Things To Know About Retail-Ready Packaging

While thinking of retail shopping, it is crucial to consider the consumer experience. How can you compel someone to purchase your product and become loyal to your brand? Well, retail-ready packaging is the answer to this question.

How does it work?

Before talking about what retail packaging is, let’s first discuss its background. The purpose of retail stores is to display products and making them accessible to consumers. It means that they have to place all products on shelves, from where customers can pick a product of their choice. At this stage, the packaging of a product plays an essential role for both the shoppers and retailers.

If you want to ensure retail success, you will have to attract your customers to your products and make it easy for retailers to manage stocks.

With the help of the right packaging, you can accomplish both of the said objectives while making sure that your products get sold frequently. But, you may wonder what retail packaging is all about.

What is retail packaging?

According to a broader definition, retail-ready packaging focuses on displaying products on shelves. It will involve shaping and sizing your product packaging to help it meet retail requirements. That is why you have to execute this packaging carefully and thoughtfully.

Some well-known characteristics of retail ready packaging are worth mentioning in this regard.

• This packaging is easily identifiable. Employees can look at these products and identify from afar. All of this allows them to stock products quite easily.
• Since these packages are easy to open, both the retailers and consumers do not usually require any specific tools to open the packaging.
• Because these packages can be replenished conveniently, there is not much fuss involved in the handling and stocking.
• These are usually shop-ready packages, meaning that consumers can spot products easily and take them off the shelf without causing any disturbance in the nearby arrays of products.
• These packages are usually recyclable, which means that you can dispose of them without worrying about their impact on the environment. All you have to do is put them in the bins designated to be used by recycling facilities.

You may wonder why you need to work on these fundamentals after all. This thing is there are two types of techniques used in the product packaging industry: retail packaging and e-commerce packaging. Both these packaging techniques are entirely different from each other due to the difference in packaging materials and packaging methods. Retail packaging usually needs to be more attractive since it has to attract consumers while sitting on the shelf.

Importance of retail packaging

You will have to adhere to certain standards if you want your packaging to be as successful as possible. If you fail to pay attention to these standards, your products may end up not being stocked, or your consumers may choose other products over yours.

Since there will be hundreds of brands selling a similar product like yours, you have to make sure that the packaging you use for your product can attract eyeballs.

 

Labeling Food Allergens: Things You May Want To Know

Millions of Americans get affected by food allergens. These allergens can be mild, severe, or life-threatening. That is why Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) in 2004, necessitating businesses to label products containing proteins derived from the most common food allergens.

The eight most common food allergens are fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish, soybeans, wheat, and peanuts. The FALCPA wants the business to customize labels if they use proteins from any of these foods. These eight foods are considered major food allergens and should be labeled properly to warn users.

Labeling food allergens

If you are selling any product containing any of the said allergens, the law obliges you to label them accurately. Companies should list the names of ingredients along with common allergens they use in the product.

If your food product contains any of the milk, you can label it using different options. You can either list the ingredient with the allergen in parenthesis or add a warning sign at the bottom of the ingredient list.

Consumers may be allergic to certain ingredients

The number of cases of food intolerances is increasing. What’s even more alarming is that not all allergies are included under the FALCPA. Foods that might act as food allergens occasionally include avocados, red meat, sesame seeds, corm, dried fruits, and mango.

Certain food products such as poultry, most meats, and some egg product are not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, it is all up to the consumers’ discretion whether or not they can use products that contain less common food allergens. The responsibility of food brands here is to make sure to inform their consumers of any potential health risks associated with the ingredients they use.

Completing a certification program

You can take labeling one step further by simplifying things for your customers. With the rise of gluten-free, soy, free, and dairy-free products, many food manufacturing companies are getting seals on their product labels. These seals show their certification in producing dairy-free, gluten-free, or soy-free products. By customizing your product labels to include seals, you save your consumers from the hassle of reading every ingredient of your product label. The fact of the matter is that such a seal can benefit your branding quite significantly.

While a lot of customers will read every ingredient to make sure that the product they hold is safe to consume, adding a seal to the product label will ensure the peace of mind of your consumers. They will know that your food product is completely free of intolerances and food allergens. Most popular certification programs include Gluten-Free Certification Program, Certified Gluten-Free, Certified Vegan, and Canadian Celiac Association. You can optimize food production to free your products of every allergen you know about and then apply for the certification. Once you are certified, you can add seals to your product labels.

If you want to know more in this regard, you may need to check with your local food regulatory authorities.

Internal Shipping Tips for E-Commerce Businesses

Start-ups are usually entering into international sales. Therefore, they need guidance and support. Sometimes, they cannot take the risk as they assume that internal shipping will be expensive and risky. However, every online business should sell its product overseas to expand it's business and profit. Thus, seek an appropriate logistic company and grab necessary information about it. Younger e-commerce brands can sell and ship their items easily in other countries when they have the right knowledge about them.

They think that international shipping would be daunting. Moreover, a business person should know about taxes, rules, and other regulations of sending their products outside of the country. If you do not have such knowledge, then it would straight-up scary. Therefore, before making any decision, you need to take a deep look into international shipping regulations. Well, this piece of article is all about setting up rules for overseas logistics, when you are running a small business.

Period for International Shipping

When you are about to ship your products internationally, just get detailed information about the delivery time, shipping cost, and tax. Everything matters a lot when you sign a contract with logistics for delivering your things abroad. Therefore, period matters a lot. Just imagine, if you are delivering some food items and they reach their destination after the date of expiry, then what the purpose of selling your product is. Therefore, you need to check the final date and total delivery span for internal shipping. So, it can reach on time and the end-user can get satisfied with your product.

Regulations for Small vs. Medium Businesses

When you start a new business, to grab the trust of new customers and for having a scalable brand, you should have a unique product or a different feature in the existing product. As a newbie, you need to introduce a new thing to the market. So, you can get benefited from the sales. Moreover, it will make you stand among your competitors. For expanding your business abroad, you always need something extraordinary to grab the eyes of customers. First, do deep research on your niche. Try to find out a different and specific demand of the public. Implement that element in your existing product and inspire the target market with that unique element. Moreover, do not try to spread your product all over the earth. Keep your eyes on specific customers. Try to impress them and make them your loyal customers.

Launch your Product in International Market

Before start selling to the international market, make sure your product is allowed and legal there. Sometimes, you sell a product that is not allowed in other countries like alcohol, caffeine, and some other drug. Therefore, before making a new scenario for your sales, make sure your product is allowed in the country. Moreover, the product is welcomed by the public of that country. After that make sure that it was a much necessary thing in that place. Well, check custom and international shipping taxes and regulations.

Moreover, check the policy of delays and return items. Sometimes, when a logistic company delays your delivery of the product, then they have to face a penalty. Moreover, there are some rules for the return and exchange of the merchandise. Thus, you should know about the return policy. Sometimes, customers resend the product due to default or damage. Then, a logistic company’s regulation should be clear and transparent about the delivery of the product, receiving back the damaged item, sending it to the company, picking the undamaged product, and delivering it back to the customers.

What are Packaging Filler and Void Fill?

The vital responsibility of packaging filler is to protect the content in the mailer. However, void fills, packaging fillers, shipping pads, and box cushioning are technically the same and serve the same purpose. Moreover, the fillers in your packaging make the product and the entire packet beautiful. It can give an aesthetic look to the packaging. Thus, you can choose and design the color of fillers. It depends on your creative designers and the feedback of the customers. You have the authority to redesign and reshape your packaging, its pattern, and fillers. Here are the most integral and popular internal pads that can help you to secure the primary product and make the appearance beautiful as well. However, we shall analyze its following aspects:

• Protection potential.

• Visual appeal.

• Environmental impact.

Packaging Fillers

Void fills or packaging fillers that can fill the space from the sides of the packet. It does not allow the content to move and get activated inside. Thus, the fillers protect the item against damage and provide soft support. Moreover, the use of void or packaging fillers becomes necessary when the product and its packaging are not made for each other. Sometimes, the packing is loose and you have a fear of it getting damaged. Therefore, you use fillers to fix the movement and motion of the product inside the packaging. Well, sometimes your packaging does not have extra space but still, you want protection and safety for your products. It is during rigorous transportation and rough handling.

Sometimes, the product is having an odd shape; therefore, it requires something to cover it and fill the sides of the packaging. Moreover, it makes the unboxing experience aesthetic and memorable. Some of the companies use void fillers as a goodwill gesture. Moreover, the cushioning depends on the shape and size of the product. While creating the fillers, you can choose the material, kind, sort, printing, size, shape, texture, and other elements. Moreover, choose everything vigilantly. And first, seek the purpose why you need fillers for your product. Once you know the requirement of your content, then you will be able to recognize why you need such elements in your products’ fillers.

Some of the companies assume that packaging or void fillers are only suitable and made for fragile products. However, it is not just for the breakable items. Moreover, it represents your caring gesture towards the customers. It exhibits an aesthetic visual appearance and can please the customer. Moreover, it makes the wrapping and handling procedure easy.

Some of the products are hard to handle and manage. Some products have pointy edges and some of them have odd shapes like cones. Therefore, you cannot directly put such items into the corrugated box. Such products cannot bear the ups and downs of roads and handling of loading and unloading. Thus, they need a material that can take care of it.

Packing or Kraft Papers 

One of the common and economical fillers is Kraft papers. They are easily available, customizable, and environment-friendly. Well, their best quality is they so light and weightless. Thus, do not cause an extra monetary burden on the shipping of the products. They can handle and manage every odd shape. Moreover, you can print them according to your choice. It would be a pleasing, memorable, and aesthetic gesture. Moreover, you can insert a mini goodwill card for thanking your customers. It all depends on your choice, creativity, and research.

Recycling Ability of Void Fillers

All void fillers made of papers and sheets are safe for nature. They are recyclable and having the ability of biodegradability. Thus, use it fearlessly. People and companies both are satisfied with the product.

What is the 3PL Model in E-commerce Business?

For every e-commerce business, packaging, shipping, and logistics play an integral essential role. Therefore, they need new and different solutions for the packaging and delivery of their content. Especially, for specific events, you need more packaging products and quick service. Therefore, many startups and other companies look for a third-party to fulfill their requirements on time and safe delivery. 

However, you always need suggestions and improvements in current logistics and shipping. Thus, you can take the help of the third-party for shipping and packaging as well. Therefore, in the packaging world, there is support to take care of your packaging service on your behalf. In e-commerce w, world packaging has always become hectic. It requires sturdy, advanced, and aesthetic material which is eco-friendly. Moreover, it needs filling papers and sheets to avoid movement and damage. Else, it will use high-quality contents for adhesive. It will require labeling, tags, prints, graphics, and some other things for the complete packaging procedure. Thus, a 3PL takes the responsibility and provides all these services. Sometimes, they only pick these packages from your company, then deliver them to the end-user. However, it depends on the contract you make with the 3PL. sometimes, it involves all these activities and you do not need to bear the headache of any responsibility regarding packaging service. Thus, you only send your products, and else every step is done by third-party logistics. They take responsibility for shipping, packing, labeling, wrapping, and handling, returning it, and picking it back and returning it to the main company, then picking it and delivering it to end-users. This all procedure is the primary task of 3PL. However, you do not have any tension and problem regarding shipping.

When it comes to the cost of the shipping and its entire procedure, companies do not want to put their selves into any extra budget. Therefore, they do not get into any contract with 3PL. however, it is not true, apart from lessening down your burden, and you can reduce your actual cost of shipping. Well, once you hire a third-part logistic and pay them, you do not have to bear the loss on damaged goods, return packages, and other expenses related to it. Well, it is actually reasonable to have a 3PL for your current services. 

Is Out-Sourcing Beneficial for your Company?

Some companies are afraid of having third-party logistics for the shipment of their products. The reason is the trust factor. They do not trust any other company that they will take care of their products. However, they do not out-source any company. But, the reality is different. You can take full advantage of the third-party logistics for safe and economical shipping of your products. If you will look into every stage of the packaging, it will get time-consuming and costly. Therefore, having a third-party for your services, it will be easy for your company, employees, and customers, to get their order in perfect condition and on time.

Eco-friendly Element in Third-Party Logistics

Customers and companies are looking for every option that can fulfill the demand of the environment. Now, each component in packaging and product should be nature friendly. Thus, from the material of the packing to printing and labeling, you should use biodegradable items. Therefore, before getting into any contract with third-party logistics, you should know that it is having a fair business of recyclable materials. Hence, every clause does matter a lot in 3PL projects. Make sure, they are using biodegradable materials and all the healthy steps for the people and animals. Also, use a material that is not harmful to marine life, animals, and the atmosphere.