Tips to Using POP Displays for Marketing

Point-of-purchase (POP) displays are a good way to connect with shoppers in retail stores. They can be used in a variety of ways including introducing new products, distribute flyers, and share product samples. When well designed and situated, they can be an easy way of encouraging impulse buying. That means more sales for the retailer and manufacturer. To get the best out of this investment, here are a few ideas you can apply.

Create Interactive Displays

Capturing the attention of some shoppers will take more than just a colorful wholesale display box. Make use of technology to make the experience more engaging. Add a video screen that plays a marketing video on the product. Create content that is fun and demonstrative. Situate this display where many shoppers can see it just before they get to the cashier for maximum effect.

Tailor Designs to Target Market

With adults that like to make informed buying decisions, infomercials on video screens are a good way to go. Those that like to try before they buy will also appreciate getting small samples. For kids, decorating the pop displays with colorful cartoon characters they recognize will draw them in. Consider the target demographic and what appeals to them most when deciding how to design your display.

Grab Their Attention

Pick colorful and imaginative designs that will draw the eye. Many retail stores have plenty of fun and delicious items on the shelves that can distract. You need to have a display that will stand out from the crowd. Whether freestanding or to be set up against a wall, it needs to be imposing and bright enough to draw attention.

Match The Season

If there is a particular holiday around the time you intending to put out pop displays, ensure that the design incorporates this fact. Touting chocolates as the perfect gift on Valentine’s or a new shampoo as a stocking stuffer for Christmas is all in order. Linking the product on offer to the occasion is a good way to remind shoppers to spend money and gifts and why yours is the ideal choice.

Light It Up

Using background or flashing lights is another way to draw attention to your pop display. Holograms and laser lights are other options that will definitely make your display a centerpiece. A good option, particularly for products targeted at a younger audience. They will find it hard to approach and resist reaching for a sample or product.

Why Cardboard Packaging Solutions Are The Best Option

cardboard packaging solutions
Whether it is for shipping purposes or to make individual packing for items to be shelved, cardboard is an often seen material. It is, however, not the only option in the market. When it comes to shipping cargo, you will find that wood and plastic cases are also often used. They are made into crates and cases, while wood is also used to build pallets. Here we will look at why cardboard packaging solutions should be a top consideration for anyone shipping cargo.

Affordability

Cardboard packaging boxes are highly affordable to make. Not much labor or specialized machinery is needed to produce them. They can even be made of recycled material. Manufacturers can create boxes of whatever configuration quickly and ship them to clients. Their lightweight design also makes this shipping affordable as the transport cost is often pegged on weight. For the clients that receive these boxes and package their products within, the cost savings are passed on to their customers when they make orders for delivery. It is also noteworthy that established manufacturers will also often offer deep discounts on bulk purchases. This is another cost-saving that can be passed on to the end-user client.

Customization

Box makers can customize designs to whatever designs and dimensions their clients want. Packing your orders into boxes with a good fit is important for safety. You do not want too big a space that allows items to knock against each other and the walls of the box when roughly handled during transit. Too tight and it may become difficult to seal the box and cause damage. Their appearance can also be tailored to feature company logos, colors, and name. This branding can offer a boost to your marketing efforts and make your business more recognizable.

Stable Material

Corrugated cardboard material is not just lightweight. It is also quite strong and firm. It offers good support for even the most delicate of products. Its three-layer construction absorbs impact well, helping to better protect the contents within. These layers also guard well against damage from perforations thanks to the thickness created.

Eco-Friendly

Compared to wooden crates and pallets, and plastic cases, cardboard packaging boxes make use of much less natural resources. This is in terms of both raw materials used in construction when compared to wood, and energy sources expended in manufacturing. Cardboard is also easily biodegradable and can be easily reused and recycled if not contaminated by chemical inks and bleaching.

Tips to Selecting a Packaging Company

In today’s business environment, it has become increasingly necessary to offer value-added products and services to secure the patronage of customers. It is no longer just the product or services themselves that matter. The extras that come with it are what will help keep your business favorably in mind. This can be a big help in gaining referrals and repeat business.

Attractive packaging is a simple way of adding value to products. A quality and appealing box can be retained and reused in a myriad of ways. But before you even get into the issue of design, you will need to find a suitable packaging company that can accommodate your needs. Here are some issues to consider when making this selection.

Customer Service

Right from the initial time of contact, the company you hire must offer good customer service. This means they should get back to you quickly on inquiries and be able to provide detailed information. Their responsiveness and courtesy will be a good indicator of how they will hand possible other issues like refunds and late deliveries. Also, pay attention to how well they try to understand the nature of your business and what you expect to get out of your packaging.

Variety of Packaging

You will likely need different kinds of packaging to meet different needs. This can include smaller boxes for individual items and large options for bulk orders. You may also need occasion themed branding for periods like Christmas and Valentine’s. The packaging companies you consider should be able to accommodate these different types of orders, as and when you need them.

Storage Capacity

Also, consider the amount of storage space you have on the premises for these boxes. If limited you may need to have boxes that can be assembled. Or you may need to enter into an arrangement with the packing company that allows for small regular deliveries that allow you to keep up with orders and still have a good reserve of boxes.

Budget

In business, it all comes down to money. Your budget for packing boxes will likely guide such decisions as the type of boxes to invest in, customization and quantity to order. Once you narrow down to the choice of boxes you want, request for quotations from the different packaging companies you are considering and make comparisons. Take note of what discounts you can get for bulk orders.

Track Record

You will want to work with a company with good experience in the business. Not just in supplying boxes to your type of business, but also in being innovative. Companies that adopt new technologies will often trickle down the savings to their customers and tend to be environmentally conscious. The more experienced they are, the better equipped they will also be to tackle any problems that may arise.

Eco-Friendly Wrapping Ideas for Custom Gift Boxes

Custom gift boxes are a great investment as they help bring notice to the products and company brand. They are an effective marketing tool and are highly affordable. Because their design is customized, there is no need to overdo it with the wrapping. There is enough delight to be taken in admiring the box itself. More so, when you have a box that has been made from sustainable sources and biodegradable inks, you will likely want wrapping that is just as environmentally conscious. Here are a few ideas you can use to accomplish this.

· Old Newspapers

If you have a good stock of old newspapers around, these can be a good substitute for wrapping paper. Not only is it cheaper, but it can also be a good disguise for a truly special gift. It downplays how valuable the contents may be, making for all the more amazement when unwrapped and unboxed.

· Brown Paper Bags

With more shopping outlets going the old school route and getting rid of single-use shopping bags, many have accumulated brown paper bags. Using them as wrapping paper is another good way to reduce your waste. You can even paint or color them or have your kids decorate the wrapping to add a personal touch.

· Twine or knitting thread

On top of wrapping paper, there is often the ribbon that is used for a beautiful finish. Whether matching or contrasting in color, it makes for a lovely touch but the materials used in its creation are often not biodegradable. A simpler and safer option would be to use knitting thread or twine. It gives a sometimes rustic feel that works well with the modest wrap materials mentioned above. You can also cut strips of fabric to use from an old and worn piece of clothing.

· Simple fabrics

For double the gift, you can opt to wrap gift boxes in fabric. Visit a thrift store or fabric store to pick up materials. A bedsheet, shawl or table cloth can be easily wrapped around a gift box and tied up with twine or ribbon.

· Reuse old holiday cards

Rather than use chemical adhesives to stick labels, create name tags using your old holiday cards. Cut out the unwritten sections of the cards and fold over to create a new mini card that will serve as a label for your gift boxes. You can cut a tiny hole through which to pass twine and secure it in place on the wrapped package.

Cardboard, the Material for Eco Friendly Boxes

The world today is probably more aware of the dangers we pose to our environment than ever before. Businesses, governments, and individuals are all involved in seeking ways to reduce our pollution, yet our landfills continue to grow. Somewhere between a fifth and a third of all the material in landfills is packaging. Obviously, having more environmentally friendly packaging, like eco friendly boxes, would go a long way toward helping with this.

Cardboard Is Sustainable

The cardboard box is made of wood. While chopping down forests may not sound particularly environmentally friendly, boxes can be manufactured from managed forests, which are sustainable. Sourcing these boxes from manufacturers that use sustainable materials means a reduction in carbon emissions, responsible sourcing of wood products, protection of biodiversity, and improved protection of old-growth forests.

Also, cardboard is biodegradable. If it is tightly packed together, as it might be in a landfill, this can take a long time. However, a mulched cardboard box, kept damp, will degrade in less than a quarter of a year.

Cardboard Is Recyclable

When most people think of eco friendly custom boxes however, they normally think of recycled material. Cardboard is comparatively easy to recycle. In fact, a large number of the basic corrugated cardboard boxes in use today are manufactured from mostly recycled paper and cardboard. Many developed nations have managed to achieve an over 90% rate for paper and cardboard packaging.

As well as saving space in landfills, recycling reduces the amount of energy needed to produce a new box. Importantly, if the box is recycled locally, there is also a saving in the energy used for transport.

Cardboard Is Reusable

Single-use packaging is not sustainable, it is slowly disappearing as producers, and consumers take note of this. In many countries, for example, single-use plastic bags are no longer available. On the other hand, if it is dry, cardboard tends to be reusable.

Cardboard boxes, in particular, are readily reusable. They retain their structural strength for a considerable period and can be kept flat, to save space, until needed.

Conditions That Compromise Eco-Friendly Status

While the wood used to create boxes can be sustainably sourced and recycled, some processes can challenge their ecologically sound status. Boxes that have been printed will likely have inks that contain chemicals and heavy metals. Some boxes will also be coated in plastic or wax. The use of these additional materials can make recycling impossible.

Bleached paper products are also a problem for environmental conservation efforts. Chlorine used for bleaching releases toxins that can be a danger to the environment and health.

To ensure you are being environmentally conscious, look for manufacturers that rely on sustainable or recycled resources to produce unbleached products. If branding is required, they should use safer alternatives like UV, soy-based, and vegetable-based inks.

Important COVID-19 Announcement

As the Nation comes together to slow the spread of COVID-19, Instabox plays a vital role to support and sustain critical industries such as healthcare services, pharmaceutical and food supply.

In United States the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has identified packaging manufactures as an essential service for the continued supply of food and other essential products. We are relying on the clarification provided by other jurisdictions to guide our decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic until our government provides that guidance. Upon waiting for clarification, it is imperative for Instabox to sustain the normal working hours to support these critical industries at full capacity. Our goal is to provide these essential industries with utmost priority to fulfill these demands during these pressing times.

Instabox two manufacturing plants in Calgary and Edmonton are currently fully active and open for business. We take COVID-19 VERY seriously. To ensure the safety of our staff and our clients we are carefully following all workplace guidelines issued by the World Health Organization in response to the Corona Virus.

During these challenging times, we will take the necessary steps to support Canada’s critical infrastructure industries as needed. We extend our immense appreciation to our staff for their dedication, hard work, commitment, loyalty and good work ethic.

How Custom DTC Boxes Make for a Good Investment

Under normal circumstances, people only ever think of shipping boxes as a type of container that protects goods in transit. But for businesses that have invested in direct to customer boxes, they serve several other purposes that can have a strong impact on their profitability and image.

Direct to consumer (DTC) refers to products that are sent directly from manufacturer to customer, without the involvement of intermediaries like distributors and retailers. DTC boxes are therefore the packaging these products have when ultimately delivered to the consumer’s doorstep.

Having this packaging customized has become a popular trend. It allows the manufacturer to tailor the design any way desired. Custom designs are also configured to specific dimensions that allow a secure fit of the products packed within. This reduces the risk of damage to the products when being transported and jarred.

Brand Awareness

These boxes have a role to play in promoting the image of a manufacturing company. Through the creative application of the company logo, colors, and name, this packaging can help keep the brand in the limelight. As more people see their boxes being delivered, it lets them know the manufacturer is very much active and in demand in their area. This recognition can help keep the brand in people’s minds when they next make related purchases.

These boxes also provide an opportunity for companies to run promotions that will directly connect with customers. They can include coupons, flyers, price lists, manuals, and other marketing material within the boxes knowing the end-user will see and consider.

Cost-Effectiveness

Most of these are built using cardboard material. Despite its lightweight nature, this material is sturdy enough to securely contain products multiple times its weight. It is also the most inexpensive packaging material. Most other options like plastic and metal boxes are more cumbersome to transport. Since shipping costs are usually tied to the weight of the package, this lightweight material makes for the best economic sense as it registers the lowest weights on the scale. Lower cost of production and transport means better profits for the business.

Customization

Besides the branding that can be done, the customization in terms of dimensions is great for securing product. Products are often packaged with materials like bubble wrap and foam edge guards to help stabilize them inside. This way they are unlikely to be damaged when subjected to some rough handling during transit.

High-End Custom Boxes as a Means of Brand Support

Far too often, even today, we think of cardboard boxes simply as a means of carrying a product around. Cardboard boxes are not, to most minds, seen as luxury products. Yet, custom setup boxes can give many products that extra aura of luxury, improving product recognition.

Made from rigid cardboard, these boxes can be made to house almost any reasonably small product in an impressive and memorable way. Correctly colored, and embossed, these boxes can help the consumer connect the idea of luxury with the products packed in them. They are a useful way of making that association among consumers, and thus strengthening the product’s position.

Visibility

Clever use of high-end custom boxes can strengthen a product’s visibility in the market place. Careful branding and creative design will attract attention. Thus, the use of these custom boxes can draw attention to a product, at the same time as providing the support and protection that good packaging will normally supply.

Environmental Impact

Cardboard high-end custom boxes are, of course, more environmentally friendly than similar plastic boxes. This allows the company to reduce its environmental impact, which is objectively good of and in itself, but it also has a positive effect on a company’s reputation.

Many consumers, particularly younger ones, have extensive concerns about the environment. They tend to reward producers who can show strong environmental credentials. Using custom boxes made from cardboard means that companies can demonstrate a willingness to protect the environment, while still offering a feeling of luxury.

Function and Looks

Certain types of products, such as fragile items, or food items, require extra protection. These type of boxes can be designed with internal features that cushion and protect the breakables inside. Good custom setup boxes can reduce the chance of a product breaking in transit, while still providing that look of luxury and style.

Reduced Costs

High-end custom boxes may provide the look of luxury, but the use of a custom box, designed to protect its contents, can actually bring some savings to the shipper. Custom boxes, designed to house a fragile product, require less additional packaging. They can, thus, be packed and transported more cost-effectively.

High-end custom boxes are a way of combining both form and function of packaging to reinforce brands among consumers. They are an ideal solution for producers who want to position themselves, at least in consumers’ minds, at the higher end of the market.

Boxes Made in Canada Are Mostly Recycled

Canada has an enviable reputation as an environmentally friendly country. The immense green spaces of Canada serve to reinforce this positive view, and there is a fair degree of truth to it. The vast majority of Canada’s electricity, for example, is produced by renewable means, including wind and water.

Recycling is also important in Canada. Studies show a steady year on year increase in the recycling of plastics. Likewise, cardboard is extensively recycled. Around 80 percent of cardboard in Canada is recycled. Much of this is used to manufacture boxes made in Canada.

In the 1980s, the only cardboard recycled in Canada were corrugated boxes, normally those used for deliveries to retail and industrial sites. Today, virtually 100 percent of the population has access to recycling centers where they can drop off cardboard. Canada was the first North American country to experiment with recycling fiber boxes in the 1990s, making Canadian fiber boxes the first to be recycled in the area. Today, there is a strong drive to totally ban cardboard boxes from landfills.

Canadian Recycled Box Production

Most of the Canadian boxes are made from recycled material. By the middle of the last decade, the total recycled content of boxes made in Canada was between 70 and 85 percent, depending on the type of box.

Today, Canadian paper mills produce their products with nearly 100 percent recycled material. In fact, Canadian paper mills still import some waste paper and cardboard from the USA to get enough raw material to keep them operating.

These boxes, then, may contain fibers originally from Canada, or the USA, originally in paper, or cardboard, all recycled, to produce new, and useful, boxes. But of course, these boxes can then be recycled again, and again.

Environmental Benefits of Boxes Made in Canada

By recycling boxes, companies are saving not just trees. It takes less energy to recycle cardboard than it does to produce new cardboard. Likewise, while it does take a lot of water to recycle cardboard, it is less than that needed to produce new material. Importantly, if recycling is done in Canada, and preferably locally, there will be large savings in transport costs, and related energy use and pollution.

Boxes made in Canada are part of a sustainable system, put in place over many years, that looks to maintain a strong Canadian packaging industry, without causing undue environmental damage.

Tips on How to Get Cost Effective Wholesale Boxes in Kelowna, BC

wholesale boxes
Retail businesses need to look at ways they can reduce costs in order to remain competitive. The packaging is one area that retail stores can utilize to leverage the costs and ensure that there is no overspending on the design and purchase of boxes and no wastage of space when shipping products to consumers. Wholesale boxes in Kelowna, BC can save your retail store some dollars because you are buying in bulk and getting discounted prices. However, how else can these shipping boxes help save your retail store more dollars?

Reduce Packing Time

If you are going to have shipping boxes designed for your retail shipping, you need to ensure that they are easy to pack. You don’t want your staff to spend more time in each box placing products. The small gains in business productivity can create a huge difference in your retail costs. When you have a product packaging box that is easy to pack items, it means increased productivity among the packaging staff. You will be able to fulfill more orders and ship more products with fewer labor costs.

Reducing Product Shipping Cost

When building a packaging box to ship the products to your customers, you need to think about the shipping costs. Custom-sized packaging may cost you a little more in design, however, you should see that as an investment because it is going to pay off very soon. A custom design for packaging eliminates shipping empty space. With volumetric shipping, if you are going to have large boxes with empty space being left when you pack the products, you are losing money. Let the packaging be custom designed so that it allows for exact fitting with the necessary void fill.

Prevent Damage in Shipping

Your business can suffer a lot if you have to pay for damaged items in transit. Transit damage is considered a hidden cost of packaging. When you don’t protect the items you are shipping, they will be damaged and become unfit for sale. You will incur costs through written off stock, replacement, and returns or refunds. It may also take away potential repeat business if customers keep on complaining about damaged goods. To prevent damage, make sure you have shipping boxes designed to properly fit the product and are firm to protect the products.

Taking advantage of die cut boxes wholesale prices is going to save you money, but does the build of the boxes reduce the hidden costs of retail packaging and shipping?