3 WAYS TO CUT PACKAGING COSTS
Ordering packages is one of those tasks that can become automatic for the people responsible for them. You have a packaging partner, you have the standard quantity, all the designs are ready, measurements are the same. Just confirm, pay and done! Well this year you might have to be more attentive than that.
The year has left its mark to budgets as well, which have been cut during the difficult times and that’s inevitable. In the hope of sharing some new thoughts we have written down 3 suggestions how to turn this situation around and benefit from ordering new packages.
How to save when ordering packages?
Even if you have a stable packaging partner it is always important to audit your packaging costs. The quantity is of course one of the main factors, which helps to trim the costs. What if there is no way to cut back on the quantity? Well, you have to get a little more creative.
One of the main aspects to look over is the material of the packages. It is common that clients are offered a little stronger materials than are actually needed. For example instead of 210gsm paper bag you could order a 190gsm paper bag and save a significant amount.
Secondly you could turn your focus to the print area. Modifying the design a little bit and simplifying it can make a big difference. Instead of the usual 100% print area you could use a well thought through design on 50% print area and still stand out.
Lastly you could go over the colors of the designs. Let’s take a package that has a CMYK print (4 or more colors) on it. Instead you could use only 2 main colors and still have a killer package. If you combine a 2 colour print with a bigger printing area you can completely change the appearance of your packages and still fit your budget.
What affects orders of packages in the next few months?
September is right around the corner and some of the first Christmas orders have already been delivered. Therefore you should always confirm your end of the year orders in August or September, the latest in October. Orders that have been confirmed later will most likely be pricier due to the poor selection of affordable transportation.
The other main factor is on time delivery. While planning a holiday campaign the packages should always be at the top of the list. Same goes for marketing gifts. Orders confirmed in November or December might not reach the final destination before the end of the year. Nonetheless we will do everything in our power to find solutions even to the late orders.
Ask for offers
We can’t stress this enough, a price offer will not obligate you to order, but will give you a great overview of the market situation. When asking for a price offer be sure to send out the same criteria (material, thickness, print, delivery). This gives you a more accurate comparison of the prices.
Always check the received price offers and if they match with what you asked for. This helps to avoid unpleasant surprises such as finding out that instead of the ordered 200gsm paper bags you received 190gsm bags.
Trust, but verify. Always.
