by ifs_admin | Co-Packing
There is a lot more that goes into effective packaging design than meets the eye. And that’s kind of the point. When it comes to successful packaging design, the aim is to make it look effortless but memorable. The packaging of a product should announce the product from the shelf. And while looking good, it still has to serve the main functional purpose of packaging: safety. It is crucial to ensure a product’s integrity is maintained during the shuffle of getting things to market. With all of that in mind, packaging should still be easy to remove when needed and affect the product’s usability.
Announce Brand
Packaging should, of course, make the use of the product obvious. When we think of famous packaging, we think of things like the iconic Coke bottle or Burt’s Bees’ signature yellow tube. Effective packaging design makes the brand known immediately and tells consumers what it is they’re buying. Along with the logo or name, packaging may also sometimes contain bits of information or facts about the product that are important to know. For example, diet soda or sparkling water might advertise limited or no calories. Makeup packaging might advertise lengthened lashes or all-natural ingredients. At the very least, successful packaging design engages the consumer and gets them to take a closer look at what lies within.
Packaging solutions are a great way to get additional advertising without putting up billboards or paying for commercial spots. Eye-catching packaging that sets a product apart from the rest pays for itself in the end, even on the shelf. Whether a bottle of syrup or a can of soup, having the right packaging for a brand is a make-or-break situation. Branding and effective packaging design also depend on your industry. A cosmetics company might be wary of clashing colors, while a cereal brand geared toward children would lean toward big bright colors. Packaging takes all of these things into account and broadcasts your company’s message to consumers. This is advertising, the first point of contact, and brand presence all in one.
Lasting Impact
We’ve already talked about Coke and its great presence, thanks to the packaging. But their superior use of packaging goes even deeper than that. Good, consistent, and aesthetically appealing packaging will stick in the minds of consumers for years to come. You want people to remember your product, and your packaging can help. If someone is strolling down the cosmetics aisle searching for a razor, they’re practically inundated by options. There are all different kinds of razors offering different things. Closest shave, reusable, contains lotion, made from recycled plastic, these are the things that are being advertised. But only a consumer who has tested out a few will be able to look past those promises and remember which one lasted the longest, which one cut the least, and on and on. Having memorable packaging helps consumers to remember that your brand is trustworthy and reliable.
There can be no brand loyalty without an established brand. Such a big part of any brand rests in the packaging. Lackluster packaging means being overlooked and eventually forgotten. Packaging that doesn’t announce itself and draw consumers in is doomed to fail. Custom packaging that makes your brand clear and your product memorable will be the lifeblood of sales.
Security
While we’ve covered the need for packaging to be pretty and appealing, good packaging is also safe. Or rather, it keeps the product safe. Packaging, whether primary or secondary, is about protection. If whatever is surrounding your product—be it a jar, a tube, or a wrapper—breaks or doesn’t hold up against shipping, what’s the point? You can have the best branding and prettiest packaging in the game, but if it’s made of weak stuff, it’s all for nothing. Putting your product in the proper packaging is an investment. Packaging protects; that’s as simple as it gets.
A truly successful packaging design is the perfect balance of protection and beauty. Effective packaging design, in most cases, is a draw to consumers. Selling laundry detergent with an easy pour spout or a cleaning product with child-proof caps and the like are valuable features to certain consumers. Nobody wants to buy a bottle of over-the-counter pain reliever that isn’t tamper-proof. The smart thing to do is consider the consumer at every turn, including packaging. The safety of your product should be the top priority. Successful packaging design blends the art of marketing and the security necessary for transportation.
Accessibility
Another fundamental of effective packaging design is maybe the most obvious. Accessing the product from within the packaging easily is, of course, a must. The accessibility of a product can vary from product to product. When it comes to medical supplies, like medications and topical treatments that are toxic to ingest, it’s best to have extra barriers built into packaging, like self-locking caps. But for other goods, like breakfast cereal and jars of olive oil, it’s important to be able to get to the product without sacrificing freshness. That’s where bags inside of boxes and easily removed seals covered by caps come in. The last thing you want is to be known as a pretty product that is impossible to open or use.
There are certain elements of secondary packaging that should be intentionally difficult to remove, like heat-sealed hard plastic. This protects your product during shipping, whether from warehouse to store or from store to home for your consumer. But once that protective packaging is removed, it should be smooth sailing. Again, we are faced with a balancing act of security and ease of use while also throwing in curb appeal. Putting all of these elements together is the equation for successful packaging design.
Effective packaging design is a mix of several essential elements. There are so many factors to consider, and none are minor. Your packaging should be secure but easy to access and appealing to show your consumer what your business is about. There are things you might not even consider when you’re getting your packaging together. Some experts can help you determine precisely what your product needs. IFS is an industry-leading co-packing company. Putting together years of experience, top-of-the-line technology, and facilities, IFS is here to assist you with any packaging needs.
About IFS as a 3PL
Impact Fulfillment Services is a top 3PL that offers everything your company could need. Our facilities are state-of-the-art, and our process is entirely streamlined. From fulfillment to distribution and warehousing, IFS has the experience and tools to keep your product safe and up to industry standards. IFS documents every detail of production and packaging, so no corners are cut. Our use of primary and secondary packaging ensures that your product is safe and as eye-catching as possible when it hits the shelves. With all the best technology and finely trained teams, IFS is a 3PL you can count on.
To learn more about our 3PL services, speak to a specialist!
#impactfs #supplychain #copacking #co-packing #impactyourbrand
by ifs_admin | Co-Packing
There’s no doubt you’ve been in a grocery store or a warehouse club and seen a big point of purchase display for paper towels or chips just before you get to the register. These big, eye-catching displays draw the consumer in, even if it wasn’t what they were looking for. These displays are called point of purchase (or POP) displays. POP displays are designed to drive sales of a specific product and brand. They are a clever marketing strategy that puts products front and center outside of their regular retail space.
Types of POP Displays
There are a few ways to set up a point of purchase display. The most common is the free-standing displays with big signage and plenty of products. There are more subtle POP displays, like shelf stoppers. These are aisle end caps that use pre-existing shelf space for just one product. A POP can also consist of a smaller display that relies on promotional signage over an abundance of products.
POP displays can also be digital in certain spaces. If a store or retail space is properly equipped, a POP display can easily be presented on a screen. This can be as simple as a short reel or commercial with a shelf or two of the promoted product.
Each type of POP has its benefits. The right kind of POP display depends on the product and retail space.
POP Permanence
Some POP displays last longer than others. We’re all familiar with those big stadiums made of soda cans that pop up around Super Bowl time. Those are prime examples of temporary displays because they only last a few weeks. A semi-permanent lasts a few months, things like s’more supplies in the summertime. Permanent POP displays are exactly what they sound like. These displays are fixtures in the store and last for years. Think of these as an extension of the aisle you can normally find the display product.
The Importance of POP Displays
A POP display is all about driving sales and creating awareness. They’re the perfect way of getting your product to stand out by having it stand alone. Because of the typical location of POP displays, the products they are promoting are hard to miss. This gets your product in front of everyone who enters the store. That means that those who are brand loyal have easier access, and those who have never tried your product have the perfect opportunity to do so. POP displays make it as easy as possible for anyone to engage with your product.
Point of Purchase displays are simple but extremely effective as marketing tactics. There’s no easier way to get people to engage in your product than putting it in an unavoidable line of sight. Depending on the location, your product could be the first thing people see when they enter and the last thing they see before checkout. It is hard to imagine a marketing tactic that requires so little effort but nets such wonderful results in boosting purchasing numbers.
Point of Purchase Displays with IFS
IFS is one of the most comprehensive contract packaging entities out there. Not only does IFS handle primary and secondary packaging, but POP displays as well. With IFS, your product will be taken care of from production to POP, in expert hands every step of the way. You can bet that your POP display is being handled and designed in a way that will optimize consumer interaction. Point of purchase displays are invaluable to product and brand promotion. Rather than trying to learn all of the POP display best practices, let the masters at IFS take care of it for you.
About IFS as a 3PL
Impact Fulfillment Services is a top 3PL that offers everything your company could need. Our facilities are state of the art and our process is completely streamlined. From fulfillment to distribution, and warehousing in between, IFS has the experience and tools to keep your product safe and up to industry standards. IFS documents every detail of production and packaging, so no corners are cut. Our use of primary and secondary packaging ensures that your product is not only safe but that it is as eye-catching as possible when it hits the shelves. With all the best technology and finely trained teams, IFS is a 3PL you can count on.
To learn more about our 3PL services, speak to a specialist!
#impactfs #supplychain #copacking #co-packing #impactyourbrand
by ifs_admin | Co-Packing
Contract packaging services can help companies with a wide array of assistance. Companies of all specialties and sizes reach out to co-packing companies when they need help getting their products to market, fast and in bulk. Just like any business, not all co-packing companies offer the same services. A lot goes into third-party logistics. If you are considering partnering with a contract packaging company, there are a few things to consider first. Along with your own needs, it’s important for you to know some of the finer points of co-packing. A better understanding of what contract packaging services can offer you will help you decide if it’s right for you.
Primary and Secondary Packaging
Under the umbrella of contract packaging services, two of the biggest categories are primary and secondary packaging. One is for the safety of the product while the other is more to do with branding and aesthetic while sometimes lending itself to utility.
Primary packaging is the first thing that goes on the product and the last thing that comes off. Prime examples of primary packaging include the tubes that contain cosmetics like lipstick and mascara. The primary packaging of a product usually holds the brand name and logo. Everything from the bottles that hold vitamins to the aluminum can that carries your favorite soda is primary packaging.
Secondary packaging has more to do with bundling and transportation. This contract packaging service helps get bulk products from warehouse to store. Shrinkwrap, cardboard boxes, and plastic ties are all elements of secondary packaging. Secondary packaging is about protecting the primary packaging and product during transit. Secondary packaging also sometimes lends itself to branding. If you take a look at the cosmetics aisle in any store you’ll see rows of products that have primary and secondary packaging. A tube of mascara wrapped in plastic and cardboard with brand and product information has secondary packaging.
Not all products require secondary packaging, which could be why not all companies offer this contract packaging service. While these are two important elements of a co-packing company, the right company will do even more.
Fulfillment and Distribution
Finding a co-packing company that goes the extra mile can be a game-changer. Some co-packers will only pack and store your product. These are vital services but are kind of the baseline for contract packaging services. A top-tier co-packing company will help your company with the fulfillment and distribution of your product. Orders will go straight to the warehouse, completed, and shipped out.
Using a reliable third-party logistic, or 3PL will be an investment in your company’s future. Bringing on the right co-packing company will put the creation, packaging, and distribution of your product in professional hands.
The Right Partner
Not every co-packing company is a one-stop-shop when it comes to services. Some offer cherry-pick services or simply don’t have the space or experience to do it all. But Impact Fulfillment Services really does do it all.
Impact Fulfillment Services (IFS) offers everything under the contract packaging services umbrella. With top-of-the-line facilities, highly trained staff, and a detailed system that keeps track of every step of the co-packing process, IFS guarantees that no corners will be cut. By trusting IFS with your product it will hit the market safely and look better than ever.
Contract packaging services cover a lot of things and take a lot of stress off of your company—if you find the right partner. Deciding whether your company is ready for a co-packer can be a big step. There are a lot of things to consider internally before even exploring co-packing options.
If you are wondering whether or not contract packaging is right for you, get in touch with the IFS team.
About IFS as a 3PL
Impact Fulfillment Services is a top 3PL that offers everything your company could need. Our facilities are state of the art and our process is completely streamlined. From fulfillment to distribution, and warehousing in between, IFS has the experience and tools to keep your product safe and up to industry standards. IFS documents every detail of production and packaging, so no corners are cut. Our use of primary and secondary packaging ensures that your product is not only safe but that it is as eye-catching as possible when it hits the shelves. With all the best technology and finely trained teams, IFS is a 3PL you can count on.
To learn more about our 3PL services, speak to a specialist!
#impactfs #supplychain #copacking #co-packing #impactyourbrand
by ifs_admin | Transportation & Logistics
There is a lot that goes into running a business, and third-party logistics companies can help. In any given business, you’re concerned with creating a product, distributing, and marketing it – on top of so many other factors. Taking all of those tasks on your own is a lot for any operation. That’s where a third-party logistic provider comes in.
A third-party logistics provider, or 3PL, is a commonly used outsourcing resource. These are companies and businesses that assist in aspects of packing like fulfillment, storage, and even distribution. 3PLs are most useful to companies that are looking to boost their productivity. Entrusting the more time-consuming elements of a business to a 3PL opens up time for development, marketing, networking, and more.
The Advantages of Third-Party Logistics
Using a third-party logistics company is a big step but comes with huge advantages. Partnering with a 3PL is just like partnering with a new investor or designer. This kind of partnership is something you’ll need to think long and hard on, and of course, there will be some number crunching, but it will be a sound investment in the long run. Finding the 3PL that fits your business’s needs and offers the growth you need will be worth it.
Rather than shouldering the entire burden of your business on your own, consider outsourcing. Odds are you aren’t in the packaging business yourself if you’re considering a third-party logistics service provider. Even if you have an established system that’s been working for you, it’s almost certain that a 3PL will be able to do it better. Bringing a 3PL into your program is like trusting a graphic design firm to create your company’s logo or an architecture firm to design your new office building. Put the packaging, distribution, and fulfillment of your products in the hands of professionals.
3PLs are in the business of keeping your products safe and getting them to market. Your business means a lot to you, and once you bring on a 3PL your business is their business. If you pick the right company, your product will be treated with as much care as you could offer yourself but on a bigger scale. Keep that in mind when you’re considering bringing on production help.
Finding a third-party logistics company means more hands, finer tuned processes across the board, and facilities designed for getting products out into the world safely. A 3PL provider will act as another arm of your business, without you having to oversee things daily. Depending on the 3PL your level of involvement in the process can be anything from facility visits to monthly email updates on progress. You will get out of a 3PL which would be impossible to do on your own.
No matter the nature of your business a third-party logistics service provider can help. With the help of a 3PL, you will send a more polished and well-put-together product to your consumer, and in greater numbers. Only by partnering with a 3PL can your company reach those new heights and truly expand its reach. Bringing on a 3PL to your operation will truly take your company to an entirely new level.
About IFS as a 3PL
Impact Fulfillment Services is a top 3PL that offers everything your company could need. Our facilities are state of the art and our process is completely streamlined. From fulfillment to distribution, and warehousing in between, IFS has the experience and tools to keep your product safe and up to industry standards. IFS documents every detail of production and packaging, so no corners are cut. Our use of primary and secondary packaging ensures that your product is not only safe but that it is as eye-catching as possible when it hits the shelves. With all the best technology and finely trained teams, IFS is a 3PL you can count on.
To learn more about our 3PL services, speak to a specialist!
#impactfs #supplychain #copacking #co-packing #impactyourbrand
by ifs_admin | Warehousing & Distribution
Fulfillment services and warehousing so often go hand in hand. Both tend to fall under the blanket term for third-party logistics providers—3PL for short—which is essentially outsourcing specific services. While warehousing and fulfillment services are usually lumped together they are completely separate and stand-alone operations. Some providers, like IFS, are a one-stop shop for these services, while others are more of a cherry-picking deal. But not all 3PLs do the same thing, and certainly don’t cost the same.
For some companies, fulfillment services and warehousing are a necessary evil, but finding the right provider can be an absolute game-changer. To understand what you need from your warehouse and fulfillment service provider, first, you have to understand what each accomplishes.
Fulfillment Services
Fulfillment services are the heavy lifter of the two arms of this operation. Fulfillment services can include bulk product creation, primary and secondary packaging, as well as actual distribution of goods. The bigger your business gets the more unwieldy order fulfillment can get. It’s easy for fulfillment to get out of hand, things to get backed up, and quality to suffer if you’re attempting to go it alone. Trusting order fulfillment to professionals has the potential to pay for itself over time.
Along with creating, fulfillment services also take care of the packaging of your product. To state the obvious, the packaging is what keeps your products safe. Things like blister packaging, heat sealing, and boxing are what go into primary packaging. The safety elements of fulfillment services are rarely given a second thought by the consumer but are vital to distributors. While you may have a good system in place on your own, a facility specifically designed for fulfillment will simply be able to do more.
Despite the old adage, everyone judges books by their covers, which is why packaging is so important. We’ve gone over the importance of primary packaging, but secondary packaging is part of the most important part of a business—sales. Secondary packaging is the branded portion of fulfillment services. Boxes and wraps with your name and logo on them, extra coupons on store shelves, and the like are what secondary packaging is all about. This aspect of fulfillment services is what will draw consumers to your products and get you remembered for their future purchases.
Once your product is packaged, it needs somewhere to go. Fulfillment services, like Impact Fulfillment Services, also offer assistance in distribution. No more shuttling your own product from the kitchen to the distributor. Bringing on a fulfillment service will get your products in the best shape possible and get them to where it needs to go.
Warehousing
All of the great things that come with fulfillment services would mean little if there’s no place to keep everything. For the most part, 3PLs deal in bulk packaging, rather than smaller orders. Bigger orders mean the need for more space. Finding space for your product is a problem that can be easily sorted out by bringing on a warehousing service.
With a good warehouse in the picture, you will be able to keep more of your product ready for distribution. Having more products at the ready will cut down on the time it takes to restock, so customers will never be left wanting. Being able to mass-produce your product is great, but you want to make sure it’s being kept safe as well. Warehouses like those built by Impact Fulfillment Services are climate-controlled and the perfect place to keep your products safe and ready.
Warehousing seems a simple enough venture, but these facilities are anything but. The tech behind warehouses lends to safety as well as inventory. Keeping track of all of the units you have on the shelves will never be easier than it is with a warehouse.
Fulfillment services and warehouses can exist separately from one another but work best as a package. An all-inclusive 3PL experience is the easiest way to handle all of your fulfillment, distribution, and storage needs. Impact Fulfillment Services offers everything under one roof. Warehousing and fulfillment services can rack up quite the cost. But IFS offers competitive rates for the services. Top of the line across the board, IFS has streamlined every process and put in place check systems to keep your product perfect. If your business is ready to take the next, and one of the biggest, look to IFS to give you the best offer around.
To learn more about our co-packing services, speak to a specialist!
#impactfs #supplychain #copacking #co-packing #impactyourbrand
by Matt Tullio | Co-Packing
The importance of packaging is a bit of a sleeper art. It is a silent way to get consumers interested in your product. Proper packaging is a marketing tactic in and of itself, and perhaps the most lasting one. How you present your product to the masses is essentially the first impression your business has on the world. In most cases, the packaging is the best way for a budding company to make a name for itself. Having easily distinguishable and clean packaging will generate invaluable word of mouth for your brand. Good packaging that jumps at people from the shelf will sell itself before long.
The Importance of An Appealing Aesthetic
Packaging isn’t generally thought of much in detail, but its importance is undeniable. After you have the perfect product, you need to optimize your packaging. Your packaging is part of your brand, and your brand is your business. Making sure that everything looks its best and is uniform is important to draw in consumers. Having specific and recognizable packaging encourages customer retention and brand loyalty. Consumers tend to seek out the familiar. If you have the resources to make your products look consistent and uniform, your consumer will thank you.
Secure Products for Happy Consumers
More than recognition and marketing value, proper packaging helps keep your product safe. The safety of your product speaks for itself on your end, you want to make sure your product gets to market in one piece. But solid packaging lends even more value to your business. With reliable packaging, you have a reliable product that will get to your consumer in one piece every time. This means that no matter what you sell—cosmetics to pharmaceuticals—your customer can count on it arriving in prime condition every time. Having that level of quality control and care will stick with people time and time again.
Get Help Building Your Brand
There are so many moving parts when it comes to business, you can’t let packaging slip through the cracks. The potential for customization and brand promotion is too precious to pass up. Figuring out your packaging and branding isn’t always the easiest, but the right co-packing company can help you figure everything out and bring it to fruition. The right co-packer, like IFS, can help in every step of the co-packing and distributing process. From creation to the market shelves, co-packing takes the pressure of doing it all off of you and your team and shares the load. For upstart businesses that want to go the extra mile but don’t have the right team, a co-packer can be a huge help.
Your company needs to put branded packaging at the top of the list. Creating a unified image for your brand will make a lasting impression on consumers. It will get you remembered when consumers are strolling down the aisles. Sometimes it can even be what gets you chosen over a competitor. There is a lot of power in aesthetic appeal. Distributing reliably and effectively packaged goods will bolster your reputation more than any ad campaign. Good word of mouth and a dependable client base are two things that every company needs, and packaging plays a huge role in both.
To learn more about our co-packing services, speak to a specialist!
#impactfs #supplychain #copacking #co-packing #impactyourbrand
