This is a question that a lot of people have, since they may not be familiar with the way this works, or the industry itself. The costs are definitely in your power though, so you can figure out what works for you based on your needs. The best way to start is to figure out the packaging that you have, and then narrow down the choices you have to figure out the full costs and what it may entail. The differentiation between e-commerce and retail kinds of packaging also affect pricing, as the packaging does serve some different types of customers too.
Determining this also is based on the timeframe, and when you want the product to properly launch too, as this can play a huge part in this. Here, we’ll go over a few of the different factors that go into this, and how much it’ll cost you.
Materials and finishes
One of the main costs that you’ve got to look at are the materials and finish costs. There are tons of materials, all of which do have varying prices because in many cases, it may be cheaper to use one product over another. For example, corrugated boxes will be the cheapest, but it’s about $3 for a small box, but for rigid packaging, this could end up being $10 a box, depending on the different types of packaging. Folding cartons can be really cheap for really small items, but that of course does vary as well.
You’ll want to go for packaging that’s cost-effective, as it’s much more efficient to create, and sometimes, opting for the highest quality is not the smartest move. You should also look to see how you can keep the costs down. If you don’t need a finish, then you shouldn’t try to splurge for that.
You should understand that you get the right product packaging for the product that you have, getting something which does serve the item that you have, and also, through the material along with the finish of the box that you have too. You should also look at how many boxes that you need as well. Boxes that are few and far between will definitely cost more, and smaller are usually cheaper to make or to shift, but for those products that do need something studier, you will want to get something that fits this. You’ll be paying a lot less if you do make a bigger order, and usually, this does oftentimes play a role in the type of packing that you get.
Types of finishes
For boxes, you have a few options, and they include varnish, which is good for the efficacy of production. There is also lamination, which basically is great for artwork, but this is pricey. Coatings of wax are also cost-effective, but it may only be necessary for food or medical packaging, and if you do have organic materials, you don’t need this. Finishings of course are something that’s optional, and some people may not even need this if they want to keep the costs low.
Consider the folding carton
This is the cheapest option for those items that you don’t need to possibly have a ton of protection for. They are pretty easy to put together, and they are super cheap to ship. They also are lightweight, so it won’t eat up shipping costs like how other items may do so. When you get these though, do pay mind to the fact that if you do get this, it may possibly break, depending on the packaging and contents.