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Food Packaging Mistakes to Avoid

Food Packaging


Whether your business provides dry or wet food, there is a strong need to be careful about what kind of packaging your products are stored in.
Food packaging is a health and safety issue that can make or break a brand. Here are some of the common packaging mistakes that should be avoided.  

Inks 

Whether it is on the label or the packaging itself, it is vital to ensure that you use food-grade inks. Many businesses are however careless about this and end up contaminating foods through transfer. The chemicals in some inks can be toxic while others can result in allergic reactions. Consult with your packaging supplier to ensure the inks used can safely interact with food or come with coating or other barriers that prevent any contamination.  

Wrong Labeling 

Some brands will make mistakes when it comes to the information printed on their labels. It is important to be careful with the details provided so that consumers are well-informed and able to make appropriate food choices. Be sure to meet industry standards when it comes to such issues as listing ingredients, quantity, and other details. Failure to meet industry standards may result in product recalls that can prove costly to remedy. Also, ensure accuracy and no spelling mistakes have been made. Some ingredients may have similar names and a small mistake can lead to issues like allergic reactions due to wrong information. Food items should also be properly named on their labels as different ingredients and processes can change how they are identified.  

Packaging Materials 

Some food packaging products are made with unsuitable chemicals like styrene, phenol, phthalates, and parabens. When these chemicals come in contact with food they can prove risky to human health. Some have been found to have negative effects like increasing the risk of cancer and endometriosis and harming fertility. It is advisable to work with a packaging supplier that adheres to FDA standards by using food-safe materials, inks, and coatings that do not allow for contamination of food items.  

Food Handling 

Businesses that deal in food products need to ensure appropriate precautions are taken when it comes to food handling. It is not just food packaging that can cause a problem. Contamination can also result when there is contact with unsanitary hands and surfaces when handling the food and its packaging. food businesses must adhere to stringent and hygienic food handling practices that will eliminate the risk of contamination. 

Securing Great Prices From a Wholesale Boxes Manufacturer

wholesale boxes manufacturer

One of the best ways to maximize profits is to minimize costs. Lowering expenses will boost profit margins. This is why it is important to review expenditures every so often to ensure you are getting the best deal possible. There are often fluctuations in the market that can mean lower costs if you switch to another provider. For businesses that sell packaged products, one provider that should be regularly reviewed is your
wholesale boxes manufacturer.  Here are some ways you can look into ensuring your packaging needs are being met at a competitive rate.  

Source for Quotes 

The market of box manufacturers is constantly in flux. There are new entrants that come in every so often, while others shut down. Even if you have not been affected by a manufacturer that has shut down, you can easily seek quotes from other businesses. The market is competitive and you may find someone offering a great introductory deal for the same quality of packaging as you already get. Seek out new deals to also see if there are any new technologies in the market you are not yet taking advantage of that would be beneficial to your business. Try to go wide with this. you can seek out suppliers of wholesale boxes in San Diego CA and beyond. Many that are states away may still offer deals that include free shipping if the order is big enough.  

Track Paper Prices 

Paper pricing can often fluctuate. Keeping an eye on this development can help in better timing your sourcing of quotes. You can even set up an alert on industry news for this purpose. Or, you can liaise with your box manufacturer to have them notify you when there is a fall in pricing so you know what effective date to target.  

Bargain with Your Preferred Manufacturer 

When you have several quotes in hand that indicate you can get a better deal elsewhere, you can use them to negotiate for a better deal with your existing supplier. Do not be too quick to make a switch if your existing manufacturer has been dependable. There can be value in preserving this business relationship, so take the opportunity to simply negotiate for lower pricing on your next order.  

Buy in Bulk 

The larger an order you place with your wholesale boxes manufacturer, the more they should lower the unit cost. If you have adequate storage space for packing materials, consider placing an order that will qualify you for bulk discounts.  

Making a Bulk Order for Wholesale Carton

Specialty product display box

Wholesale Carton and Wholesale Display Box

Any business that sells physical products needs reliable packaging. Not just for when storing goods in warehouses or for display in stores, but also for making safe deliveries. With a growing number of businesses adopting e-commerce, it has become necessary to keep up with trends and make it possible for customers to shop for your products remotely. This means having to facilitate shipping and ensuring the goods are well packaged to arrive at their destination in good shape. Here are a few considerations you should make when buying wholesale cartons for your business.

Shop Around 

A lot of businesses still struggle to maximize their profits. Minimizing costs is a good way to try and achieve this goal. When shopping around for a box maker, factor in the pricing you are being quoted, but do not sacrifice quality. Ensure you are getting your money’s worth. The benefit of ordering in bulk is that many suppliers are happy to offer a discount. The bigger an order you can make, the lower unit figure they will quote per wholesale carton. Remember to factor in shipping costs if considering a box maker that is located further away. 

Branding 

Choose a box maker that can customize your boxes the way you want them. Sizing should conform with that of your products to optimize production and shipping costs. You also need to pay keen attention to branding. Every time a box leaves your premises, it should be an opportunity to market your brand. More so when you are using a wholesale display box that is meant to capture the attention of passersby and entice them into picking a sample of your product.  

Order Samples 

Before you confirm a big order of boxes, you need to be assured that the product is worth the investment. Besides branding, you also need to ensure the boxes can match up to the demands of transport. They need to be structurally sound and durable. Box makers will often offer samples so you get a definite idea of the quality of their work. Where possible, you can also tour the facility to understand how manufacturing and quality control are done.  

Eco-Friendly 

Consumers are far more environmentally conscious these days. They are aware that their purchases can have an impact on the environment and prefer to patronize businesses that make it easy for them to minimize their carbon footprint. When choosing your design and supplier of a wholesale carton, ensure they apply eco-friendly practices like recyclable materials and non-toxic inks. You can even display messages on the boxes that affirm your efforts to remain eco-conscious.  

 

Reasons To Buy A Wholesale Corrugated Box For Shipping Clothes

Custom shipping box
Online shopping sites have become increasingly well versed on how to market their clothing lines. They now do a much better job of taking pictures of items, on hangers and when worn by models. They also make sure to display them from various angles and in a mix of colors. This helps shoppers to shop more confidently as they have a clear idea of what they are buying.

They have also had to become smarter about how to ship them. While a polythene bag may have once sufficed, many are now opting for a wholesale corrugated box. Here’s why.

Lightweight

Corrugated boxes are surprisingly lightweight, even with multiple flutes. Since clothing is also lightweight, you need only minimal thickness to ensure sufficient stacking strength and insulation. The minimal added weight from the box makes carrying the item around easy. It also means a little added cost of shipping. Shipping costs are mainly pegged n weight so it helps to know not much is added to the scale.

Affordability

Besides the saving on shipping, these boxes are quite affordable in themselves. Corrugated boxes are already quite affordable. When you order locally made San Diego shipping boxes in bulk, you get the added benefit of discounts. The larger the order, the greater the discount. And if you order locally, it can also mean lower shipping costs of the boxes themselves to your facility. It all breaks down to a very low unit price that is not even worth passing on to the buyer when settling orders.

Distant Shipping

To make the most of online shopping, businesses need to be able to offer their commodities far and wide. Sometimes that means shipping very great distances. This comes with all kinds of exposure that calls for strong packaging. A wholesale corrugated box comes with a tensile strength that makes it ideal to protect products for long periods and long distances.

Presentation

Packing clothing items in boxes allows them to arrive at their final destination in a presentable manner. When in polythene bags they often suffer all kinds of folding and crumbling that wrinkles the fabric. If reasonably handled in a box, the contents are unboxed as they were originally boxed. Sometimes the ink from plastic packaging will even transfer to the fabrics, further damaging the product. Corrugated boxes are however organic and insulating. Clothing items should be able to arrive in a safe and blemish-free condition every time.

4 Eco-Friendly Reasons To Choose Corrugated Boxes

Die Cut Corrugated Inserts
For most businesses, the main concern when choosing packaging material is that it should deliver the product to the client safely and affordably. In today’s world, however, businesses are being compelled to be more environmentally conscious of how their activities affect the natural world. Consumers now prefer to support brands that make an effort to minimize their carbon footprint. The use of corrugated boxes helps in this cause for several reasons.

Recyclable Material

These boxes can be manufactured using recycled paper materials like old cartons, cereal boxes, and newspapers. Not only are they made of recycled material, but they can also be recycled again for the same purpose. If the boxes are printed on using ‘green inks’, or not at all, they can also be safely disposed of or decompose without worry they will contaminate the environment as they are biodegradable.

Reuse

The layered design of corrugated cardboard gives it a rigid and durable form when in use. Even the most basic options that come with just 3 layers can be quite sturdy. Once a customer has taken delivery of the box and removed the contents, they can reuse it for other purposes. They are often a good way to store away items in attics, basements, and storage lockers. They can last for even several years and be safely reused as much as 7 times. And again, when the box becomes too weak and damaged for storage, it can still be safely disposed of.

Sustainable Sources

Besides recyclable material, corrugated cardboard is also typically made from the pulp of tree varieties that are fast-growing and from sustainable forests. Sustainable forests are carefully managed so that as mature trees are harvested, even more are being planted to replace them. This cycle ensures a reliable supply of wood material without depletion of tree life.

Low Energy Costs

The recyclable components of corrugated boxes mean that less energy is used by manufacturers to produce the packaging. Utilizing less energy means that there is more power to spare for other production work. This in turn also means more efficient manufacturing processes that result in less waste and pollution. Because many businesses that buy these boxes prefer them in their plain state, there is often little use of inks and bleaches. This not only means less processing but also a more biodegradable product that will not harm the environment even if it ultimately ends up in a landfill.

Why Use Wholesale Corrugated Boxes for Shipping

Die Cut Corrugated Inserts
Shipping products have become an integral part of business functions. With more consumers choosing to make orders remotely, all types of businesses have had to incorporate deliveries into their services. There are many different ways that sellers can package their products to arrive safely at the customer’s doorstep. Wholesale corrugated boxes are amongst the best options available to sellers for several key reasons.

Customizable

These boxes can be customized to a variety of sizes and dimensions to fit the specifications of various products. This is important because a good fit helps to better secure the product within the box. It also minimizes the cost involved in shipping. Weight and size of packages strongly influence shipping costs.

The thickness of the box walls can also be customized with extra layering to further reinforce the construction. Customization in terms of appearance is also vital. Businesses can reinforce their brand image and make their products stand out with creatively printed boxes. Whether you use natural landscape images, the company logo, or just your business name, take time to put a creative spin on it to attract the right kind of attention.

Protection

The construction of wholesale corrugated boxes provides plenty of shock absorption and padding. This helps ensure that even with some jostling along the way, your products should remain secure and unharmed while in transit. The fluting feature of these boxes also helps to prevent moisture from getting to the contents if there is water exposure. Some coatings also help make the boxes water and flame resistant.

Affordability

Even wholesale boxes in California can be quite cost-effective thanks to bulk order discounts and the use of recyclable material for construction. These boxes are quite easy to manufacture for those with suitable machinery and rely on renewable resources. Their high strength also means that they can easily be reused and later recycled for the same purpose. This quality is also appreciated by many consumers who are environmentally conscious and prefer to align themselves with businesses that share the same values.

High Strength Construction

As mentioned, corrugated boxes are very strong. Not only does it make their reuse easier, but it also means better protection for contents when being transported. The boxes can easily be stacked without the ones below suffering serious pressure that would damage the contents. This is another reason these boxes are preferred by shippers who have to stack multiple boxes to fill up a container.

How To Save When Mailing A Small Shipping Box

Heavy Duty Shipping Box
As businesses become more global, there has been a growing need to make shipping of products more affordable. Many concerns no longer just ship to wholesalers and large merchants. They now also sell directly to the retail market and that means having to contend with smaller shipments. Here are some tips on how to minimize the costs involved and make catering to this market more profitable.

Customize Packaging

Tailoring your packaging to conform more tightly to the size of the product is a good idea rather than relying on standard shipping box sizes. When you have a small shipping box, the weight and size will be better optimized and will result in cheaper shipping costs. Carriers calculate shipping costs primarily based on weight, size, and distance. Since distance is dependent on the location of the customer, you need to work on the other factors to get better shipping costs.

Use Quality Materials and Designs

The better quality your package is, the less risk that the contents will be damaged in transit. Whether it is a small or large shipping box, it should ideally be made of sound construction such as corrugated cardboard. Where necessary you can even include inserts that can better support the contents of the box and provide added shock absorption. When goods arrive in good condition to their destination, you will not have to deal with returns or reimbursement costs.

Choose The Right Carrier

For those that use mainstream carriers, be sure to make comparisons as to the deals on offer. Many businesses report that USPS is the cheapest option for packages under 13 ounces. Depending on where you are and the products you are dispatching, you may want to do some research before committing to a particular carrier. You can even work with multiple carriers, classing them according to weight sizes so you can optimize your costs.

Order Your Packaging Supplies in Bulk

Many providers offer great deals on bulk orders. If you have been in business for a while you should have an idea as to what products are fast-moving and the size of orders to expect, especially during peak periods. Take stock of this when placing your orders for packaging materials to secure bulk discounts. Determine the mix of small and large shipping box you will need and find a place to store them. Being lightweight, you can safely pile them somewhere until you need them to dispatch products.

Benefits of Partnering with A Local Packaging Company in San Diego

Suitcase box made by local packaging company in San Diego
Businesses of all sizes have managed to grow their client base by expanding into the online market. More and more shoppers prefer the convenience of being able to order their items from the comfort of their homes. With smartphones becoming more widely used, businesses that have made their online stores mobile-friendly are reaping big rewards.

To effectively cater to this segment of the market, these sellers have had to partner with packaging companies. While the seller focuses on their key product, the packaging company ensures it can be ably packed and forwarded to end-use customers. The packaging business has however gone global with sellers now able to engage providers from all over the world.

It is, however, preferable to opt for a local packaging company in San Diego for several reasons.

Speed

No matter how quickly an overseas supplier can put together an order, they are still at the mercy of shipping companies when it comes to making a delivery to sellers. Complications such as bad weather and global travel restrictions can cause delays in cargo deliveries. When sellers opt to partner with local packaging companies in San Diego, they are assured of much fewer chances of interference in deliveries. If close enough, they may even decide to pick up their order themselves.

At the beginning stages, physical product samples are an excellent way to ensure you are getting just what you want. A local company can get the samples to your faster, allowing for quicker final approvals before production is ramped up.

Cost

While production costs can vary based on location, additional costs may make the final invoice more inflated than it has to be. Transport and insurance costs for orders being made from overseas can drive up the final bill. With a local packaging company in San Diego, proximity can often mean low or no delivery costs being charged.

Communication

Speaking with a supplier in the same language brings down communication barriers. Many overseas vendors must hire bilingual staff who may speak English as a second or third language. While this can still be effective, communication is that much clearer when both sides use the same first language and share a similar culture. With close enough proximity, the seller can even visit the packaging company in person. This makes for even better direct communication and an opportunity to check out the operations of the company in person.

Improved Business and Economy

Working with local partners also helps to benefit the local economy. It means more jobs for people in the area and more circulation of money in the local market. This can in turn help to boost the seller’s business as most customers will often come from the same locality.

Why Clothing Firms Should Engage A Custom Box Maker

Custom shipping box
The apparel business has become increasingly lucrative thanks to the advent of online shopping. Now, clothing firms that market their brand well can expect to attract buyers from all over the world. These can be from overseas wholesalers, retail stores or end-users. This means having to be prepared for whatever sized order that comes in and ensuring there is suitable packaging available.
For singular orders from end-users or wholesalers and retailers that want samples, a padded envelope is typically good enough. Larger orders, however, require the use of boxes. While you can find such in at retail stores, there are some benefits attached to placing an order for custom boxes in San Diego.

Presentation

The clothing business relies heavily on visual presentation. This is why storefront businesses are keen on how they dress and pose their mannequins. Even when sending clothing items by mail, they need to arrive in the most presentable state possible. A custom box is a great way to ensure the neatly folded and pressed garment arrives ready for the buyer to wear or otherwise display. Too big a box will leave room for the clothing to shift from side to side and arrive all creased and crooked. Too tight and it might apply pressure that again makes the garment come out with creases.

Protection

Having a custom box maker prepare corrugated boxes is a good way to safeguard your products. They are lightweight, making it easy to carry them around for transport and cheap to ship. Even with bulky orders, these boxes provide good cushioning and support. The construction also helps to prevent moisture and bacteria reaching the contents.
They are also great for protecting the environment as most are made of recycled or green materials. After delivery of the products, the recipients can re-use the boxes for multiple purposes. And once they are disposed of, they are biodegradable.

Promotion

Just as with many other businesses, it pays to make your brand memorable. Besides ensuring that you are delivering quality products to customers, you also need to be on top of your marketing game. With custom boxes in San Diego, you can create unique packaging that will draw the eye. Whether it is applying your company logo or embellishing with gold foil, you will need to develop a design that is a good representation of what your company offers and why your clients should remember it happily.

Customization Ideas For Wholesale Mailer Boxes

Custom CD Mailer
Packing boxes were once the preserve of those that bought appliances or bought items in wholesale quantities. Today, boxes have become more commonplace thanks to online shopping which calls for retailers and wholesalers to properly package their items for safe delivery. Wholesale mailer boxes are probably the best option for safe delivery thanks to their hardy yet lightweight designs.
With the competition for consumers being on the rise with an increasing number of retailers and wholesalers entering the market, it pays to stand out from the crowd. Customized packaging can help give a business a more memorable and unique appearance. Here are a few ways to help achieve this.

Double-Sided Printing

People are accustomed to receiving boxes that are branded on the outside and plain brown on the inside. Double-sided printing makes for a unique and delightful experience. It does not have to be a complicated design, just something that breaks the monotony of plain interiors. The more attractive you make your wholesale mailer boxes, the more likely the recipient will keep it for reuse, which helps the environment.

Unique Box Shape

Depending on the products you are packing, it is very possible to get unusual box shapes created. Whether it is heart-shaped to suit Valentine’s or rounded to fit the curves of a perfume bottle, there are a lot of ideas you can bring to life that will make your brand highly noticeable. Customizing the shape of packaging can be useful in protecting the contents by keeping them be encased.

Embellishments

From adding glitter to embossed lettering for branding, there are many ways you can embellish packaging. For wholesale boxes in San Diego, there is strong competition when trying to appear unique. You do not need to go overboard, but it does give an impression of thoughtfulness and elegance when the packaging is uniquely done. Gloss colors also help in this goal, while helping reinforce the box material. Along with gold and silver foils, they help give a premium look that is ideal for expensive items.

Whether your business is located in or outside San Diego, you will find that customized packaging can make a positive impression on your clients. They will better remember your brand and the joy your products bring, partly because of the interesting packaging they were wrapped in. For the best results, engage the services of a manufacturer that is highly experienced in box making and can offer a good selection of customization options that will help your brand stand out.

Choosing Between Corrugated Carton and Folding Carton

Custom cardboard box
In the retail packaging world, both corrugated or cardboard boxes and folding cartons are widely used. You will see these cartons every day within the retail aisles. You can have wholesale corrugated box products to help save you some bucks in your packaging needs. If you plan to package products, you may want to know which option to choose between the two. These two boxes have different features. Understanding the design aspects of each of the boxes allows you to make an informed decision on which one to choose.

That being said, how can you choose one over the other?

Folding vs. Corrugated Boxes

Folding cartons are made out of paperboard. The paperboard is printed before it is laminated, cut, folded and then glued. Folding boxes range from high-end cosmetic packaging boxes to colorful cereal boxes. Visually, folding boxes are single-layers often feeling like some thick cardstock. Since folding cartons are printed in full color, it helps with branding and promotions of retail businesses or brands.

Corrugated packaging, on the other hand, has a fluted sheet that is found between the two outer linerboard sheets. The sandwiched wavy, rippled sheet offers more strength to the box. Corrugated boxes come in different thicknesses and styles. Just like the folding cartons, corrugated boxes can also be printed in full-color meaning they can help with retail or product branding while also ensuring the protection of the products in an unmatched way compared to other materials.

Benefits of Folding and Corrugated Cartons

Folding boxes are lighter, thinner, and take up less storage space. They also offer various embellishments that are achieved during the design process, including texture, embossing, and foil stamping. Corrugated boxes are rigid and offer more options when compared to folding cartons. They can be reused over time or closed and opened multiple times. This packaging also supports inserts and handles – including foam and corrugated ones with ease. It can be used where folding cartons have been chosen as the primary packaging material to offer more protection and support during shipment.

Which one to Choose? Corrugated vs. Folding Cartons

Being a retailer staple, folding cartons have a wide usage while the corrugated cartons, a close retail packaging contender, offers different options for packaging solutions. In choosing between the two, you have to look at the shape, weight, and size of the product you are packaging. You also need to examine the desired packaging timeline and volume. For a product that has multi-unit or hefty combinations like gift packs, corrugated cartons are the way to go because of the issue of weight distribution. For fragile products, corrugated cartons also take the win.

When you consider the timeline and the volume of your order, you find that folding cartons have high minimum orders when they aren’t being printed digitally. If you are seeking a cost-effective, short run while not compromising on color, you can go with digitally printed corrugated cartons. They have a high impact and allow unbeatable speed-to-market.

In essence, there are various factors that determine what kind of box you choose. Regardless of which carton you have selected for your packaging solutions, ensure it is manufactured to meet your needs. If you go for wholesale carton products, it is going to allow you to get more value for your money. You will have bulky productions of the cartons at a reasonable wholesale price.

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Ask about our high volume custom box orders discounts. To speak with a box specialist and receive a FREE estimate, call us toll-free at 1-888-776-8000 or contact us via email. We'll be happy to assist you.

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