resolution. It can undoubtedly build a solid foundation for your business.

This strategy can also be a bit risky sometimes.

Major events that have caused massive disruptions in global supply chains have been the US-China trade war and COVID-19 pandemic. These events have also affected the production and delivery of packaging supplies. Due to shutdowns and delays in the delivery of supplies, buyers have been looking for more consistent options. This impact has been severer for brands that were relying on single sources for packaging.

Your business is exposed to risk in two ways if you rely on single sourcing. The first and obvious one is that your supplier can go offline regardless of the reason. This situation can lead you requiring finding a new supplier. It can be a big challenge, especially when all other supply networks are not fully functional.

The second way can be a bit ambiguous. Relying on a single supplier may also make you reliant on undocumented and informal business procedures. Anything that results in that supplier going offline can result in your struggling to find alternatives for those informal business processes.

Setting up a new supplier can become significantly hard if your specs are not properly documented or openly available. It may be even impossible to shift to a new supplier if there is a lockdown situation out there.

These hidden risks can be dangerous as they can result in delays right when you need to make things happen quickly. Any delay in setting up a new supplier can also mean a significant interruption in your supply continuity.

Here are a few ways you can mitigate this risk.

Supply chain flexibility

The only way to avoid getting caught off guard is to build flexibility into your supply chain. This way, you can remove the risk of single sourcing. As a result, you can go for other options during a crisis.

The purpose of building flexibility is to make your supply chain portable. This way, you can switch to a more efficient supplier whenever needed. Here is what you may need to do to make all this happen.

• First and foremost, you will need to identify the categories of your products to see whether or not you are at risk. It will help you see if you are relying on one supplier for a critical component or service.
• Next, you will need to bring all of your stakeholders on a platform to make sure that information flow among all of you is accurate and efficient. You can consider using online collaboration tools instead of using emails or Excel files.
• You can create a central database for all of your approved and formal specifications. This way, all of the critical assets will be at your fingertips when you need them.

You can mitigate a lot of risks by bringing flexibility to the supply chain. The most essential part of this process is flawless communication between all business stakeholders.

 

Cannabis Light Packaging

With the availability of medical marijuana, cannabis light has become one of the most demanded stress- and anxiety-relief medications. That is why this product is available from authorized stores.

The demand for this product continues to rise. In such a scenario, it becomes quite necessary for companies to pay attention to the product packaging. This packaging has to be as informative as attractive. It means that making your product shout shouldn’t be the only thing to establish with the packaging design. Now, it is all up to you how to print information and instructions to inform your viewers. You can consult with the local authorities to know the rules you need to follow while selling light cannabis. In this article, we will discuss the design only.

We will start with “bath bombs” that are available at stores selling herbal and natural products. As soon as they come in contact with water, they explode and release perfume and color. The flavors available in these products are mint and grapefruit. The purpose of these products is to relax the body. Packaging of these bath bombs consists of cardboard featuring a window that allows consumers to have a look at the actual product.

The most logical use of hemp and other medical cannabis products can be seen in the food and supplement industry. These products are usually added to dietary supplements and beverages. The right packaging of light medical cannabis can help drive more sales.

One of the examples to discuss here is the chocolate bar with a specific percentage of CBD. It might be the safest and most effective stress-relieving supplement to give you a break from anxiety and depressive thoughts. Since it doesn’t contain THC, it doesn’t make you high.

The manufacturing company has made this product quite interesting with the use of attractive packaging. The pink color of the packaging makes it reflect the product’s ability to relax a depressed mind. The box of this product is an example of swaying allusion.

Another product that can come with a specific percentage of CBD is cookies. The product we discuss here is based on gluten-free cookies that also include some additional proteins to make snacking more of an energy refilling activity. The added benefits of medical cannabis make the product more of a refresher for the consumer. The packaging of this product is quite interesting. It makes the product look and feels like a superfood. The hemp content is highlighted on the packaging to avoid legal complications.

Now let’s discuss supplementation. The dietary supplement we discuss here consists of light medical cannabis. The packaging used for this supplement attracts a specific audience.

The stress-relieving properties make this product one of the best options for people suffering from depression. The pharmaceutical style of the product packaging says it all about the medical benefits of this product.

Medical cannabis sales continue to rise. However, manufacturers must pay attention to keeping the product safe and legal. And, it is quite necessary to convey the message of product safety through the right packaging.

Using Packaging As An Advertising Tool

Although the fundamental purpose of packaging is to cover the product during shipping and storage, it has now become equally important to use packaging as an advertising tool. If you are running an e-commerce brand, your product packaging will be the first and last point of contact for your consumers. That is why it cannot stay out of the marketing game.

A few basic principles of successful advertising through packaging are worth mentioning here.

• The proposition of the brand must be pervasive and clear.
• The product should tell its story.
• The packaging design should appeal to customers, both from retail store shelves and from the computer screen.
• Packaging should include the brand experience.
• The design should be balanced well.

The strategy of advertising through packaging works particularly well during multi-channel marketing campaigns. The example we will discuss in this regard is about the kit developed by Audi for a guerilla marketing campaign. The packaging design of this kit promoted Quattro all-wheel-drive system for car driving in the rain. This finished packaging housed a stencil along with a water-repellant spray, which could be used to make the word Quattro on any wet surface.

Another example is Geman handmade jewelry made with concrete. This jewelry comes in unique briefcase boxes that look elegant, engaging, and intense. The premium packaging design anchored by ecological green paint and gold embellishment makes the unboxing experience quite exceptional.

Dirty Cow is another brand that has started using its packaging for branding and advertising purposes. This brand sells wholly vegetable chocolate, which is an attraction for vegans. The letter “o” in the word “cow” comes with a prohibition sign, condemning the exploitation of dairy cattle. The white essential background of the packaging design incorporates a black stain that probably depicts a spotted cow. The finishing touch of this packaging is characterized by peeled chocolate berries to tell customers about the authenticity of the product.

Chocolate and coffee always seem to complement each other. The product we will discuss here includes coffee capsules that also give off the aroma of cocoa. The color of the packaging is intense powder blue. The packaging design includes white typefaces in the vintage italic style. The presentation is fun, rightly featuring images of ingredients of the product. The photo of coffee beans places with chocolate curls makes the overall presentation quite powerful.

The last example refers to the packaging of the muesli mix. This packaging is a same-panel tuck end box. The overall color is very light, and there are pastel textures with playful and vivid illustrations. The company has used a unique design tactic by placing the window on the bottom of one side of the box. It looks much better compared to a centered window.

Conclusion

These are just a few of many ideas regarding how to use product packaging smartly to advertise the product or brand. You may need to discuss your requirements with a packaging consultant or packaging designer to formulate a packaging design that speaks for your brand and product.

Protecting Fragile Items While Moving Homes

Moving to a new home brings a host of opportunities to you and your family. However, it can be daunting to pack all of your belongings and then unpack at the new home. It is essential to start packing well ahead of time and use high quality packing supplies to minimize the risk of damage during transition. You have to be particularly careful while packing your fragile items.

The remaining part of the article is based on a few tips that should help you understand how to protect your fragile items during the next move.

Supplies required to protect fragile items

It is necessary to follow precautions while packing your fragile items to prevent damage during the moving process. You have to move around in the house to make an inventory of all the fragile items that you need to pack. Making this inventory will give you an idea of moving supplies you will need to purchase to protect your fragile items. It is also a better approach to buy some extra supplies to avoid running out of protective items while packing.

Here are the items needed to protect your fragile items.

• Tapes: It can be hard to ensure the success of your move without using high-quality packing tape. While using tape, make sure to double-seal the bottoms of boxes containing breakable and heavy items.
• Cardboard boxes: Make sure that you have several cardboard boxes of various sizes. This way, you will be able to find an appropriate box for every item. Make sure to pack heavy items in smaller boxes. The quality of the box is crucial for the safety of products during transit. If possible, use corrugated cardboard boxes.
• Packing paper: When it comes to wrapping and protecting your valuables, nothing will be as effective as packing paper. You can use multiple layers of this paper to protect your items. The best practice is to use a few layers of this paper at the bottom of the box before you put the item inside. Then you will have to fill the void inside the box using crimped paper.
• Bubble wrap: Bubble wrap can protect your items from shocks and bumps like nothing else. This material comes in handy particularly for items that have unique edges or protrusions. If you do not want to use bubble wrap due to any reason, you can consider using foam for similar protection.
• Void filler: Void filler materials are commonly used in packaging companies. That is because void filler can protect goods from the harshness of transit in the best possible way. Items falling in the void filler category include tissue paper, packing peanuts, and packing paper. You can also use a newspaper.

Make sure to give the packing process a fair bit of time to avoid mistakes. Make sure that you are not over-packing boxes, or they might open up during the move. Be sure to have a sufficient amount of void filler to avoid running out of protective material while packing. If you have any questions, contact a packaging supplier.

 

Crafting with Corrugate

Have you heard of this fantastic material with limitless capabilities called cardboard? It is pretty cool if you know what is going on with the material. The uses of this material seem to be endless. There can be crafts made with corrugated boxes. The best part is that if you are wanting to make something like a fort or a flower pot or flower bed, you can do it all with this relatively simple to work with material. This material is also great for the kids to mess with and let their creativity flow. Doing this would be a great and easy way to keep the kids busy while you are stuck at home during these uncertain times dealing with Covid. 

The first thing that comes to mind which can be made using this material is flower beds or pots. This project is relatively simple, too, as you won’t need to reshape the box you are going to be using unless you want to. First, I recommend using a plastic bag to line the box; depending on how big your box will determine what kind of bag you use. If it is a bigger box you are going to use, I recommend a trash bag. You are also going to want to poke some holes in the bottom to allow any extra water to flow through and let the box soak it up. After that is done, you can add in your desired plants and soil. Once that is done, you have a cheaply made flower pot or bed that will work just as well as any expensive flower pots.

Another fun craft that can be done with your leftover corrugated boxes is a miniature cityscape. This project can be fun for the kids, and it lets their minds run free. They will be able to make any kind of small city they want. If they desired to produce a miniature replica of Chicago, for instance, by all means, let them. They can also let their imagination take over and make a city they make up. The good thing about this project is that not only does it make the kids use their imagination, but after the project is done, they can use it to play with their other toys. 

The final corrugate project that comes to mind is a decoration for Christmas. There are so many different kinds of decorations you can make with this kind of material. The first that comes to mind is Christmas ornaments. This is a simple project and how it is done and how it looks is entirely up to you and your imagination. I would recommend an easy ornament. You could cut small circles out as you do that make them slightly bigger and then smaller again. This is so you can stack the pieces together to form a sphere looking shape. Once you do that, then you will want to color it, or you can decorate it more if you choose with sparkles and other things like that. 

Cardboard is an excellent material for both shipping items and also making items you want. The best part is that all of these crafts I mentioned are barely a glimpse at what you are able to make with this material. The only limit is how creative you are going to be and the additional materials you may need. Other than that, the projects you so choose to make are entirely up to you. Google is a great place to start to get some ideas if you cant come up with anything but know you want to try something. 

Cardboard Boxes 2

If you’re an aunt (or uncle) like I am then you know how much fun it can be to spoil your nieces and nephews with love, cuddles, and candy all day long only to get to send them home to your sibling at night’s end. (Payback’s a bleep.) However, there can be those days when you either don’t have the oomph or will to run around with tiny people who just never seem to run out of energy. But no fear. There are some activities you can add to your aunt/uncle repertoire that will have both you and the kiddos entertained and having a blast. 

 

Before we go any further, I am going to reintroduce you to an old friend. Remember cardboard boxes? Now, this may seem odd seeing as how you’ve never befriended a brown box in your life. But that’s where you’d be wrong. In fact, if you were to think back to your own childhood you may be able to remember that they weren’t in fact just square and brown things to pack away extra junk you didn’t want to lie around, rather they were your very own spaceship, and you were the astronaut. Or they were pirate ships, and you were trying to “shiver the timbers” out of your little sister before her cannons sunk your boat.  Whatever you imagined them to be, your nieces or nephews now do the same. So, instead of just throwing out those cardboard boxes when they come bearing your latest online shopping conquest, set them aside and let them be a part of the next fun activity you do with when it’s your day with the kids.

 

Now that we’ve got that relationship underway, let’s turn our attention to some easy, yet fun, activities that will be a major hit. For starters, baking cookies. First of all, kids love cookies, and second of all cookies are awesome. Plus, kids absolutely love being able to help in the kitchen and it’s a fun way to spend time together. If you’re like me, baking cookies from scratch is the only way to go. If you’re like my sister, buying a tub of cookie dough from the store and letting the kids scoop them on the tray is the only way to go. Whichever way, the kids will have fun, and you’ll have a delicious treat come snack time. 

 

Another great activity you can do is edible playdough. It’s fun, kids love it, and you don’t have to worry about calling poison control if one of them eats it. Win-win. There are tons of recipes you can follow online, but essentially, it’s just a mixture of peanut butter, powdered sugar, and food coloring. (If one of the kids is allergic to nuts you can also use marshmallows, coconut oil, and cornstarch). Trust me, this one will get you the aunt/uncle of the year award. 

 

The last fun activity I’m going to share with you is not for the faint of heart. You ready? It’s this…just play a boardgame with them. Or even a card game. I know it’s probably hard to remember those, as they don’t seem to be a thing anymore. But they’re still around for a reason. And they can provide hours of entertainment for you and your nieces or nephews. Just ask mine, he beat me (no joke) 13 times at Candy Land, in a row. And he loved every second of it. Me, not so much. 

 

Look, kids don’t actually really care what you do with them. They just want you to show them attention and let them know you care. Whatever you decide to do, just have fun and remember… it’s ok to load them up with junk food. Your sibling kind of deserves trying to put them to bed with a sugar high.