10 key points to consider when contracting a digitally printed packaging manufacturer
CONSIDER YOUR PACKAGING SUPPLIER AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR OWN COMPANY.
- Do your research, look for information, link up with others.
- You must be a priority for your supplier
- Find out what processes your supplier carries out in their company, the certifications they hold and the quality and safety they offer you.
- Find out what type of customer they are (large, multinationals or small and medium-sized enterprises).
- And, most importantly, how quickly can they produce and deliver your order?
These would be the key questions:
1. What products and services does your supplier offer you?
You should be sure, before hiring a supplier, whether it will meet all your needs and requirements. Above all, whether it can offer you the diversity of products you need. Make a list of the services and benefits they offer, the products they can create for you and the solutions they provide. Think about everything: from the shape of the packaging, to the materials (films, structures), minimum and maximum size, range of colours to be printed, etc.
Although you will find more questions below, getting a general idea of your supplier's capabilities is a good way to start the conversation.
2. What is the usual delivery time?
It may seem like an obvious question, but delivery times can vary from 10 days to 6-12 weeks, depending on the company. Knowing the standard delivery time will allow you to determine how soon you will receive your order, whether it is a new design or a repeat.
A very important factor to take into account:
Unlike traditional printing, DIGITAL PRINTING allows you to print “on demand” and make last minute changes. Have you added a new ingredient to your product? Have you received a new certification? Have you changed the design of your logo? If your supplier is a company that uses digital printing, they can always implement these changes at the last minute and you won't have to think about the additional costs of printing plates or pre-printing, so you won't have a stock of obsolete or unusable material. In addition, with digital printing, the delivery time will be much quicker. Companies like ours can ship orders to the customer within 15 days, once the design has been approved.
3. What are your minimum orders?
Ideally, companies should ideally have small minimum orders, which is especially important for an SME, which cannot afford to have a lot of money tied up in inventory. Ordering large quantities has long since ceased to be the only option. When you find the right partner, this issue will be solved. Always ask about minimum order requirements and assess whether they meet your needs.
In many cases, suppliers offer minimum quantities that are much higher than you need. Knowing the minimum quantities per order is a determining factor, especially if you are looking for a company that offers exactly what you need, no more and no less.
Most of the SMEs we work with can't afford to have a lot of money tied up in inventory, so small minimum orders are a must. They also make delivery times much quicker.
A good supplier will be able to arrange shorter delivery times with you, with reasonable quantities.
4. What types of suppliers are you used to working with?
You should ensure that your supplier has extensive experience in your market and in their sector. Ask them to mention other brands similar to yours that they work with, as an example to prove that they are active in your sector. Ask for samples of other work they have done for other clients: a reliable supplier will be willing to show you work they have done for other companies. It is also very important that the supplier has experience in different markets. They will then have more information and experience about the format and function of the packaging. You will have access to a broader knowledge base and it will also help you to expand into other markets.
5. How does your customer service work?
Product quality is a given. However, it is essential to find a company that offers excellent customer service. With this question, you will be able to confirm whether your supplier is interested in a future collaboration and at the same time, that your request is not just another job. You should work with a supplier who will advise and guide you through the entire process of your order and who is interested in establishing a long-lasting and reliable relationship with you.
6. What kind of films do you use?
It is imperative that your supplier offers you the optimum material for your product. They should have high quality films that preserve the integrity of the product they contain. Confirm that your supplier certifies that their films are suitable for contact with food products, that they do not allow light to pass through, that they provide a barrier to oxygen and other gases, etc. Ask if they can offer higher quality films such as PET, metallised PET, PE or BOPP. If they have barrier, laminated and recyclable films. And finally, if they recommend a certain material structure depending on the product you are packaging. Opting for a company that is able to guide you, especially when it comes to a new product, is a huge advantage.
7. Do you use traditional or digital printing methods?
This question has probably come up before, but it is important to bear in mind. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, digital printing has many advantages. It is faster and more efficient, as it avoids many of the steps involved in the conventional printing process. The quality of true high-definition graphics is superior to traditional printing methods and can match or even surpass the quality of existing prints. Graphics and variable data allow packaging to be personalised in a more creative and appealing way than with traditional printing methods.
Although traditional printing is still an option, knowing all the advantages of this type of printing will be very useful when looking for a new supplier.
8. What size of companies do you usually work with?
This is a very relevant question. Especially if you want to place both short-term and long-term orders. Confirm that your supplier knows how to deal with companies of your size and is not only interested in big brands. Ask them to identify some of the customers they already work with, so you can check the profile of the customers they already supply.
9. Do you ship your order directly or do you have to pick it up?
Saving time means saving money. To save time, look for a supplier who knows how to manage the different types of transport correctly, so that the order arrives in the shortest possible time and you don't have to pick it up and waste time.
10. What special features can they offer you?
If you want your packaging to stand out at the point of sale, ask about the different options offered by your supplier. Some questions that may help you in this regard are:
- Do you offer transparent packaging or the possibility to add a window to the packaging?
- What kind of hanging dies do you have?
- What kind of bags do you offer, doypack bags with base, flat bags?
- How can you ensure that the colours will match my corporate colours?
- Do you offer puncture resistant films and how many microns are they?
- What is the look and feel of the film? Matt finish? Soft touch? Glossy? Metallic finish?
Next steps
Once you have met with all the FLEXIBLE PACKAGING COMPANIES and asked them these questions (which are expert level) it is time to make your decision.
If you still have doubts, or if you are already sure, request a quote. You will talk to customer service and the budget will become another factor in the decision process.
We know that hiring a new supplier is an exciting and complicated experience in equal parts. Finding the right supplier for your company is FUNDAMENTAL and is one more piece in the overall growth of your business.
To be successful, it is important to have a supplier capable of delivering quality products, on time and to your specifications.
If you want to put this list of questions into practice, CONTACT US TODAY. We will be pleased to offer you our help.
