Packing Supplies and Solutions

While creating candy is just one piece of the puzzle; once you’ve created your candy, you’ll want to find a great way to present it. The correct type of candy boxes can protect your product and make it appear appealing.

When looking at types of candy boxes for use with your candy products, here are some factors to consider:

Determine the proper box size

If the box is larger than required for your products, the candy could move about as it is transported or carried by the consumer. On the opposite side, if the box is smaller than necessary, the candy could be damaged due to being squeezed.

It would be ideal to select a size of box which provides sufficient area for your candy items, yet does not leave excessive amounts of space empty. If you offer different size assortment packages, having various box sizes available can assist in ease of packaging.

Consider how your product will be displayed

Oftentimes consumers see the package prior to seeing the product within. In this case the box is a portion of how your candy products will initially appear to consumers.

A clean white box could provide a simple and tidy display for your candies. Using colored or printed boxes could provide a colorful and fun presentation. Also, many candy boxes include clear plastic or cellophane windows, allowing the consumer to view the contents of the package without needing to open it.

Utilize inserts when necessary

There are occasions where certain candies require a little assistance in remaining in position. Insertable trays and cups along with other insertable components can be used to create separation among individual candies and prevent movement. This method is beneficial with chocolates and truffles as these types of candies tend to get messy when they come into contact with one another. Additionally, using inserts creates an organized arrangement of assorted candies for the consumer upon opening the box.

Take into account the route to the customer’s doorstep

Even though your candy may appear perfect once it leaves your kitchen or store, there are no guarantees that it will arrive at its destination unscathed. Utilizing a sturdy box will aid in protecting your candies from potential knocks and minor pressures. If you plan to ship your candies, then you will likely also need an additional outer shipping box along with adequate cushioning surrounding the candy box.

Create excitement upon opening

Upon opening a box containing your candies, it should be an exciting experience. Creating an attractive and neat arrangement of candies within a beautiful box contributes to a feeling of receiving something special, regardless of whether it was a small gift or a more substantial purchase. While the candy itself remains the main attraction, the presentation provided by the packaging greatly influences the overall first impression.

A strong box can travel a long way, but only if the carrier knows where it belongs. A torn, wet, or hard-to-read label can send an order in the wrong direction. It may also cause a delay or return. That is why labels deserve the same care as other shipping supplies.

Begin with a clean package. Dust, dirt, and loose fibers can keep a label from sticking. Wipe the surface if needed and let it dry before placing the label. This is even more important when using boxes that have been stored in a busy or dirty area.

Choose a flat spot for the label. Do not place it over a box seam, corner, or open space between the flaps. These areas can bend or split while the package is moving. A smooth surface helps the label stay in place and makes the printed code easier to scan.

Remove or cover every old shipping label when reusing a box. A carrier may scan the wrong code if two labels are showing. Old names and addresses should not remain easy to read. Covering them protects private details and gives the new order one clear destination.

Check the printer before a large group of orders is packed. Print one test label and look closely at the words and bars. The ink should be dark, and no part of the address should be missing. A faded label may look fine from far away but fail when the carrier tries to scan it.

Use label sizes that fit the package. A large label can wrap around the side of a small box and hide part of the code. A tiny label may be hard to read. Keep several sizes with your other shipping supplies if your business sends packages in many shapes.

Weather can also cause trouble. Rain or melting snow may blur some labels or weaken the sticky back. A clear pouch can add protection when the package may get wet. If tape is used, make sure it does not create glare over the code or cover words that must be seen.

Train packers to check three details before an order leaves the table. The customer’s name should match the order. The full address should be present. The label should be firmly attached with no loose edges. This check takes little time and can prevent a long search later.

Keep label rolls in a dry place away from strong heat or cold. Poor storage can harm the sticky layer before the labels are used. Store printer ink, pouches, and extra rolls nearby so workers can replace an item without stopping the whole packing line.

Labels may be one of the smallest shipping supplies, but they guide every package. A clean surface, clear print, and final check help orders move through the carrier’s system. When the label works as it should, the package has a better chance of reaching the correct door on time.

You may think you have nothing to worry about when you see a patch of grass. But if you plan on turning that area into a garden, your troubles begin as soon as you put the shovel in the ground. Not only do roots fight with the shovel, but also the dirt sticks to the sod, making this an increasingly difficult task. That’s not all, though. You have the option of starting a new bed using a simpler technique — and that primary tool may just be sitting behind your back door.

Cardboard boxes can be utilized to smother grass and most weed species. In addition, this process is referred to as “sheet mulching.” Once the cardboard covers the unwanted vegetation, it prevents them from receiving light. Eventually, the cardboard decomposes while at the same time providing beneficial insects such as worms to improve your soil quality.

To get started, choose cardboard with a non-coated surface (browns). Also remove packing tape, labels, staples and plastic. Make sure none of these items came into contact with oil or chemicals; these substances would likely kill nearby flower and/or food plant roots. A small amount of print is relatively minor compared to a cardboard with a waxy or glossy coating.

Determine the boundaries of your new bed by running a hose around the perimeter or drawing a border with string. Before laying the cardboard, use clippers to shorten tall grasses and thicker Weeds near the base. Leave all other debris on top of the ground; it will break down underneath the cardboard. However, dig up any stems or branches that may poke their way up through the cardboard.

Open each box lengthwise so it lies flat. Lay One layer of cardboard across your designated gardening area. On top of that lay another piece overlapping One end of the first layer. Be certain that there are no openings for sunlight to hit the Weeds. For smaller areas, a single layer of cardboard may suffice. If you feel that more coverage is needed for large areas, a second layer may be applied. While a third layer may provide additional protection from Weeds and sun exposure, it could limit the ability of water and oxygen to reach underground.

Once the cardboard is laid out, thoroughly soak it. Wetting the cardboard will allow it to settle onto the soil and prevent windy conditions from picking it up. Immediately cover the cardboard with approximately three inches of wood chips or another type of mulch. Ensure that the mulch does not touch tree trunks or stems of existing plants.

It will take some time for the bed to develop. Many gardeners wait at least One year before adding plants. Other gardeners will drill small holes in the cardboard, allowing plants to grow sooner. Which approach to take will depend on how quickly Weeds germinate based upon weather and climate conditions in your area.

However, even using cardboard will not eliminate all of your garden problems. Nevertheless, it will make a very laborious job much easier for many individuals. There is far less sod to lift, far fewer Weeds to combat, and no need to spray herbicides throughout the entire area. Households discarded cardboard boxes can assist in developing a beautiful flowerbed, walkway, or vegetable bed. When combined with a little water and patience, a dull brown sheet becomes an active component of your garden!

When selling records, you’re often not just shipping the music. Buyers care about the condition of the record itself, but also the condition of the cover. A damaged seam or crease can lose a buyer interest in the record even though the music still sounds great. Before deciding on what to use for packaging and shipping supplies, determine whether the record is sealed (still has shrink-wrap), or whether it has been opened. Whether it is sealed, or not affects how you package the record.

If an album is open, the disc can be packaged in the inner sleeve of the record alongside the record cover. The inner sleeve is typically a soft paper or plastic insert that holds the vinyl disc. The cover is usually made of thick cardboard. Packaging the record like this will help to protect it from getting damaged during shipment. For example, shoplifty suggests keeping the record and cover together in a protective record sleeve. Make sure both do not get squeezed too tightly by the other.

Sealed albums:
Before you start thinking about which shipping supplies to purchase, there is one important decision you need to make regarding a sealed album. Do not remove the seal on a sealed album simply because you think it would be easier to ship the disc separately from the cover. Ask the customer if they want you to leave it sealed, and document their response in case they have already specified it.

Protecting sealed discs:
When you decide to send a sealed disc, you’ll want to consider protection designed specifically for a packed album (i.e., a sealed disc). This type of protection will allow you to properly protect the disc, and prevent damage from occurring due to a small opening in the top of the album.

Prepare for packing:
Clear off a work area and gather everything needed for your order. Verify that you have all items included in the order such as the record, cover, and/or additional materials (e.g., posters, booklets, inserts).

Position any additional materials near the bare vinyl disc to avoid them touching it or being crushed by pressure. Once you’ve gathered all items, take clear photos of each item as well as the overall contents prior to placing them in protective packaging.

Choose a record mailer:
Select a record mailer large enough to accommodate both your album(s) and number of discs in your order. The manufacturer of your chosen mailer should provide guidance as to how many flat stiffeners to add. Ensure that your items rest evenly within the mailer prior to sealing. When closing your mailer, avoid applying excessive force to either side; this may bend your album cover or crush your vinyl record.

Edge inspection:
Prior to closing your mailer, inspect all edges for potential areas of compromise or weakness. Specifically review any corners that may protrude beyond their supports. Avoid positioning tape on either your record sleeve or printed artwork as you don’t want buyers having to peel adhesive residue off their covers once, they unpack their order. Follow instructions provided by the mailer manufacturer for securing your items, and after you’ve secured your items, verify that your total package weighs what you paid for and has proper postage applied. Do not rely solely on the weight of your record.

Postage label:
After purchasing postage and affixing the postage label to your package, ensure that the postage label matches your original sales order information. Share your tracking number with the buyer and let them know if their vinyl disc will be stored in its own sleeve outside of the album jacket. This can eliminate confusion once they unwrap their order.

Save photos:
Retain images taken of your packaging process with your completed sale information until your order has been confirmed resolved. This will serve as a reference point for proof of delivery and how you protected your products during transit.

Just because a box has been wrapped with nice wrapping paper doesn’t mean it is safe to put a piece of bare candy in there. The paper, ink, glue, and/or coatings could come into contact with your candy if there isn’t some sort of wrapper separating them. Before you fill the carton, ask yourself one simple question: was this package designed to be in direct contact with food?

To start, find out where your candies will be sitting within the box. Since each of these types of candies already has a wrapper surrounding them (i.e., cellophane, foil), they would never actually touch the bottom of the box. On the other hand, loose chocolate, fudge, taffy, etc. Would all directly touch the cardboard of the box. It would be foolish to consider a box that is just being bought for giving to someone as “food grade” packaging. In fact, most manufacturers that sell boxes specifically for crafting purposes warn that the product cannot be used for anything involving actual food.

Look at the product description for the words “food safe,” “has been approved for food contact,” or “designed for direct food contact.” If none of those words appear in the product description, go back to the manufacturer or merchant and ask them for written documentation about the safety of using their products to store food items. Next, find out which materials on the inside of the carton are food-safe; i.e., does the inside paper, coating, ink and glue meet your requirements based upon the type of candy you are selling. Why is this important? Because different types of candies are different textures. Candy can be dry, oily, sticky or wet. A particular material may be good enough for one type of candy but not suitable for others.

You can also add a food-grade lining to many candy boxes to provide a clean layer between the box’s paper and the candy. Examples include glassine sheets, candy cups, trays or other similar approved linings. However, simply assuming that any old paper from a kitchen drawer is safe is incorrect. Printed tissue, craft paper, newspaper and gift wrap are all examples of non-food packaging papers and contain dyes/coatings which may rub off onto your candies.

Keep your empty cartons either closed or covered once you’ve unpacked them until you’re ready to fill them. Store them separately from dust, sprays, dirtied tools, and open beverages. Any employee involved in filling cartons with candies should wash his/her hands and clean up their workspace prior to doing so. When a carton is dropped, becomes wet or develops an unpleasant odor, don’t fill it!

As far as allergens go, take precautions when changing batches as well. A box/insert that had previously stored nut candies should not be reused to store a nut-free batch. Even when the outside appears clean, small crumb fragments and oils can remain behind. Therefore, use separate containers for each item whenever possible and label them accordingly. Then follow local health department regulations regarding your business.

Lastly grease stains on the paperboard are another indication that perhaps you chose the wrong packaging. Rich chocolates and oils from other products may stain the paperboard causing unwanted stains. Consider adding a food-safe liner designed for oily foods to prevent oil absorption into the packaging. Contact your supplier to see what they recommend to avoid making assumptions about what type of liner you might need based solely upon the color/thickness of the container.

The first step in having good food packaging is before you close the lid. Take care when selecting your packaging by considering its intended use and adding a food-grade liner if necessary to ensure cleanliness for all people consuming your candies.

Shipping labels need enough information to move the order but do not need to tell the whole story about what was ordered. For example, customer’s name, address, phone number, and product clues may become visible during delivery. Proper use of shipping materials can protect the customer without slowing down the package.

Start with the outer container. Plain boxes or cartons and opaque mailers will better conceal the item than clear material. Some products are suitable for shipping containers with company logos and product pictures; however health goods, gifts, personal care items, and expensive products should have less obvious packaging.

Choose return shipper names carefully so that they follow carrier rules without adding product details that do not need to be viewable. International orders often require customs forms which must contain descriptions of the item being sent. Therefore, privacy should never mean providing false information on customs documents.

Always keep the packing slip inside of the box rather than placing it in a clear pouch outside of the box. Also make sure the box cannot open and reveal the paperwork. If a document contains private data (such as payment or medical) that is not needed to complete the order leave those details off.

Attach the shipping label to a smooth area of the box or mailer. Do not wrap it around a corner where part of the name or barcode could tear away. A flat label is easier to scan by carriers and less likely to fall into unwanted hands.

Also discreetly dispose of any misprinted shipping labels. Do not toss a full customer address in an open trash can near the packaging table. Shred the shipping label or cover up all of the private details and codes before throwing it away. Similarly remove any identifying information from used cardboard boxes prior to recycling them.

If “discreet” delivery is offered as an option at checkout time, the packaging team needs clearly defined policies regarding how the box will be packaged, tape, return shipper name, and outside writing. Even if everything else is plain One bright branded sticker can break that promise.

Examine the entire package by looking at it like a neighbor, building worker, gift recipient would see it. Check each section for anything that reveals the contents of the package, displays a private company name, or becomes visible when held near a light source.

Protecting privacy does not require dull service; because branded tissue, thank you cards, and useful product information can still wait inside while the outside only needs to provide a safe passage for the package and adhere to shipping regulations.

Carefully selected shipping materials create a quiet barrier between a customers’ private purchase and their public journey to the door. Using opaque materials, thoughtfully designed labels, correct handling of sensitive paper, and clearly defined steps for the packaging team members will enable a seller to safeguard private information of their customers while still ensuring that carriers receive all necessary information for deliveries.

Two cardboard boxes can look alike but serve different purposes. One box is built to handle heavy loads while the other is lighter duty. Judging by color or feel won’t tell you what you need to know. Many corrugated boxes have a small stamp on the bottom. 

Learning to read that stamp can make ordering much less confusing. This stamp is called maker’s certificate. It might name the company that made the carton and show if the board has one wall or two. It can also list size limits, weight limits and test scores. Not all boxes use the same stamp so ask sellers for clear details if something is unclear.

Wall type refers to how many wavy layers lie between flat sheets. Single wall cartons have just one middle wavy layer while double wall cartons have two. Adding more layers gives more support but wall count alone is not everything. Board grade, box shape, weather conditions, handling, and how items are packed also matter a lot. 

Some stamps show Edge Crush Test scores. This test measures how much force the edge of the board can take before it gives in. Scores from this test can be useful when stacking cartons. But a poor load can still bend or press walls anyway.

Another stamp might show burst score results. This test measures how much pressure is needed to break through the box. This test gives different information from ECT. One test looks at edge strength and the other puncture force. 

Useful scores depend on what the box will encounter on its journey. Printed weight limits refer to filled packages and not just the product itself. When adding up the total weight, include the item itself, padding, inner packages, tape and papers as well. Size limits have a specific meaning so don’t guess how they were determined. Sellers or carriers can explain how to use those numbers correctly.

Before buying bundles, write down weight of load and how boxes will be handled. Compare that against stamp and seller notes too. Then pack a sample and test it under actual working conditions. Trials can show bulging seams or weak seams before many orders are sitting on the floor. 

Reading the stamp helps buyers make decisions based on facts rather than habit. This can prevent paying for board that light items don’t need or ordering grades that fall short. Keep chosen details in a file for future purchases. Printed numbers can serve as useful guides whenever new boxes come into the packing room.

When you send your customers an order, shipping supplies should assist that process. However, used paper should NOT carry customer information from their orders into an open work space bin.

The first step is to print only what your business requires. Most carriers will want a name, address, service code, and a tracking barcode. Your company’s phone number and/or e-mail, product names, or order notes probably do not belong on the outside of the box unless they are specifically requested. Printing less data on the form reduces the amount of data to protect against a bad print-out.

Install a locked paper bin (bin) near every printer and/or packing station. Any misprinted labels, packing slips, return forms, and pick lists must go into this bin rather than the normal dumpster. Clean and empty this bin on a regular basis. Use a crosscut shredder to shred the contents in the bin. The Federal Trade Commission advises businesses to properly dispose of all paper records. Therefore, personal info should never remain readable in your dumpsters.

Don’t rely on just drawing a big black line to “cover” up an incorrect address. Ink can skip some letters/numbers in an address and yet leave your barcode or tracking number clearly visible. Simply tearing down a label does little good since either half could fall back into the same general bin area. Crosscut shredders create very small pieces that make it much harder for someone to put them together again. Large retailers might consider using a bonded shred service to handle the locked bins every week/day.

Before you recycle boxes, ensure a privacy review has taken place. All packaging materials including any labels, mailing sleeves, and/or any inserts placed inside the flaps need to be removed prior to recycling. If you have difficulty removing a label from cardboard, simply remove the portion containing your customer’s data and shred it. At that point, the remaining clean corrugated cardboard can be recycled via your local collection program. This allows for recyclable material to continue to be reused while preventing sensitive information about your buyers from being shipped off with your recyclables.

Prior to designating any roll liner as “paper waste”, take a look at the coating on the roll liner backing sheet. There are many types of coatings that may not be accepted by local paper mills. Contact your waste management provider and ask them where roll liners should be disposed of. Even though blank roll liners generally do contain no identifiable customer data; test sheets and sample prints often do. To avoid confusion among employees regarding which type of roll liners to discard versus recycle, keep these two rules separate.

Finally, ask your staff a simple, direct question: Can someone who is not authorized to see our customers’ private data identify such from this sheet? If their response is yes, then that particular sheet belongs in the locked bin. When ending each employee’s shift, conduct an audit of the floor, printer trays, and/or tape dispensing areas. A well-thought-out plan results in fewer pages printed per shipment, protects the ones that fail, and ensures that clean shipping supplies are sorted accordingly. As a result of implementing this approach, your organization will have less loose paper in circulation and better overall recyclability. Furthermore, sensitive customer data will have one less opportunity to exit through your facility doors.

You can have a candy box that appears perfectly clean yet the box isn’t suitable for bare food (the most difficult issue). Most candy boxes will appear colorful; have a nice-looking paper on top; or will be transparent with windows. Color, paper or windows do NOT tell you whether the candy will come into contact with something safe.
Before you pack a single truffle or mint, identify where you want to put anything between your treat and the box.

Begin by simply asking yourself this question: Are all candies pre-wrapped? Most times wrapped candies are covered with their own food-safe material. Thus, the candy box protects the candies by keeping them from being damaged by moving around. However loose fudge, chocolate or other unprotected candies require extra caution. In these cases, they may need a protective cup (made of food-grade materials), candy pads or other type of liner specifically created for the protection of food products.

Don’t choose a liner based upon appearance. While plain white tissue paper may appear clean and attractive, many types of decorative papers were never intended to protect food. Similarly ink, adhesives and some packaging materials could possibly impact your decision. When food-contacting materials touch the edible product, the FDA classifies those materials as Food Contact Items. Therefore, ask your vendor if the box, cup, pad, etc., was designed for the manner in which you intend to use it.

In addition, consider the type of candy. For example, melted chocolate can cause oil spots; caramel can create sticking issues; and brittle hard candies can break into pieces due to knocking against other pieces of candy. A small amount of paper cup will protect soft candies from adhering to the sides of a container. Pads will provide an additional thin layer above or below the products. Dividers can prevent flavors and forms from getting mixed up during transport.

Additionally, climate plays a role in protecting your candies. A box will not prevent chocolate from melting while in a hot vehicle. Neither will it retain freshness for weeks after purchase. Many candies require an inner wrapper prior to placing them within a paper box. Sometimes an inner wrapper provides an air-tight seal or prevents moisture from entering the package. The exterior box provides support to give the candy an appealing presentation along with a clean method for transporting the product.

Finally, allergy prevention requires planning and organization. Peanut candies stored separately than non-peanut candies using separate tools and area’s during preparation. Cups and liners should be kept apart until packaging. Each completed box should be labeled clearly so both employees and consumers know what they contain. Maintaining cleanliness and organization of the products decreases the likelihood of cross-contamination.

Lastly perform a final quality control inspection on a fully packaged box. Allow the box to sit for the length of time as a true shipment. Pick up the box, flip it upside down and open it once more. Check for any damage such as stains, broken/ stuck candies, bent cups or intermixed products. Repeat this quality control process in warmer temperatures if your primary business model is seasonal (summer sales).

This quality control test demonstrates that both your candy containers and linings work properly together to achieve a common goal: each candy reaches the consumer in perfect condition with no contamination or mess.

A breakdown in shipping supplies can be compared to being stranded with no fuel on a very crowded highway. All forward motion stops; orders accumulate, personnel wait at the workplace, and ultimately the consumer waits longer than he/she should. For this reason, maintaining the necessary shipping supplies is probably the simplest way to continue operating a business.

Many people want to know what constitutes “shipping supplies.” Shipping supplies include much more than just boxes. Tape, packaging paper, bubble cushioning, mailing labels, mailers, stretch film, etc., all aid in ensuring that products are delivered safely. Each of these items provides a function and if you omit an item or fail to provide sufficient quantities of each type of shipping supply, then problems will arise.

Consider shipping a framed picture. Although the size and strength of the box are critical to protecting the contents, they alone cannot guarantee safe delivery. If there is inadequate protection within the box to absorb movement (i.e. bumps) during shipping then there is always a risk of damage. Therefore, good shipping supplies work together to ensure that your product is protected throughout its journey from your facility to the customer’s location.

A second question many businesses have is whether investing in higher-quality shipping supplies will result in cost savings. In many cases, purchasing high-quality shipping supplies saves costs long-term by increasing the durability of tapes used to seal containers and reducing the amount of damage caused to goods in transit through using durable packing materials. Additionally, using reliable shipping supplies reduces the number of damaged shipments and subsequent replacement shipments resulting in increased costs associated with those replacements.

Good shipping supplies also make the work environment easier. With all supplies easily accessible and prepared for use, employees have reduced amounts of time spent searching for supplies and therefore have more time available to prepare shipments. This results in faster shipment times, which is particularly helpful during peak periods of activity.

More and more businesses are also taking advantage of recycling shipping supplies. Recycling paper products and other environmentally conscious shipping supplies assist in reducing waste generated by shipping activities and allow consumers to see companies making environmentally responsible decisions.