If you have an online store or sell your products on Amazon or with other online retailers, here are 10 facts you need to know when buying your ecommerce boxes.
1
Make sure it’s the right box for the job.
Our structural design department understands the specifications you’ll need to protect your products throughout the shipping process. They also clearly understand Amazon’s requirements, such as SFP (Seller Fulfilled Prime) and FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon).
You’ll want to ensure that your packaging is made of the optimal board grades and thicknesses to protect your products. Sometimes an additional coating is required.
At the same time, you want to minimize the amount of materials used. In other words, Wertheimer Box can provide the best possible protection at a minimal materials cost.
That’s how we maintain our reputation for quality. Our packaging reviews can help you utilize materials efficiently.
Case in Point 1: The Right Packaging for the Job
A frozen food manufacturer approached me because their corrugated boxes were becoming soggy and falling apart.
We added a water-resistant adhesive (WRA) to the corrugated material, solving their packaging problem and reducing product loss.
2
Take advantage of quality printing opportunities.
To paraphrase Aretha Franklin: What ‘you want? Baby, we got it.
At Wertheimer Box, we’re continually enhancing our capabilities to meet customers’ ever-changing needs. To that end, we pride ourselves on our flexible printing options:
- Small-run, direct-to-corrugated digital printing.
- Litho (lithographic) label on corrugated.
- One- to four-color flexographic printing.
- State-of-the-art, six-color (four colors on one side, two colors on the other), one-pass combination flexographic printer and die cutter. That’s a mouthful, so we just call it MIC (multicolor ink on corrugated).
Learn more about our newest APSTAR machine by taking a quiz.
Wertheimer Box can create plain, custom-size shipping boxes or meet every print requirement you have.
Case in Point 2: Printing and Packaging That Grows With Your Company
A food company originally came to me a few years back for a plain shipping box, which we manufactured for them.
As the company’s needs and its business grew, its packaging needs also evolved.
Today, we supply them with five corrugated packaging options to meet their monthly manufacturing needs, including printed boxes that showcase the company’s logo.
3
Showcase your brand messages and go “phygital.”
We have 80+ years of experience in all different types of packaging:
- Direct-to-consumer (D2C)
- Business-to-business (B2B)
- Point of purchase (POP), aka Point of Sale (POS)
One recent trend is to extend your branding in both the physical (store spaces) and digital arenas, a concept called “phygital.” This means creating successful POPs and other retail displays that mesh with your ecommerce boxes, digital ads, social media, and marketing.
We’ll help you find the best ways to showcase your products, creating retail displays that avoid common potholes and pitfalls.
For example, we’ll ensure that containers and displays are easy to assemble and that your products are protected. Explore more display tips with the author’s 15 Tips for Attractive Retail Displays That Sell More Products.
Case in Point 3: Branding Opportunities
For a book publisher, we created a comprehensive elementary school campaign, including shipping boxes and corrugated book displays for every elementary school within several large school districts.
The packaging and displays showcased the publisher while encouraging children’s literacy.
4
Dare to dream.
If you have a fantastic idea but don’t know how to design it, we can help. We work with graphic and structural designers who can help bring your dream packaging to life. Our corrugated packaging designers can help ensure your e-commerce packaging will be successful. Be sure they know these five facts as outlined in another article.
Case in Point 4: Dream Mailer Box
A cosmetic company came to us with ideas for two separate mailers.
Not only did we manufacture the mailing box for them, but we also saved them money by designing a single mailer that achieved all their original goals.
5
Deter theft.
Worried about theft in shipping? MIC (our flexographic printer) can print a simple message on the kraft or white outer corrugated board and simultaneously print four ink colors on the inside.
Thieves are less likely to be tempted by the plain brown box exterior. But your customers will be wowed by the interior. They’ll get that “Ta-Da!” moment.
A box can be printed on the inside for that “Wow!” moment, while the exterior kraft color deters theft. Learn more about branded boxes.
Case in Point 5: Plain Outside and Printed Inside
A medical device company needed to send its home diagnostic equipment directly to patients.
We designed and manufactured a simple white outer mailer box.
Once opened, each box revealed the device in a foam insert, the company’s contact information, a return mailing label, and instructions for sending the equipment back to the company after the test was complete.
6
Consider multiple uses.
This mailer box prototype features a variety of products in a single box, divided into three inserts.
One box. Multiple products. Shipped safely.
We can do it.
For example, if you have two products that can ship together, we can design packaging inserts to accommodate both in one size shipper.
This consolidates your shipping inventory to minimize cost and warehousing space. It’s also an eco-friendly approach.
Case in Point 6: Multi-Use Packaging
A winery shipped cases of 24 bottles to a distributor.
We designed alternative packaging for the distributor so it could reduce the case size to either four or six bottles.
These smaller case options better met the needs of its restaurant customers and greatly increased the distributor’s sales.
7
Make your product the star.
Your product should be cast in the lead role. And our team is your agent that can make that happen.
For example, no one remembers when they opened a plain box. But everyone who has opened an Apple iPhone remembers the feel of the soft touch coating on the carton. Wow your customers.
Case in Point 7: Star Products
One of our customers needed a simple shipping box for most of the year.
However, the company sells its products on a well-known shopping channel during the peak holiday season. To showcase the product quality, we created a festive holiday box in a color that matches a famous jeweler’s.
8
Expect flexibility.
Are you just starting your business or online store? No worries, our digital printer with CAD cutting capabilities can get you going with smaller volume orders.
As your product demand grows, we can seamlessly move you to equipment capable of quickly doing large runs. You’ll appreciate that it’s more economical.
If your need for packaging flexes during the year, we can flex with you. We handle product seasonality.
Our structural designers use this die-cut machine in our Sales & Design Center.
Case in Point 8: Flexing With Your Seasonality
Like many of our customers, my bakery customer needs to ramp up its product distribution for Thanksgiving and Christmas each year.
In early autumn, we manufacture and ship five times as many protective boxes to the bakery as we do in January.
9
Expect support.
We understand e-commerce.
We work with many fulfillment centers for D2C and B2B mailings. If you have a favorite, we can go with that.
At the same time, if you’d like us to handle everything from start to finish, we have the experience and capabilities to do that, too.
An account manager and operations manager examine a flat corrugated box off the printing and die-cut machine in the Wertheimer Box plant.
Case in Point 9: Complete Packaging Solution
A company needed to ship its food products in a cooler box.
We created the box and collaborated with the foam manufacturer and fulfillment center to deliver assembled cooler boxes for its national shipping distribution.
10
Work with an expert.
We have a highly experienced sales team that’s ready to help you. Whether you’re adding an ecommerce option to your store, looking for a change in packaging vendor, or opening a new business, we’re here to help. Reach out.
Case in Point 10: Experience and Expertise
Author Steve Bolsoni has 40+ years of printing experience and 25+ years of packaging experience.
Steve Bolsoni
