The summer months may seem like downtime for the custom packaging world, but when you consider August and September are still technically summer, it’s fair to say that these are actually two of our busiest months. Many of our most well-prepared customers know that these are the crucial months in getting a jump on the holiday packaging rush season, and in fact, we’ve actually already received numerous holiday packaging orders in June and July.
If you are not already a customer of ours, or perhaps are completely new to the custom packaging world, you may not know that there are several perks/benefits to being early in line for holiday packaging.
If you have a moment, please check out the third blog post listed under “Related posts” at the bottom of the page. We wrote recently about the pitfalls of so-called “rush orders” and the reasons why we NEVER offer them. This is especially true of the holiday season, as everyone who orders late in the game ends up paying a large price to bump up their order with a packaging company that is willing and ready to take advantage of them. We believe in the approach of informing our potential customers about the advantages of being early, rather than profiting from them for being late.
- Lock yourself into the lowest possible cost
We have seen the market shift from corrugated cost decreases, back to corrugated increases in the last twelve months or so. Decreases are a rarity, and increases are far more common and can be expected from time to time. They are often unpredictable and come with little warning, so ordering now rather than waiting a few months could very well mean the difference between paying a pre or post-increase price on your corrugated boxes (typically 5-10% difference on any given increase). Also, the holiday season always brings about higher freight costs as demand skyrockets and driver availability shrinks. A truckload rate may be 20-30% lower today than it will be in November. There is very little doubt that ordering now will save your bottom line.
- Lock yourself into the shortest possible lead times
As already stated, we do not offer rush orders. This means that lead times are a combination of how complex the project is (do we need to send samples, design inserts etc.) and what the machine and board availability are. While the latter two remain pretty consistent for most of the year, the holiday season can extend these lead times with increased order demand. I promise your lead time today is shorter than it would be a month or two from now.
- Avoid the “Nightmare Scenario”
It pains us to say it, but we’ve seen it many times over the years. Someone will email or call us telling us about a nightmare experience they had with packaging company X or Y that promised them a certain delivery date that they never delivered on. This happens for a number of reasons, mostly when these companies produce packaging overseas and unexpectedly their lead time jumps up and suddenly you’ve missed your deadline by days, weeks, or even months in some cases. Fortunately, we produce all of our packaging in the USA, and we are not subject to these unknown variables that people encounter when importing packaging products. The earlier we hear about the problems you may be having with overseas suppliers, the better the chances we can help you. Talk to us today and we can tell you how to avoid this nightmare scenario.
Place your trust in us, the experts. We’ve been around for decades and we’ve seen just about everything there is to see in this industry. We have the tools and resources to help you successfully navigate the busy holiday season. Reach out to us now, even if you are unsure about your needs for the season. It’s NEVER too early.
Please Contact Us Today
As always, if you have any questions, one of our branded packaging advisors is standing by to assist, with decades of experience behind them. Want to know more about custom packaging options? Please call us at 630-551-1700 or contact us via email at www.SalazarPackaging.com.
Related Posts:
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/holiday-e-commerce-boxes-its-not-too-late-or-too-soon/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/e-commerce-shippers-are-you-ready-for-the-holidays/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/rush-orders-a-custom-packaging-scam/
