Ask The Expert
Packaging Questions And Answers
This is the place to be if you have a simple packaging question you want answered and don't know where to find the solution.
Submit your question to me The Packaging Diva by clicking here and entering your question in the body of the email along with your contact details and telephone number.
Be sure and read this section frequently. Your question may already be answered.
Common Packaging Questions Asked:
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How can I find a packaging vendor for small quantities or a startup budget?
The answer is to do your homework, lots of it. It's basically research and finding what you like with a supplier who will work with you and the quantities you are prepared to order.
You can use the Internet to do a lot of basic research on packaging materials. The tricky part is understanding that there is a universe of packaging materials available.
You need to select what might fit for your particular product application. In many cases, you have several packaging material options to choose from, in addition to a variety of size options. Be sure and cover this in your initial discussion before investing a lot of time and energy with a supplier that cannot provide what you need.
I cover this topic in depth "How To Find A Packaging Vendor" in my Do It Yourself Packaging workbook listed below.
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How important is the "green" movement in product packaging?
It depends. It's become a media hot button and is getting considerable mileage with retailers. Not all products can be packaged in environmentally friendly materials. In fact, this type packaging is just in its infancy so investigate thoroughly why you need/want green packaging materials and what it will mean in your product packaging development.
Retailers will also force some product packaging to be more environmentally friendly.
Wal-Mart has implemented a packaging scorecard as a standard for existing and new product vendors. If you plan to play in the "green" space you need to understand the parameters. They change day by day and can come back to haunt you if you make a mistake.
Be sure and subscribe to "Packaging News You Can Use" by clicking here. It covers many issues relative to green and environmentally sustainable product packaging.
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I want to shrink wrap a 12x12x6 rectangular hat box (not a basket). How do I do this at a low cost and where do I find the supplies? I want to have a home business and shrink wrap would make my product look more professional.
To get started you can just buy shrink wrap film and use a hair dryer to apply the heat to the film and that will shrink the film around the product. That is how the gift basket suppliers do it at first for small quantities. Once business builds up you can consider purchasing an L-bar sealer (manual operation with heat gun) or even use shrink tunnel. The product goes though the tunnel and the film is shrunk around it.
The type equipment you need will be dictated by how many packages you need to wrap per minute. If it's a home based business then start small and work your way to more sophisticated equipment.
Shrink film can be purchased online from a variety of sources just search the word shrink wrap or film. You might even be able to purchase this at an office supply or craft store.
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What is a clamshell package? How is it used in retail product packaging? Why are consumers unhappy about clamshell packaging?
The name "clamshell" refers to a formed plastic package that is used to encapsulate and display a retail product. The main purpose of use is the clarity of the package and to see the product within while protecting the integrity of the product inside. The word clamshell indicates that the formed plastic package has one or more hinges. Clamshells can sit upright or be hung from hooks giving a great variety of marketing options.
Clamshell packaging is one of the most popular plastic packages today however consumers hate it because of the difficulty in opening the package. The plastic clamshell is virtually indestructible. On many products the difficulty in opening the package has caused many consumers to be dissatisfied with the packaging. Several tools have been invented to make this process easier cutting the plastic rather than cutting yourself.
More questions are answered such as how to choose the right packaging material in "Do It Yourself Packaging" at http://www.doityourselfpackaging.com/ Be sure and check out the Table of Contents for a complete list of what is covered.
How To Get More Help:
If you don't see your question here and you need a quick answer to your packaging problem why not spend some time with me, the Packaging Diva? I get so many inquiries to review packaging concepts for people who need packaging problems solved in a hurry, so I have created the laser evaluation session.
For two hours of my time I will provide the following:
Photo/artwork review and quick analysis - $400.00
This consists of reviewing artwork sent to me in electronic format and providing commentary via the telephone. You can send me your samples or prototypes too. Many times your packaging problems can be solved in just 2 hours. If a written report is required, additional consultation time will be billed at my standard hourly rate.
Copy and verbiage review and quick analysis - $400.00
This consists of reviewing copy sent to me in electronic format and providing commentary via the telephone. This is most commonly used when you are not sure your packaging is conveying the right message to your customer or your product simply isn't selling. If a written report is required, additional consultation time will be billed at my standard hourly rate.
All consulting services are paid in advance on my storefront via credit card. Email me and I'll provide all the details.