Finding a packaging partner company is more complicated than most people think.
Whether you’re sending a special order to a customer or shipping products in bulk to a chain corporation, the packaging company you entrust with your products can make or break a customer’s confidence.
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When you’re looking for a packaging company for your business, what criteria do you have in mind?
Here are a few questions you should be asking yourself.
How flexible are they?
Your business’ orders might go out like clockwork, but what if there’s a glitch in your system? If a big-name customer needs an order a day or two earlier than expected or a package gets lost in the mail, how will your partner packaging company respond?
Do they have 24-hour or emergency shipping? Are they willing to change orders at a moment’s notice?
Finding a firm can accommodate your needs will take unnecessary stress off your shoulders and guarantee that your customers receive their products in a timely manner.
Where are they located?
Location, location, location: the age-old business mantra. Finding a packaging company that is close to main rail lines, air transportation, and your own warehouses is essential for efficient and stress-free shipping.
That being said, don’t be afraid of a little extra inconvenience as far as location goes if it means you can use a company you trust more or materials that better fit your product.
Factor location in as much as you would factor anything else—weigh the pros and cons, and make your decision based on what’s best for your particular business.
Do they offer the right services?
Every product will need to be packaged in a certain way, so make sure that your chosen corporation offers all the services you require.
Whether you’re looking for heavy-duty cardboard with protective liners, boxes in bulk quantities, or options for oversized equipment, find a company like Pack-All International, a company that does vacuum packaging in Toronto that can handle your orders.
A few other things to consider:
- If you’re packing electronic equipment, make sure the company carries containers and materials that will protect your product from extreme temperatures.
- Check your corporation’s green initiative—if you’re trying to be environmentally friendly, find a company that specializes in green products.
- If you want your products labeled, find a business that is willing to use materials you provide or stamp or stencil your boxes with their own equipment.
What questions are they asking you?
One sign of a reliable, trustworthy business is the quality of questions they ask you when you send in an order. Are they taking your product without question, or are they asking for specific instructions? Are they concerned about your business’ goals, reputation, and preferences?
Don’t disregard a firm that excels at communication in the name of efficiency. Better that they ask too many questions and get your product shipped correctly than that you have disgruntled customers who received damaged goods because your packaging company failed to ask the right questions.
How are your clients responding?
The most important cog in the wheel of your business is the customer. How are they responding to your packaging company? Pay attention to customer reviews and complaints. Don’t discount your customers’ concerns simply because you’ve found a packing company that will give you a good deal.
Be willing to spend a little more on a more expensive packing company if it means the quality of your product will be protected in transit. Saving a little bit of money here or there won’t do you any good in the long run if you have dissatisfied customers.
Reach out to your clients. If you haven’t heard anything from them (negative or positive) about your new packaging materials or shipping process, conduct a customer survey and find out what they’re thinking. No news is often good news, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check.
Finding the right packaging company might be more complicated than you think, but it’s also worth taking the time and effort to get it right the first time. Packaging is one of the key factors to selling your product and keeping your customers satisfied, so don’t take it lightly.
Use these tips and do your own research to find the right packaging company for your business’ needs.
Savannah Coulsen
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