Shrink Wrap Packaging Guide

If you’ve been wondering what shrink wrap can do for you, you’re not alone.  Here, we’ll go over the basics of shrink wrap, and also get you some information that’ll help you with deciding whether or not shrink wrap products are right for you.  you definitely should do your research before you pull the trigger and purchase this, so you get the best wrapping possible. 

How it Works 

Shrink wrap is incredibly popular for a few reasons. One of the biggest is costs.  Because of the low costs compared to other types of packaging, this is one that’s affordable, and way more efficient.  There are a lot of great ways for you to shrink and wrap your products.

It also saves you some money when you are looking at price point comparisons with corrugated packaging, and usually, it’s pretty easy to work with.  It also works for a lot of different products, and once you’re done reading it, you’ll understand why it’s so useful.

It’s cheaper and more effective, and since the realization of this, a lot of people are starting to move towards shrink wrap packaging for their supplies. 

Does it Work with All Products 

This usually works with most products, in fact a lot of times, people prefer this over even using corrugated packaging. Food products such as cupcakes and cookies use this.  even the automotive industries utilize shrink wrapping for their pipes and also their engines too. So yes, it will work.

Some of the most common items that you see in the grocery store get shrink wrapped, so you’ll be able to see the wide array of benefits that this has.

There is also polyolefin shrink film, which is great for food products specifically, and it’s pretty cool. You can even shrink wrap produce that’s fresh into those that are stationary.  This is great too, since there are a lot of options, and if you’re new to the realm of shrink wrap, you’ll be able to take advantage of all of this.

The Costs 

There are also the costs that play a part in this.  The usage of products that shrink wrap is usually pretty affordable, especially if you use it correctly. A lot of companies are able to package their items at a low cost for them starting up, and usually the costs can help with producing shrink wrapped products with the correct machines.

There are tons of different machines, and the best thing is that you don’t need all of them.  You can literally shrink wrap any sort of product, and there are also perforated rolls that are used for producing and other types of food too.

There is also centerfold PVC wrap that you can use, and this is great too for practically any product.

In general, there are a lot of benefits to shrink wrap, and the costs of this are pretty minimal. 

Type to Use 

This ultimately depends on the type of product, and the type that you use does impact aesthetics, with the main materials playing a part in this. 

PVC and polyolefin and polyethylene are some of the most common.  There are a lot of different types out there, and depending upon if you’re using this for food, or for other things, you can make the decision yourself for this.

Shrink film has a lot of great means to help you with this, and you can always talk to someone in the field that knows about shrink wrap to help you. That way, you’ve got the correct shrink wrap, and your products are rightfully secured.

Why Improve the Packaging Systems

If you’re someone who is looking for ways to craft more efficient, better packaging systems, then you’re in luck. Better packaging offers better profits, which always is a benefit for companies. Packaging is also important to look at too. How can you reduce the costs and improve the system, offering more efficient labor and the like for yourself, and your packaging business? Read on to find out. 

Reduce the Waste 

Probably the best way to make your packaging efficient, is to reduce the waste.  This is something that's important, because efficiency in the west of packaging can save you money. Usually, when people look at equipment, they usually stare at the costs that happen upfront, and this equipment can help with reducing the waste, saving your costs, and also can help you with keeping a good gauge on how you want to use this.

For someone who does rely on the correct equipment to get what you need done, when you have a reduced packaging waste, you’re using the same materials each time you make a package, so you never have to worry about using too much.

Offering Packaging Consistency 

If you’re someone who struggles with giving packages that are consistent in lots of times, then you might want to look at improving this. For instance, if you’ve got bottles that need to be labeled correctly, having an applicator for this will offer the correct location for everything, reducing the number of misplaced items that are there. 

Better Efficiency of Labor 

In a lot of cases, there is a chance that your labor is not as efficient as it could be, as there are usually some line workers that are doing the same thing every single day, and when they’re constantly doing the same thing over and over again, it can make things slower, and cause more problems later on. If you’re able to put equipment there to make it better for them, they can work safer, and it takes a lot less time to get something done, and it will in fact boost productivity.

Improve the Costs of Maintenance 

The right equipment that you have matters. If you’re using old machines that are using the wrong consumable items, or used in the wrong manner, it can create a lot of harm down the line. When you’re able to control how this works, you get someone there handling all of this, so you’re not wasting the costs of labor that are there.

Getting the correct machines to handle the different jobs that are there will reduce the chances for downtime, and if you’ve got programs in maintenance, you’ll be able to ensure that you know exactly what you need to stay ahead of everyone else that’s there.

Offering Packed Cases that are Packaged Right 

A lot of times, people struggle with their packaging issues. they may get items that are missing, or wrongful items period. This is becoming a huge problem, and if you’re not ensuring that all parts of packaging are right, then you’re going to struggle. You may want to make sure that you have a packaging partner that prevents this.

These days, in the digital age, they even have AI that's used to package the products, scanning them before they’re put together, to ensure that everything is put together.

Through this it means less returns, and more money in your pocket. By improving this, you’ll be able to offer the best experience possible, and machinery that’ll change the way the game is, and offer better packages that may work for you. 

Contract Packaging Services

 If you’re someone who is looking to start contract packaging, you’re not alone. You’re also probably wondering the right types. You want something that offers everything that you need, and the big thing to remember is that it’s not the case for every single one. It’s best to understand the way that they work, and while there are some that have been around for decades, below we’ll go over all of the different types, and what services they tend to offer. 

Primary Packaging 

For those who don't know, primary packaging is your initial layer. The goal of this is to protect, preserve, and also contain what’s inside of them. this is basically the first line of defense that the product has, especially when protecting against defects and also contamination of products that’s there. A popular type is blister packaging, and they also show that if something was tampered with, the seal is broken. This is usually the final area that’s removed directly from the customer, offering better branding, and product appeal for a lot of people to enjoy as well. 

Secondary Packaging 

Another part of this is secondary packaging, which involves the second layer for protecting items that are packaged. They’re usually the shipping container, and that’s what lots of brands use. They usually come with a variety of materials including bags, air pillows, and even peanuts and other types of materials that’s there.

They also may have labels and printing, along with different packaging options.

Some also use AR and smart packaging, offering a variety of applications for inventory, no matter what it might be.

3PL

Also known as third-party logistics, this is basically getting a partner that’s trusted to handle the logistics.  This involves the control of the inventory, including reordering or getting new product or packaging, some cold storage for items that are perishable, and also fulfillment too. There are also co-packers, which help many in the ecommerce world get it together.

This offers simplifying, along with streamlining the business, done through outsourced types of labor, and even automation. Through warehouse management, management of storage, the transportation, and other metrics, this is something that’s good for taking it off the business’s plate. This makes it simple, and it’s great because it actually lowers the costs, keeps the supply chain going, and makes it efficient.  This also offers new storage and shipping too, and this has helped a lot of businesses keep it together.

Kitting 

What’s kitting?  This is a term that means taking the SKUs, putting them onto one package, and it creates a singular SKU. This is popular with subscription boxes and other businesses, as this is good for managing the products, and also, many businesses can use this.

The businesses that use this usually need a collection of prepackaged items, and also products that are different to offer an SKU that’s easier for you to manage.

POP Displays

Otherwise known as point of purchase displays, these are little displays people can buy from, and it does sway the buying decisions of others, offering a better experience. This is great for branded content, since you can show off products, banners, and also elements both physical and digital that’s great for attracting the attention of the consumers. They also come with audio and video, making this interactive, and super fun for everyone.

Contract packaging has a lot of benefits to this, and there are now more ways to use it than ever before. Check it out, and see if it fits into your business needs, so you can make an executive decision that’ll benefit the business and its needs.

Food and drink packaging designs

If you’re someone who has a food packaging design that you’re looking to be a little bit unique with, you’re in luck. Here, we have some amazing things for you to consider adding to the food and packaging that you have, and other types of things to consider to make your packaging for food stand out. 

Use icons 

Some people benefit from using little icons, especially if it shows the types of food that are in there. This can be good, especially if you want to let people know what they are getting, which can impact the way that people view the brand.

Another thing that you can do, is also go eco-friendly with the labels that are there too. Having this is really important, because this can be good for people to understand that yes, it doesn’t or does contain plant-based products. It can also tell them about how to dispose of it.

Another thing that you can also add on this, is also the ingredients that are in there. If the packaging includes an ingredient that people might be sensitive to, having an icon on there is really important, as it can prevent a possible allergic reaction.

Go minimal 

Another thing that you want to do with food packaging, is don’t be too extra about it. go minimal. This is especially important for box designs. Let’s say that you’re selling products that are made of meat. If you have a box that’s minimal, it doesn't make this too distracting, but instead offers a unique branding that you can get ahead with.

It also is great too if you want to also add some filler to this, which might be good if you’re packaging foods that do require this.

Go Vintage 

If you have some meat products, you can go vintage with this. vintage product engraving and even the packaging makes you stand out. In a world of bland and boring packaging, the vintage design offers an air of elegance to this.

If you’re a butcher selling bison cuts for example, you can add it to this, and people will be interested in the contents of such. Going vintage is something that you definitely want to consider, especially with your packaging designs. 

Use Unique Lettering 

Probably just as important as the images that you have on this, unique lettering is definitely something to look at for products.

Having a unique font for different products will definitely be a good thing to consider. If you have something that needs a bit of a tweak, to make it differ, you can add lettering that looks different and unique in order to offer the best product packaging that’s available. 

Start with a blank Canvas 

Still struggling to figure out what to do? You may want to try possibly getting a start on the different blank canvases that you can make. 

The cool thing about this, is when you start with something that’s plain, you’ll be able to create unique elements of design. The logo, the branding patterns, and even other descriptions of the content can be put here, offering a unique sort of tweaking that’s there.

When you're setting up the product packaging and the designs for this, then you’ll want to consider some of these unique sorts of elements to make it really shine. Improving on this, and also making it interesting and intriguing, is one of the best ways to build a product packaging that not only sells, but also gets people interested in the food products, and everything else that you have to offer to them too.

Why Analyze the in-House Packaging Lines

If you’ve been interested in making sure that your packaging line that’s in-house is optimized, you’re not alone. You may wonder if you're running the right materials and equipment, and also if you have the right operators and training. Maybe you refuse to try contract packaging or outsourcing, and you’re too proud to do that sort of thing/. You don’t want to get anyone else involved here.

But there are a lot of parts to it, and if there is something that’s not being run at the top level that’s possible, it can create issues, especially in terms of the quality of the packaging that’s there. But if you haven’t actually monitored it, you’re missing out on possible ways to improve the packaging line by manifold. In this, you’ll learn about what you can do with analyzing this, and why it matters.

Improving on Perfection 

So you’re already perfect, right?  How can you improve on something that is perfect then?  When you look at in-house packaging, you can see how the entire situation runs, and where any improvements can be made.

Why should you do this? Well, there are some secrets that the packaging experts might use, especially when it comes to operating various types of machinery. There are secrets that you might not even know, and if you’re not aware of these then boom, you’re wasting money.

For instance, did you know you could save up to 50% on the costs of wrapping with a stretch wrapper? Did you know that for $100, you can fix the packaging line? 

If not, then there you go. You can fix the perfection for sure, but also, you can fix the idea that you’re not perfect by changing up the packaging line.

Reducing Waste 

Another important thing is the waste that’s being made. If you’ve got a packaging line, you want to make sure that you fully reduce the waste that’s there.

What that means is, if there is a wrong width, gauge, and length that’s there, and you’re using the wrong ones, then boom, you’re throwing away money.

An analysis of the line and the current state of it is vital, as it’ll help you with the data that’ll aid you with the wasteful items that were there.

There are different areas within each of the packaging lines that are there, especially concerning the machinery and the materials, with different adjustments and large cost savings that are there. For instance, if you choose the incorrect film gauge for shrink film, you could be throwing away thousands of dollars every single month in a waste. You’re also wasting a lot of material and time.  You want to use a shrink film gauge or thickness that’s fitting for the items that you have, and if the type of gauge is wrong, then fix it now rather than wait.

Other benefits 

There are other benefits of your packaging line being looked at too.

Some of the benefits include: 

• Finding opportunities to changing the energy so that you can markedly save on costs 

• Looking at the utilities, finding ones that are adjustable, and upgrading it to something that’s better 

• Finding the materials to ensure that you have the ideal types to save you a lot on costs 

• Allows you to look at how clean the packaging line is, so that you’ll be able to create a functional line of packaging 

• Reducing the wear and tear of the machinery before it gets bad, so that you can save a bunch of money on costs as well.

Is your shipping damage harming you?

 Shipping damage is not good for companies, as this does leave customers and companies vulnerable to negative and bad reviews. Over a period of time, the damage does hurt the brand, driving customers away. That's why it’s vital to utilize some protective packaging, in order to make sure that the items arrive at destinations intact. 

Once you’ve lost good standing with customers, it’s hard to get it back. 

Ask yourself the following questions, and if the answer is no, read on to figure out how to protect the brand: 

• Do I monitor reviews online that mention damage from shipping 

• Are there reviews that have recurring issues mentioned 

• Am I using the correct protective packaging 

• Am I using enough for this protective packaging? 

Monitoring Reviews 

Reviews are pretty much the way to show others whether or not they like your brand. 

While most businesses will get good, positive reviews, if you use the incorrect packaging, such as protective sheets and foam inserts, you will create a problem for yourself.  A log of customers get mad if they get an item at their doorstep that's broken, for a good reason.

Not only that, but you’re also going to have to deal with the returns that come from this. it hurts the brands, and it’s something that can be a major problem. 

People get motivated with revisions when they’re upset with products. If you’ve got reputations for not protecting these items when shipping, then this will come up in future reviews.  Too many negative comments and quips will turn away customers and hurt your profits. 

Address issues recurring 

Nothing is worse than having customers scared away via negative reviews. Business owners need to take responsibility for this. While it’s hard to accept this, it’s vital to check for the legitimate issues of customers and their customer service. 

If there is anything referencing the damage during shipment, you’ll need to fix this one fast. Addressing and fixing this issue will help the brand, and in turn, you’ll feel more organized and appropriate with your actions as a result of this. 

Prevention 

You want to also prevent this. That way, you’ve got far less problems down the line.

The right packaging to protect this does matter. Pink foam that’s anti-static is vital for electronics.  It’s designed to dissipate safely and slowly the electrical discharge. 

You also will need more than one type of packaging material. For instance, while smaller bubble wrap protects a TV from getting scratched up, you need foam or a larger type of bubble wrap for impact damage.  It also is good for prevention of jostles or drops as well. 

Value the customers 

Finally, you’ve got to start valuing the customers better.  Your customers do take kindly to having their items show up in one piece, and also on time. 

If you’re consistently delivering products that are damaged, they won't want to work with you. This is because they will see that you don’t care. 

If that’s the case, then they’re going to leave you for a competitor or, so you’ll thereby lose the business. You want to use the right type and the packaging amount, prevention of damage and also to maintain a more positive relationship with customers that are there. 

Overall, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with the products that you sell. One of them is shipping damage, which you don’t want. With that said, you need to focus on the proper treatment of these products, and to prevent this in the process before it gets worse for you.