Clamshell packaging Supplier | Quantrelle Packaging Solutions Ltd

Why Use Clamshell Packaging Services to Pack Your Products

The right packaging is a key part of marketing and selling your products. Not only does it protect the item and reduce the risk of theft, but it also markets the brand and ensures you can tell customers the information they need. But why would you use Clamshell packaging services?

What is clamshell packaging?

Clamshell packaging is a clever type of packaging that encases the item in clear plastic that is tough and protects the items inside. You can also pack a number of items together inside the packaging if they are sold together.

It is easy to include cards or information in the clamshell packaging to tell people more about the product such as how to use it or what it contains. And the clamshell packaging is tamper-proof once sealed plus security tags can easily be added to reduce the risk of theft.

Outsourcing packaging

If clamshell packaging is the ideal solution for your business it doesn’t mean you need to invest in all the equipment and employ staff to create it. That’s because you can outsource the service to a specialist company who can handle it for you.

This means you don’t need to have any clamshell packaging equipment on the premises. You prepare your items and then send them to the packaging company who follow the process you have laid out with them to package the items. This includes any marketing materials and paperwork needed and security measures that are added.

Another benefit is that you can have more than one type of packaging for your products by working with a specialist. If you need to use blister packaging for some of your products, then a specialist offering different types of packaging can handle all of this in house by the one company.

Click to see more discussions on our clamshell packaging services.

When is Clamshell Packaging the Right Option?

When you have a product, packaging it is very important. Not only does it help with branding and offer information that customers need but it is also a safety and security issue for many items. You want to be certain people can’t interfere with the products and that security tags can be added. There are various types of packaging available so how do you know if clamshell packaging is the right choice?

What is clamshell packaging?

It is a style of packaging where the top of the pack is hinged and allows it to open while remaining connected – like a clam shell. This kind of packaging normally includes a hanger tab to allow items to be easily displayed and sometimes other options such as a flat base, so they can free stand.

Clamshell packaging is tamper resistant and offers great protection for the product while also allowing people to easily see what the item is. Clamshell packages are created to be a tight fit around the item so there’s no wasted space or room for it to move around. And the clamshell packaging is created as a single piece construction so there’s no assembly required.

When is clamshell packaging the best option?

There are lots of uses for clamshell packaging but some of the most common include for food, smartphones, electronics, ink cartridges and more. Often this is used for higher value items because security tags can easily be added and not easily removed to deter theft.

It is also more expensive than blister packs, so this is why it tends to be found on higher value items. Both the need to protect the products and also for customers to easily see the contents makes the investment in stronger, tamper-proof clamshell packaging more worthwhile.

The clamshell packaging can also easily include instructions or information that customers need and have branding, and product information displayed on it. This makes it easy to brand an item and to offer valuable information to help with sales without any extra marketing around it.

If you would like to know more about our eco-friendly clamshell packs, you can find out more on our Eco-Pack webpage.

How to Choose a Supplier for Clamshell Packaging Services

When it comes to packaging your products, there are lots of different options that can be considered. With products that need to have a backing card, for example, then clamshell packaging can be an ideal option – it pins the item to the backing card with special protective plastic. If this is the right option for your product, how do you then choose a company offering clamshell packaging services?

Considerations when choosing a company

There are a few main considerations when you are looking for a clamshell packaging company. For starters, you want to think about volume – how much do you need and how often? Do you want a stock product that they already have available or do you need a custom product to exactly match what you sell? And are there any industry-specific considerations such as being in the food or medicines industry?

Once you have an idea about these, you can start looking at the companies available. See what types of packaging is available – if they do other options such as blister packs, you could save money by buying in bulk. Do they have connections with printing companies that can help make the whole process quicker?

Information to find out

Ordering any type of packaging can be simple but there are a couple of things to know. For example, does the company you are considering have a minimum order requirement and does this figure work for you? It may be just 20-50 units but if it is a bigger number and this is more than you need, you may want to consider other options.

Also look at turnaround time. If you order a minimum order how long will it take them to get it to you? How much longer is it if you order double the amount? You want to be able to factor in time to get the packaging and get the items to the shop or stockist when working out order times.

There are lots of questions and things to consider, but we may well have the perfect solution and answers to these. Please do get in touch with us so as we can discuss and review your requirements in more detail.

Retailers Moving towards Greener Packaging

By Stephanie Clifford,

The Pyranna, the Jokari Deluxe, the Insta Slit, the ZipIt and the OpenIt apply blades and batteries to what should be a simple task: opening a retail package.

But the maddening — and nearly impenetrable — plastic packaging known as clamshells could become a welcome casualty of the difficult economy. High oil prices have manufacturers and big retailers reconsidering the use of so much plastic, and some are aggressively looking for cheaper substitutes.

“With the instability in petroleum-based materials, people said we need an alternative to the clamshell,” said Jeff Kellogg, vice president for consumer electronics and security packaging at the packaging company MeadWestvaco.

Companies are scuttling plastic of all kinds wherever they can.

Target has removed the plastic lids from its Archer Farms yogurts, has redesigned packages for some light bulbs to eliminate plastic, and is selling socks held together by paper bands rather than in plastic bags.

Wal-Mart Stores, which has pledged to reduce its packaging by 5 percent between 2008 and 2013, has pushed suppliers to concentrate laundry detergent so it can be sold in smaller containers, and has made round hydrogen peroxide bottles into square ones to cut down on plastic use.

At Home Depot, Husky tools are going from clamshell to paperboard packaging, and EcoSmart LED bulbs are about to be sold in a corrugated box, rather than a larger plastic case.

“Most of our manufacturers have been working on this,” said Craig Menear, the head of merchandising at Home Depot. “We’ve certainly been encouraging them.”

Shoppers have long complained that clamshells are a literal pain, and environmentalists have denounced them as wasteful. To save money and address complaints, retailers and manufacturers started minimizing packaging in the e-commerce sphere a few years ago. Amazon, for example, introduced a “frustration-free packaging” initiative in 2008 intended to defuse wrap rage and be more eco-friendly. Other retailers have also been looking for ways to improve the customer’s unpacking experience.

“As a guy in packaging, I get all the questions — there’s nothing worse than going to a cocktail party where someone’s asking why they can’t get into their stuff,” said Ronald Sasine, the senior director for packaging procurement at Wal-Mart. “I’ve heard over the years, ‘How come I need a knife to get into my knife?’ ‘How come I need a pair of scissors to get into my kid’s birthday present?’ ”

To see the full article from NYTimes, click here.