June 16, 2021
It’s no secret that online shopping has seen record volumes in recent years. In 2020, more than 20% of retail sales were online. That is up 44% year-over-year—an astonishing number. Retail in total, excluding automotive dealers and gas and restauant sales, saw a record-breaking 6.7% growth last year.
Of course, you can’t have retail without boxes to ship the product in. Corrugated packaging sales had declined in 2018 and remained flat in 2019. But, between June and July of 2020, box shipments increased 5.5 percent, and the industry saw a 3.4% year-over-year increase for square footage of corrugated board produced. As the amount of corrugated used grows, many retailers (online and brick and mortar) are looking for earth-friendly solutions.
Many e-tailers, such as Amazon and Staples, consider sustainability a top priority. One of the ways they address this is by using fit-to-product (FtP) packages. Fit-to-product packaging is just as it sounds. The packaging is engineered to fit the product inside in size and shape and level of protection required. When packages shrink to fit what was ordered, it results in less material used (corrugated and filler materials), more packages per truck, less gas burned, less material to dispose of or recycle. There are cost savings for the e-tailer and a positive impact on the environment.
Another popular environmentally friendly trend for retailers, valued for its cost-saving abilities, is retail-ready packaging. Retail-ready packaging is seen most often in warehouse stores, club stores, and discount supermarket chains. Unlike typical cartons that require stock clerks to open and then place individual products on the self, these shoppable cases and displays are easily opened and placed directly on the shelf or aisle for consumers. The cartons and displays can be printed with graphics to promote your brand further.
For retailers, retail-ready packaging increases replenishment speed and creates efficiency, so product is more readily available, which can increase sales. When retail-ready packaging fits the product, material usage and reliance on less sustainable packaging methods are reduced. B2B companies selling online and shipping to retailers can reduce costs, similar to FtP packaging – more shippers per truck and reduced transportation costs.
Working with the right packaging partner will ensure your fit-to-product or retail-ready packaging is designed (graphic and structural), manufactured, and printed efficiently and cost-effectively.
With more than 67 years of expertise in developing and manufacturing custom creative packaging, displays, and signs, we understand that you define our success. We will listen to your needs and create custom creative packaging and displays in an environmentally responsible manner that will exceed your expectations. With extensive retail experience, in-house creative and structural designers, the latest printing technology, and G7 certification for color consistency, we offer cost-effective print solutions and unprecedented speed to market.
Dusobox can take you from prototyping and test marketing with innovative digital capabilities to full production runs with the most advanced and innovative printing technologies - all while maintaining brand and color consistency. As your One-Resource, we can even assist with fulfillment, shipping, and logistics.
Contact us to learn more.
Dusobox is a leading designer, engineer, and manufacturer of custom corrugated display solutions and product packaging.
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