Disposing of Amazon Boxes

There has been a massive shift in the American Economy and how we now do business. This grand shift has also affected how the average American shops. The Pandemic has created a wave of changes across our country.  They began by the Federal Government giving guidelines for individuals to follow.  The individual States then took those guidelines and changed them into their own version and enacted laws. These laws albeit are mostly unconstitutional on the Federal and State level to enforce but are actually being enforced and it has created a new country. Now with fear rising due to the uncertainty of being arrested and the hardship of going out to the local stores which most are now closed people are staying home. 

We are now shopping from home more than ever and most people now have an abundant supply of used Shipping boxes in their homes. This is because people are afraid of a virus and fear of being arrested and so they order items they need online.  The amount of shipping has caused Amazon to hire 100,000 workers and the number continues to rise.  The amount of shipping boxes being sent across the country is at its highest rate ever.  This has led to a major problem of how to get rid of these extra boxes.

When I look in my garage it is full of amazon packages and packages from all different companies.  THe issue is they are still in my garage taking up space.  That is the reason why they are still there, they simply take up space. I am only allowed to use so many trash bags per week to get rid of my trash.  So I keep compiling an excess of cardboard and it’s becoming difficult to get rid of it.

My solution is to get yourself a very nice knife.  You can also get a high end pair of scissors as well.  You then need to set aside some time to cut all the corners which are kept to gether with tape and then fold the boxes into the most compact form possible. To fit in trash cans I suggest having each section be no wider than 12 inches and no longer then 24 inches.  This allows you  to stack to section per most trash bags and create many sections of width.  Make sure you tools that you chose have very comfortable handles which are more rounded instead of square so your hands do not blister due to the repeated movements in which they will be forced to do.  The pressure on your hands creates friction which can lead to injuries quickly. So choose wise high end tools and be efficient when throwing out your cardboard.

Pandemic and Trash

Unexpected consequences are an outlier that must be addressed for every action to take.  This year there are more of them being found that will impact the American Economy for years.  The trickle down of the economy is going to be a huge unexpected consequence but there are other more subtle issues that have occurred due to the change in policy from Federal and Local Governments across the country.  One area I have recently noticed that will somehow take its toll on our society is the vast amount of extra shipping that has occured due to the stay at home orders being put in place.  Most of the country is unable to leave their homes except for essential or emergency purposes. This has caused online shopping and the use of shipping boxes to sky rocket. 

What does this look like for the average homeowner in America?  I can personally open my garage and see a stack of cardboard boxes 10x10 feet in the garage and stacked 3 feet high.  In all honesty it is truly mind boggling.  We have never purchased so many things online in our lives.  The quantity is alarming for us.

Why are we doing it? We are finding that going to a grocery store has lots of risks to it.  One there is the legal risk of being pulled over for and having our rights violated due to the unconstitutional stay at home order.  It has given police the right to pull anyone over for zero reason.  This defines multiple rights and is a dangerous situation because if I refuse to allow my rights to be violated I may be killed due to lack of training and understanding from inept or corrupt police. It was funny until today a New York mayor just ordered the specific arrest of Jewish citizens to be arrested for gathering outside their homes.  It is no longer safe and no longer free to be an American.

Getting back to what we will do with all those shipping boxes in our garage and why we have kept them.  The reason is I don’t know how to dispose of so many.  Our trash only allows us to get rid of so many bags of trash per week and cardboard boxes even when cut down and folded take up so much space.  They also destroy the bags we are required to use due to their sharp edges.  So we are now creating a growing pile of trash that will not be disposed of any time soon.  Soon this unexpected consequence will bog down another industry in our economy, the trash collectors.

Choosing the Right Tape for Packaging

Tape may seem like a little thing but it’s actually important for securing packaging.  Not all of them are equal, and here, we’ll go over the most common types of tape for packaging. 

Self-Adhesive Kraft Paper Tape 

This is a natural tape that’s made from materials that are natural and has been a popular one for a lot of eco-conscious people. It’s an adhesive that offers the strongest hold while also providing a very gentle response to the environment.  Finding a tape that aligns with the values and sustainability is important, and you’ll get this with kraft paper tape. 

When choosing packaging, the materials that you want should be both eco friendly and effective, but self-adhesive kraft paper tape ticks all of these boxes. 

It’s made from a renewable resource, and is a tape that’s not just biodegradable, but easy to recycle too, so you’ll be able to dispense it without harming the world around you. 

Kraft paper is basically a type of strong paper that’s natural and made from certain paper pulp that’s ideal for packaging. It’s good for sealing boxes and even parcels too and offers a very strong hold. 

Polypropylene Tape 

Next is polypropylene tape, which is versatile, and known for strength and durability. It withstands the handling that’s rough, and also the extreme temperatures that are there so it’s ideal for businesses and shipping goods that might encounter harsher conditions in its wake. 

Polypropylene tape is reliable for those that want to secure the packaging that they need to ensure that the packaging is there. 

When choosing packaging, you need a high-quality material, and polypropylene tape is made for the ultimate protection and security of these items. It’s robust in construction, and ensures that it withstands these transportation rigors, whether it’s shipped across a country, or even outside of there too. 

It’s durable, and this is specifically made to withstand many of the demands that packaging has, due to the tensile strength, so it can be subjected to a lot of wear and tear. 

It’s also really good for being resistant to humidity and moisture and is important when you’ve got goods that might have to go through a damp environment or even harsher weather. 

Vinyl Tape 

This is a tape that’s good for moisture. It’s great because for those that get exposed to liquids and water in the transit process, vinyl tape offers a tighter seal, so the goods are dry and safe. Even unpredictable weather can’t stop this. 

When choosing packaging protection, you want to go with something that’s strong. 

This tape is one of the strongest against water damage to packaging, and it can be transported even through spills. 

It also is versatile too, and works with plastic, cardboard, and even metal in order to keep things secure. It’s a reliable solution for all types of packaging experiences, whether sealing envelopes, boxes, or even bundling various items. 

Customized Tape 

Finally, we have customized tape, which is branded tape that’s made for customers to engage and interact with one’s brand. It does set the stage for the inner packaging, boosting excitement when they see the customized tape.  It’s a great way to build an unforgettable impression. 

If you’re putting together unboxing experiences or want to make the customer feel like they’re really included, this is the best option, as it will build a better, stronger bond with the brand, in ways you may never have thought possible. 

Tape is important and these are some of the top picks for brands to use to secure the packaging. 

Digital Vs. Offset Printing

 If you’re looking to print something, you’ve got two types of options. Usually. You’ve got regular detail printing that is printed to the way things look on the screen, or offset, which is something that uses color output in order to help get the right design. 

While some may prefer one over the other because of the prices, there can be costly mistakes, which play a role in the future options that are there. 

Below, we’ll go over each of these, what they are, and the benefits and drawbacks of both. 

Offset Printing 

Offset is basically where you utilize plates onto sheets that are colored, letting them sit in a rapid kind of succession, stamping it directly onto the paperboard. It’s how newspapers, along with magazines get made. 

They offer great image quality, but they are best for print runs that are large volume. Low volume projects won’t want to use this because of the excess time to get it done. 

Digital printing 

Digital printing is basically the printing that’s does the same type of printing that a normal printer or other type of medium you have at home works for this. 

It’s quicker, and also doesn’t really impact the quality for lower-level jobs. 

It’s also much easier to create different printing runs through the printing press. 

The problem with this, however, is that it impacts the fidelity of the color, and the flexibility of the material that traditional offset printing provides in some cases. 

This is something that some people like to use for lower volumes, since it definitely does not look as high of quality, and that of course, can impact the use of this in a lot of cases as well. 

Printing Methods: what’s best 

Offset is best for very large orders, or something that’s over 1000 different units. Digital is good for the smaller types of jobs. 

If you’re going to use paperboard packaging for the item that you’re selling, you’ll want to go with offset printing. That’s because offset offers better output for printing that has to be smaller, and for designs that are a bit smaller for the package. 

The goal is to offer concise, clear packaging for this, as this is vital for making sure that you get the best information possible for many of the customers that are there. 

If you’re someone that is making a smaller order for corrugated packaging, then use digital for this. Offset is great for much larger volumes of running, and the turn time usually is around the same, but it does cost a bit more, so digital is the way to go. 

When you compare the color depth on this, offset printing definitely does outperform the digital printing options, so if you need something bright, or with the color depth that really highlights the product, then you’re best to go with that. 

Offset printing does use the Panton Matching system of color to make sure that the inks are perfectly matched, but digital printers are limited, since the utilize color calibration that is more approximate than anything. 

Offset also is very good for kraft paper products that need white ink. Digital cannot offer this.  Offset is good if the color is more attractive, crisp and clean. For those that have smaller, simpler orders that are not really in the budget for something this large, then just spend the money on a digital printer. 

Both are good, but one does have a better option for color, and for many ecommerce people, understanding the difference can impact the packaging, so keep this in mind when choosing one over the other for your packaging needs. 

Old paperboard transport boxes made cardboard

The very first box made for shipping was a paperboard box. These boxes were flimsy, prone to getting destroyed by the elements, and overall poorly made. In 1817 a man who lived in England by the name of Cronchuck wanted a way to safely transport items from place to place. This desire made him design the very first shipping boxes, the paperboard box. After a few years, a man named Sir Malcolm Thornhill improved upon the paperboard boxes to make what we know and use today, corrugated cardboard. 

As the name suggests, these boxes were made from paper, so we can infer they were not that strong. Cronchuck wanted to have a way his company could transport items in a more safe way rather than carrying them from place to place and leaving them to the elements. This need made him begin to think of ways he could accomplish just that. He came up with the idea of paperboard boxes after seeing his son fold some paper to form a rectangular box. With this new idea, he got to work making these boxes as best as he could with the materials and machinery he had at his disposal. Unfortunately, the boxes were still paper, so it was not all that strong, but it got the job done. 

After a few years, Sir Malcolm Thornhill improved upon his design by accident. While at his paper smith job making paper bags, a ruler used to measure and accurately cut and fold the paper shifted. This shift caused the paper to fold and crease. He used this accidental discovery to make the paperboard boxes better. By putting this piece of wavy paper between two others, he made the first corrugated box. This idea was not able to be put into full effect until the turn of the twenty-first century as materials became more available.

With this new discovery, cardboard boxes were the next step in improving the quality of paperboard boxes.  With the newly discovered technique to make corrugated boxes, the shipping industry changed. Now they were able to fit more into the sturdy boxes without fear of the box falling apart. There was still the problem of boxes falling apart in the rain so to try and fix that, and wax was placed on the exterior of the boxes in hopes of repelling the water. Today we laminae the boxes to do just that, protect from moisture.

If it were not for Thornhill’s accidental discovery, would we still be using paperboard shipping boxes? The poor quality of these boxes probably would not last in today’s world. The need for something better is always there so, and it is a good thing both Cronchuck and Thornhill invented what they did when they did. We still use Thornhills corrugation discovery to this day. It is odd how paper can be made into something as sturdy as cardboard, all things considered. It amazes me how Cronchuck and Thornhill were able to come up with these ideas and mass produce them given the time period. Back then, materials for crafting were few and far between. Some materials were left undiscovered for years. Not to mention the machinery they had then versus what we have today and were still able to come up with such a helpful product that is still used to this day.

Why Custom Packaging is the Fastest Way to Get Ahead

A lot of ecommerce businesses are popping up everywhere and there are more and more every single day. Each of these does vie for your attention, so the messages and branding does need to get ahead of the game, to offer some good awareness for the long-term and the short-term, which offers better, repeat orders.

The packaging is something that customers want to have, and if it’s bland, they feel like they didn’t get their money’s worth. Custom packaging is a better way to go about doing things, and we’ll go over why that is here. 

A Better Customer Experience 

Yes, having generic packaging is something that’s cheap, and it’s simple, but the thing is, it’s not really you, or your products. Custom packaging is the opposite, as it’s made for those products specifically, to offer the best branding experience, and offers value, and appreciation to others. Customers can also get their purchases further personalized too through the packaging, and when you say their name, or even a small, special message, it adds some unique value to this as well.

Differ from Others 

A lot of the current competing businesses don't use this, so everything’s a sea of bland and boring packaging, but when you use custom packaging, this creates a brand identity that's cohesive, that’s recognizable to many people. With packaging becoming the new extension of various branding identities, you want to make sure that you do decide to make it different, and it’s important.

Plus, when you offer custom packaging, this as well reinforces the branding too. Having a cohesive brand identity is something that makes you very recognizable to other people, and remember, you want the packaging to be a unique extension of such, which is why you want to offer a packaging that’s uniform, and also shows off the aesthetics that you’re going for too.

It offers Better Value 

When customers see the boring, generic packaging, it’s not perceived as high, and it usually doesn’t give that impression that these things are luxurious and also exclusive, and most of the time, they may not want to purchase it due to that. But with custom packaging, you get that. 

It shows off better quality products too. When you use materials that are custom made, it’ll withstand the wear and tear that’ll sometimes happen when you’re shipping it, and it also showcases the product quality that’s there.

For instance, for luxury packaging, you have to make sure that you’re using materials that showcase this. Leather, velvet, and the like are good and they usually can be made in an affordable way to offer a stylish, and a sleek way of designing things.

Brings More Customers and Shows the Identity of the Brand 

If you’re looking to improve the relationships with those that buy from you, and boost that loyalty, this is the best way to do this. That’s because custom packaging shows a higher standard in the consumer’s eyes, and offers a long-lasting, beneficial result from this.

You want to make sure that you include everything that you can in this. Those little details of what's on the packaging, and also having these nice little qualities, all play a major part in building a fun packaging experience.

The best way to improve your packaging is to go custom, for it offers a high-quality, branded experience, and you’ll be glad to see this. 

So next time you’re looking to decide on boring brand packaging, or something a bit more unique, go for the latter, and see how it makes you feel as well.

Moving Again? try these tips

If you are going to be on the move this year or may even be helping some family or friends that is a wonderful thing.  I think moving into a new area or getting the chance to help someone on the next stage of their life is a great boost.  Sometimes people are moving all their possessions and sometimes it is not for a good reason.  Having a helping hand and a should to lean on and help is something that I am always honored to be a part of.  So if this is something you are going to be doing I want to go over my experience with it and maybe give some helping tips to you.

 

The first thing is to be positive! Moving is filled with stress and random things that can go wrong.  Be in good spirits and even if you are not do your best to lift others up.  It may be a harder time for them than you and it is always nice to have a positive person working on big tasks.  Many people are very sad when they have to order shipping supplies to move all they own.  It can be daunting or simply too emotional for some people to handle. So a calm, helping hand is a wonderful thing to have in this situation.  Not everyone processes emotions the same way and sometimes the moving day is a crazy emotional day. 

 

The next step I have learned is to buy some new moving boxes.  If you are moving or even helping I have found that using old boxes causing injuries and breaks items.   A New heavy-duty moving box is really a surprisingly nice thing to have and can be picked up rather cheap.  I now go to my local shipping supplies store online and get a moving package for myself or any family and friends that are moving.  It comes loaded with boxes, tape, and markers for all different occasions. I find that this really is a great way to help people out even if they don't think its a nice gift.  In the end, they always appreciate the boxes and tape.  Plus no one gets injured due to a flimsy box with too much weight in it shifting.  Not nearly as many things get broken with good equipment and that helps spirits stay high!

 

Now I always say that you should attempt to find a trailer with a walk on-ramp.  This is worth renting if you have a vehicle to move it.  The ability to walk furniture and heavy items up a small ramp and not have it go in a truck is amazing.  So much less damage happens usually and people seem to find it so much more simple to move with a trailer. My father in law taught me this and I have tried to make sure to have one on each move I have done since.

 

Now It is always good to bring extra supplies along and I have found that picking up a really thick packing tape is an amazing help for these moves.  Most packing tape is rather thin and takes a few strips, but the thick stuff is available from specialty stores and it can save a lot of time and even money by getting the right product the first time.  I hope these tips help!