| Everyone in a shipping room uses shipping boxes | | | | companies and have them quote your corrugated |
| to ship out their products. Whether you are just | | | | needs. You want to be the customer that the |
| setting up a new company and are looking for the | | | | box salesperson knows will shop pricing at the |
| lowest cost packaging or you are an established | | | | mere mention of a price increase. Business |
| manufacturer this article was written to help you | | | | relationships do exist, but friendly competitiveness |
| reduce your packaging costs, specifically how to | | | | goes a long way to keep your packaging costs |
| reduce your corrugated box costs. | | | | down. Plus introducing a second vendor allows for |
| 1. Check your box sizes to make sure they fit | | | | a back-up supplier and a fresh set of eyes on |
| the product they are protecting and shipping. A | | | | your process. Many times savings can come in |
| good general rule for protection is 2" around all | | | | the way of a changed packaging method or box |
| products. If you are using a box that requires a | | | | size. |
| lot of stuffing (more than 2" all around) you might | | | | 6. Change your box to reduce your Shipping |
| find a smaller stock shipping box. Since most | | | | Costs. I know this does not exactly come under |
| packaging supply companies have over 100 stock | | | | the "saving money on your shipping boxes", but if |
| box sizes chances are you can find the | | | | you can reduce the weight of your box by |
| appropriate size. | | | | changing how you package that can reduce your |
| 2. Choosing the correct box design and style. A | | | | single shipment costs. Also changing the box size |
| good rule of thumb in corrugated boxes is | | | | to allow for more of your product on a pallet can |
| "Deeper is Cheaper". If you can configure your | | | | increase the total product shipped and in full |
| box so that it opens on the smallest dimensions | | | | truckloads or even LTL this can reduce your |
| and the largest dimension is the deepest, this | | | | freight per product. |
| allows for the least amount corrugated to be | | | | 7. Buying larger quantities of custom corrugated |
| used to produce the box. And thus "Deeper is | | | | boxes per order can reduce your box cost. Most |
| Cheaper". There are many box style available. | | | | corrugated box manufacturers sell converted |
| The Standard RSC style shipping container is the | | | | boxes by the square foot of corrugated per run. |
| most common, but if you have a long narrow | | | | Square foot price breaks can be as significant as |
| product a Five Panel Folder or FOL might work | | | | a 20% reduction moving from one square foot |
| better and may be manufactured using less | | | | board break to the next. Always have your |
| corrugated. Check with your corrugated supplier | | | | supplier quote you board breaks. If you are |
| as to the alternatives. | | | | looking to order between 1000 and 2000 boxes, |
| 3. Make sure you are using a box that is rated | | | | ask for the board breaks in-between those |
| (not overkill) to transport the amount of weight | | | | quantities. Many times you will find a quantity of |
| that you are packaging. There are many grades | | | | 1200 will give you a 10-15% reduced cost over a |
| of corrugated. Corrugated grades ranging from | | | | price for 1000 boxes. |
| "non-test" grade to over 1300# Triple wall are all | | | | 8. Just in Time inventory and blanket purchase |
| common. Consult your packaging professional for | | | | orders for a period of usage. Many packaging |
| the proper board strength for your product. | | | | distributors will stock your custom boxes for you |
| 4. Industry Knowledge can be invaluable; knowing | | | | on a "blanket Purchase Order agreement" and |
| when prices of paper and paperboard go up and | | | | release the boxes as you need them. This will |
| down can allow you to better negotiate with your | | | | allow you to purchase a larger quantity (usually at |
| corrugated supplier. Use sources like Pulp and | | | | a lower cost) and receive boxes as needed. This |
| Paper magazine, available online to gather industry | | | | should lock you in at a lower price and let you |
| news and paper pricing. When the paper price has | | | | keep your cash flow and inventory the same, as |
| gone down, ask for better pricing will save you | | | | you should only pay for the boxes as you receive |
| big money on shipping cartons. If paper goes up | | | | them. |
| your corrugated supplier should notify you and | | | | Using the above techniques with a good |
| give you the ability to pre-buy before the | | | | corrugated consultant can result in major |
| effective price increase date. | | | | packaging cost reductions. This was specifically |
| 5. Change or Shop corrugated suppliers to create | | | | written for anyone who is looking to reduce |
| some competition. The internet is great for | | | | packaging costs. I hope this article has provided |
| shopping for retail products, but not so for | | | | ideas to reduce your packaging and shipping box |
| industrial products. You still need to find good local | | | | costs. |