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Outsourcing your flexible packaging responsibilities to a third party has many benefits, but it is not without its challenges. It is easy for things to go wrong since a lot of the processes are not in the hands of the manufacturer. Therefore, when choosing co-packing companies to handle your flexible packaging needs, you have to consider some things in detail to be able to get the right packaging company. The following are some of the factors you have to consider.
Table of Contents
Capability
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The right co-packager has to demonstrate an ability to get the work down in the first place. Once you have singled out a co-packager, take your time to tour their facility to ascertain the machinery they have,the number of staff, and get to the bottom of their operations to get a clear picture of what you will be getting. This will also involve a look at some of the biodegradable packaging samples they have made in the past to compare with what you have; it has to be superior; otherwise, there’s no point in engaging their services.
Flexibility
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The entire process of co-packaging is extensive. For most, they have to go the whole mile, designing everything from scratch to the point where the finished product is ready for shipping. This takes a lot of time and a lot of changes where the client keeps returning the design back many times over until the right product is created.
The co-packager has to show a willingness to flexibility, to make changes as they come, even at a moment’s notice when everything has been completed since the client may have gotten another idea that needs to be added. It is a tiresome job, but you know what they say, the client is always right.
Location
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Ideally, the distances between the manufacturer and the co-packaging company should not be that great; they should be as close to each other as possible due to the back and forth interactions that are needed throughout the whole process. This means that doing with a co-packager outside the country the manufacturer is in may not yield the results they are looking for.
The distances between the co-packaging company and the retailer points since the role of storage and distribution usually falls on the co-packager’s shoulder as it is cheaper and faster than having to transport the finished goods back to the manufacturer for distribution to retailers.
Affordability
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Outsourcing your eco-friendly wholesale packaging to a third [arty is never cheap, especially when the manufacturer’s demands are high. Co-packaging companies usually employ the best of the best and use some of the most advanced machines known to man. This does not come cheap, and that cost will ultimately be transferred to the manufacturer. That said, as a manufacturer, you have to consider your financial situation and go for a co-packaging company that you can afford. You’ll have to do a tricky balancing act to get the best services you can master using the least amount of funds that you have.
Resourcefulness
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Some co-packaging companies are more resourceful than others when it comes to providing flexible packaging solutions. They go an extra mile beyond creating the packaging materials as demanded. Some start from designing the packaging from scratch, come up with the branding, handle the packaging itself, the storage, and finally, the distribution. You will be best served if you go for this kind of co-packager as they will do more for you compared to the one that will only handle the creation of the packaging materials only.
However, you have to be aware that with more resourcefulness, comes a greater cost. This will be ideal if you are a startup manufacturing company that is in the process of expanding and may not have enough space to set up a packaging department.
Check Reviews
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The best way to get a good picture of what you are signing yourself up for is to check out online reviews about the company as well as talking to other companies that have engaged the services of the co-packager in mind. This can be done discreetly or in the open, but at the end of the day, you will be able to get a good idea of the quality of their work and how they handle their customers. You can get all the details much faster if you have a wide network of contacts in the manufacturing industry.
Conclusion
Getting the right co-packaging company is not an easy job, and it may be a case of hit and miss the first time out. However, there are better ways of zeroing in on the best one in the market, and that can be done by following all the tips outlined in this list. For more information on flexible packaging and how the co-packaging concept works, make sure you check our website and have some of your questions answered.
