Things To Know About Corrugated Boxes

It is highly unlikely that you haven’t seen corrugated boxes in your life. These boxes present the best packaging option for companies and brands that have to ship their products to stores and doorsteps. In this article, we will discuss a few things about corrugated boxes.

Corrugated vs. cardboard boxes

A cardboard box uses thick paper stock or heavy paper-pulp. You can use this material for the packaging of several products, including non-rigid products like notepads and loose products like clothes.

If you are an online retailer, you can ship your products in boxes made of cardboard. However, these boxes are not quite protective for most of the products. You may have to use some extra packaging materials, such as bubble wrap, to ensure the proper safety of your product during transit.

Corrugated boxes, on the other hand, are constructed using a few layers of cardboard instead of one layer. A typical corrugated box consists of sheets that have three layers: two cardboard sheets sandwiching a fluted layer of cardboard. While corrugated is a lightweight material, it is more resilient than you think. It can help you secure most of the items that you ship to your customers.

The best thing about corrugated boxes is that they remain intact even when they are exposed to shocks, temperature changes, and moisture. While these are not invincible boxes, they lessen the chances of product damage significantly. With the help of these boxes, you can ensure the safety of your products from the warehouse to their destinations in most cases.

Making of corrugated

Before discussing the benefits of corrugated boxes, let’s first discuss how they are made. The source material of corrugated boxes comes from trees, and the good thing about it is that it is a renewable source. Due to being one of the most recovered packaging materials on the planet, corrugated cardboard doesn’t have a significant impact on the environment. According to research based on the study of the recoverability of cardboard for 10 years, 90% of corrugated boxes end up being recycled, contributing to the production of new boxes.

People at recycling units use some other materials to make sure that the recycled cardboard is as durable and effective as new corrugated boxes.

Benefits of corrugated packaging

• The first and foremost benefit of corrugated boxes is that they are customizable. You can customize these boxes according to the shape and size of your products. Not only will it allow you to reduce shipping costs, but you will also be able to impress your customers with your customized packaging.
• Corrugated boxes allow you to enhance the unboxing experience of your customers. You can use packaging inserts and other materials without increasing the size of the outer packaging. The internal packaging materials will keep reminding your customers of your brand.
• The best thing about corrugated boxes is that they are not harmful to the environment. Since most corrugated boxes head to recycling units, there is always a lesser need to cut new trees for the production of new boxes. Even if these boxes end up in landfills, they biodegrade easily. Another way these boxes can be helpful to the environment is that you can use them for composting.
• The cost-efficiency is of these boxes allows you to increase your revenue. Since you will be purchasing corrugated boxes made of recycled materials most of the time, you won’t have to pay a lot. The customizability of this packaging option is another cost saver.

If you want to use corrugated boxes to increase your revenue and play a role in the safety of this environment, you may need to discuss these factors with a packaging supplier.

 

Why People are Dropping More Scarcity Marketing Strategies

When choosing a marketing strategy, you might want to consider a scarcity marketing strategy.  What does that mean though, and why should people do this? Well, you’re about to find out. 

Scarcity Principle 

This is a unique type of marketing known as drop marketing. This is where they don't release everything in one fell swoop.   Brands that do this prefer limited kinds of products with small mini launches or drops. These are done in online or physical stores, and also have specific, fixed deadlines.

This creates hype, creating excitement. It also leads to more queues too for a lot of people to indulge in.

This is a strategy that was used by Supreme, which is a New York brand. They actually launched a branded sort of brick that was just $320 to start with, and because of this, now they’ve grown into a billion dollar company. 

They use the limited editions, only giving out 5-15 different products that they do at one specific time. 

Another type of example is Wheaties. You probably know them as the breakfast of champions. Well, they’ve decided to take their branding to another level. They used a limited edition packaging that’s specifically for Oreo brands, and when they collaborated with supreme, this super limited edition product actually sold for over 50 thousand dollars. 

Scheduled and Limited Editions 

Limited editions are basically a type of progressive release. Similar to how TV series will start with just an episode a week, limited edition products are exclusives for brands, and they don't offer replicas period. It’s something that’s different, as it offers a truly immersive experience for the products within this same branding, and from the other parts of the competition. Innovation is a key part of this, and it plays a huge role. 

Drop Marketing and Drop Packaging 

Drop marketing and packaging is something that does work together. One example of this is Evian water. There was one designed by Chiara Ferragni, which is a product that was considered controversial, especially because of the very exorbitant price. It also was a collection that, despite the high price, sold out just a couple of hours after that.

Another example of this is the pigotta doll that was a reproduction of this same influencer.  IKEA has also done this, and they created a limited edition shopper MARKRAD, which was designed by Virgil Abloh, who was the founder of Off-White, a brand.  This was a brand with the goal of “ennobling the anonymous” which creates a unique object for this.  They made a sculpture that was refined and crafted to look similar to the trademark book bag that IKEA has.  The samples of this disappeared within a moment off their shelves and is still a sought item. 

So, the main strategy behind this is to convince those that do love the brand that they need this, and they need to stay updated. They also encourage people to check social media websites and networks daily. In order to get this product and its exclusivity, they need to be loyal and learn from each of these brands.  This is what encourages the clicking, the purchasing, and the adding of boxes. 

Even fast food can take advantage of this. McDonald’s for example had those limited edition BTS meals that people kept buying, to the point where it was a top level product. There are other food boxes that come with this too.

If you’re someone that is interested in creating limited packaging, this is a great way to do it, as it can offer a lot of amazing benefits to your packaging experience.

Benefits Of Corrugated As A Packaging Option

A corrugated carton is made of thick or heavy paper pulp. You may have seen a cereal box. It is a good example of a cardboard box. Corrugated cartons, on the other hand, are much stronger than simple cardboard cartons. These cartons consist of three layers: a fluted cardboard layer is sandwiched between two cardboard sheets.

In this article, we will discuss some benefits of using corrugated as a packaging option.

Sustainability, reusability, and recyclability

The source of corrugated is wood coming from trees. It is the most recovered material on the planet. According to a survey, the last eight years have seen 90% of corrugated recovered from used corrugated boxes. 2018 has seen 96% of corrugated coming from the disposed of corrugated boxes. The fiber from used corrugated boxes is recovered and recycled to make new boxes and other products. An average cardboard box consists of 50% of recycled content.

While plastic is another popular packaging material, it is recovered only about 15%, compared to an overall all-time 78% for corrugated.

That said, recycling of corrugated has a significant impact on the health of the environment. With recycling units making 90% of corrugated material usable again, there has been an overall decrease in solid waste disposal. Recycled fiber allows production companies to get new corrugated boxes without cutting trees to meet their production requirements. Old corrugated containers, being a valuable resource for both paper mills and manufacturers of new corrugated boxes, are a revenue generator.

Because corrugated is durable, it can be used for a longer duration before heading to recycling units. Consumers can use this material for home organizing and other purposes. So, when you get your next online order, chances are it will be in a corrugated box, which will be in the best condition. You can put it in the storage and put it to use when needed. You can also use it to pack gifts.

Product safety

One of the top concerns for consumers is the safety of the product they receive at their doorstep. With the help of a corrugated box, you can make sure that your product arrives at your customer’s door without getting damaged. This box is durable enough to accommodate additional packaging materials, such as foam, to ensure the safety of your product.

Customization

Most packaging options do not allow you to customize your box uniquely enough to match the shape or size of your product. You can do it with corrugated boxes. You can customize your box right according to the look and feel of your product. Whether you are going with retail or e-commerce packaging, you can use corrugated to showcase your product in the best way possible.

Printing and graphic designing

A graphical representation is an ideal way to get customers’ attention. The good thing is that you can use graphics on your corrugated packaging to achieve desired branding goals. You can use different designs, patterns, and colors to make your product stand out from the competition. You can also use this feature to enhance your brand awareness.

So, if you want to go with the corrugated option to package your products, the first and foremost thing is to contact your packaging supplier. You can discuss design options with the packaging designer to make sure that your product gets the best representation in the retail or e-commerce world.

How Packaging Structures and Shapes Affect Perception

The first impression matters. Not just when meeting others, or even speaking about a subject you’re passionate about, but also in packaging shapes. 

Rounded packaging for instance, will showcase a feeling of friendliness.  It can create a warmth that will be accepted by new customers. In contrast, angular packaging conveys a more serious edge to things. 

Again, shapes play a part in packaging, conveying the first impression and will give one a perception of who you are as a brand. 

Buying Behaviors and Shapes 

The shape of such items also affects buying behavior. 

Size matters. Slim means premium. Have you ever gotten a box that was super small for a high-end item? Lots of companies that sell luxury items don’t want to bother you with dunnage and void fill, so you’ll want to make sure that the packaging is in a slim shape. 

On the flip side, think of those large, bulk-size items. Those are supposed to offer value. More bang for your buck. If the goal is to show customers that while you’re not some high-end company, you offer valuable experiences, incorporating a large bit of packaging will shape that buying behavior. 

Shipping Supplies that Leverage this Psychology 

So we want to make things friendly in some cases, but also premium. Or maybe you want to give something a serious edge to it, all packed in a neat premium box. 

There are items for this. one popular such item is triangular tubes, which are tubes made from triangles, which will hose items inside. Though it might not fit very thing, it does offer a unique sign that can be a little more serious. 

On the flip side, if you’re a business looking to create a warmer, more friendly experience, oval boxes and containers for such items are another. 

Then, for those items that are really small and high-end, but are also a bit more serious, some are now using compact cubes. It's small, so it’s an item only you get to indulge, but it’s also something that is serious, and will make you feel truly special. 

Design for More than Delivery 

You want to ease more than delivery of your items. Make sure that it also offers shelf appeal. 

Multi-sensory experiences via form is one example. Your packaging forms are so good for this, and when you give a multi-sensory experience that will mask a whole bunch of waves in your customer’s mind, and really wow them, you’ll make the delivery also appealing. 

Design not just for where it sits on the shelf, but also when it gets to you, for making this even better. Incorporate sights, sounds, touch, and all of the senses, making all of your senses even more magical. 

Shape to Communicate Function and Safety 

Some of the shapes that are used here also communicatee function. A small cube container can be used for restorage quite easily, which again, makes it even more useful to all that are involved.   The form is a selling point for all that are interested in such items. 

Safety is another. Safety of items again plays a big part. Showing that these items are in safe containers shows to the customer that their items are nice and protected, and that they don’t have to worry about breakage. 

How you present your packaging presents you as a person, so make sure that you build structures that will convey all of this. don’t just focus on selling to customers and getting this out, but in turn, focus as well on the overall display too.