Jeff Jacobs is the Director of Digital Marketing for ePac Flexible Packaging. ePac is a digitally-based flexible packaging company that helps brands of all sizes grow with custom packaging.

Whether you’re a new CPG company, or an established brand, finding the right packaging partner is an incredibly important step in the development of your product. Not only do you want to find a reliable company to work with, but you also want to find a manufacturer that can act as an extension of your brand.

To help guide you in finding the best flexible packaging company, we’ve compiled a list of recommendations that we hope will lead you to the ideal partnership.

Let’s dive in.

Research Research Research!

Research is the best place to start when finding a flexible packaging company. Start by looking into a handful of companies that you’re interested in to learn more about their products, services, and approach. Visit their website, review their past work, check their reviews, and look at their social media profiles.

When you find a packaging company that you’re interested in, reach out to them directly. Most will have sales and marketing teams ready to answer your call, email, or social media inquiry. Ask specific questions about their capabilities, what types of packaging they manufacture, typical turnaround time, minimum orders and what types of companies they typically work with. We created a list of ten questions to ask when hiring a flexible packaging company, click here to check them out.

It can also be invaluable to talk to other brands to see who they worked with. There is often times no better referral than a word of mouth.

Figure Out Which Type of Packaging Company You Want to Work With

If you’re a new brand, then the different types of flexible packaging printing methods may be an entirely new concept for you. In short, there are two types of printing methods: digital printing and conventional flexographic printing formats. We cover the major differences between the two and the benefits of digital printing in this article.

If you’re looking for faster turnaround, crisp graphics, and the ability to make last minute changes, digital printing is the way to go. With digital, you also have the ability to take advantage of consumer engagement programs, track and trace, and supply chain management with smart packaging solutions (also referred to as connected packaging).

Decide Where You Want Your Packaging Manufactured

One thing you may have never considered is the location of the packaging company you’re partnering with. While there are a handful of reputable companies in the US and Canada, a large number of flexible packaging providers are located overseas.

When ordering packaging from companies overseas, you can expect high minimum orders and long lead times (upwards of 6-8 weeks, if not more). While the per package cost may appear to be less than packaging made locally, you also need to factor in freight costs, turnaround time, tariffs, and the potential for obsolete inventory.

If you’re a small or medium-sized brand looking for lower minimum orders and a much quicker turnaround, then working with a local company may make more sense. When you partner with a local flexible packaging company, especially one using digital presses like ePac, fast turnaround time, low minimum orders, and the ability to order to demand are the norm. Depending on the company you choose to work with, you may even have the opportunity to see your packaging being produced firsthand. Not to mention the face-to-face connection with your packaging team, which, to us, is a priceless advantage to choosing local.

The Size of Your Order Matters

It’s important when looking for a packaging partner to find out their minimum order quantity. Some packaging companies have a minimum number of impressions (individual packages) they need from brands to partner with them, while others, like ePac, have a minimum order dollar amount. Finding out the minimum orders early in the conversation with a packaging company can be the difference between a quick turnaround and a dead-end.
Know How Quickly You Want Your Packaging
Whether you’re launching your product in a new retailer, or you have a trade show in a couple of weeks, the turnaround can easily become one of the key pieces in choosing a packaging partner.

Make sure that you ask about turnaround times when speaking with different packaging companies. This allows you to know how long it will take to receive new orders, as well as updated orders if you want to make any changes to your design. With conventional printing, the industry standard is about 6-8 weeks. If your timeline is tighter than that, digital printing can deliver finished packaging to you in as little as 5 days.

Design Changes Should Be Taken Into Consideration

Change happens, especially if you’re a new brand. With that being said, you want to make sure that you’re working with a partner that’s able to account for flexibility.

Keep in mind that with conventional printing, every new change means a new plate needs to be created before your order can be reprinted. New plates mean added costs and a longer turnaround. With digital printing, on the other hand, you’ll only need an updated pdf file to get your new packaging design printing, which doesn’t negatively impact your wallet and timeline.

Hiring The Best Packaging Partner For Your Brand

As you begin the process of hiring the right flexible packaging supplier for your brand, first determine your needs, and which printing technology is the best fit. Keep in mind that the right supplier that will work with you to help you grow your brand by leveraging quality packaging and a simple ordering process.

At ePac Flexible Packaging, we aim to create a partnership that will ensure your digitally printed packaging is a reflection of your brand. Give us a call at 844-623-8603 or request a free quote to see if we would be a good addition to your brand.