Over the last 17 years we have met many customers who really wanted to get rid of hand wrapping or loose fill packaging to protect their products being shipped. They realized the cost and the labor required by that type of packaging was substantial and, in most cases, not very eco-friendly. One of the most misunderstood issues preventing them from making the move to die cut corrugated inserts is the cost of custom tooling.
Below are several of the most common questions we’ve been asked. If we have missed the one on your mind, don’t hesitate to let us know, we’ll be glad to answer it for you.
- Do all inserts require expensive tooling or cutting dies?
Some do, others do not. Many dividers, and most partitions can be made perfectly to size but do not require any purchased tooling. They simply run on equipment able to be adjusted and set up to run a wide variety of sizes without custom, expensive tooling.
Look Mom, no void fill!
- If required, how expensive is tooling?
The average price for single or multi-product inserts can range anywhere from $400 to $800. That may sound expensive, especially if you are a start-up company, but it is a onetime expense. BTW, custom tooling typically provides substantial labor savings by making packing easier and more efficient, especially if you are replacing loose fill like foam peanuts, rolled foam, or bubble wrap.
- Can I get stock die cut inserts for my standard size and shape products?
There are most definitely standard primary containers out there, for example, eye dropper bottles or popular die cut folding cartons. Keep in mind that even if the size and shape are “standard” your count (2 pack, 3 pack, or 4 pack) and your configuration may be different. In most cases, our customers do not want their offering to look identical to their competitors.
- My product is very unique, am I going to have to pay for design time?
In most cases, the answer is no, we are not going to charge you for creating a custom design for you and your product. Keep in mind, we have successfully created hundreds of designs and chances are one of them will help us satisfy your unique requirements.
- I have several different shaped products and customers can order any combination they want. How can that be accommodated?
There is always a way. In the application below, we created a box with multiple shaped inserts for their three pack. That allows our customer to pop the correct insert into the box whether the customer buys one each of three different SKUs or three of one SKU. We can create a design with maximum flexibility for you.
We have always worked with our customers, with the understanding and belief that no two customers or applications are identical. For that reason, we do not treat custom packaging as a DIY task to be processed through a self-serve web site. We provide expert, experienced help to ask the right questions and more importantly, to respond with the right answers.
Call us at 630-551-1700 or contact us through this web site so we can help you make a move you will never regret. Your products will arrive looking more professionally packaged, in a cleaner and greener, more sustainable material. They will also arrive undamaged, and you will likely end up with a grateful, happy, repeat customer.
Related posts:
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/e-commerce-packaging-drivers-wanted/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/packaging-design-is-not-a-diy-project/
