When you think of your packaging provider, do any frustrations come to mind?
If packaging hasn't been a priority, you might feel content with your current provider. However, when you factor in the tangible costs and substantial influence of packaging on your brand and profitability, you might reevaluate whether your providers are truly up to the mark.
Packaging audits encompass multiple facets, but three red flags suggest it might be time to switch your corrugated packaging supplier. Keep reading to learn the signs you should watch out for.
1. Packaging Falling Short of Specifications
Designers and engineers devote substantial effort to defining the specifics of a product's packaging system. This includes factors like weight distribution, product tolerances, and fulfillment methods, all of which ensure the safe transit of products throughout the supply chain. If your packaging fails to meet specifications, it's time to reassess your provider or determine if they can accommodate your evolved needs and specifications.
2. Provider Transparency is Lacking
If you're asking relevant questions and your packaging provider is unresponsive or uninformed, it’s time to reconsider your relationship. Can your provider readily share information like unit cost, packaging capabilities, second- and third-tier suppliers, held certifications, supplier scorecards, and operational, commercial, compliance, and quality reports? Visibility is key for any significant changes to your packaging strategy. For instance, if you're dealing with overseas packaging, your suppliers should be able to provide valuable insights and data.
3. Your Provider Could Damage Your Brand
In today's market, where consumers are readily investing more in sustainability, companies must exceed standard operations and meaningfully contribute to social issues. PwC's 2023 Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey reveals that over 70% of consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainably produced goods, and eight out of ten would pay more for goods like locally-sourced food or products with a lower carbon footprint. This willingness was especially prominent among Millennials and Gen Z, demographics who often express a strong commitment to social consciousness and environmental justice.
These consumer trends underscore the importance of ethical and sustainable practices in your packaging supply chain. Any negative practices linked to your providers could significantly harm your brand, emphasizing the need for full transparency in their operations and collaborations. The potential impact isn't limited to your primary suppliers; even your second -and third-tier suppliers can tarnish your brand if found to be involved in adverse practices.
Elevate Your Packaging Solutions
At Lawrence Paper Company, we're committed to staying at the forefront of industrial and retail packaging trends. With our extensive range of services – from corrugating and tinting to folding and die-cutting – we're continuously expanding to meet your needs.
Interested? Get in touch today, and let's redefine packaging together.
Meet Lawrence Paper Company
When it comes to design, packaging and fulfillment of your valuable products, Lawrence Paper Company offers innovative, custom designs in boxes that protect and promote from the loading dock to the shopping cart.
Lawrence Paper Company quality comes in any quantity. That’s right, any and all. From a single box to millions and more, we can deliver any number of units – quickly and economically.
