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10 KEY POINTS TO BEAR IN MIND WHEN YOU CONTRACT A DIGITAL PRINTING PACKAGING MANUFACTURER
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CONSIDER YOUR PACKAGING SUPPLIER AN EXTENSION OF YOUR OWN COMPANY
• Find out more, look for information, establish ties
• You must be a priority for your supplier
• Find out which processes your supplier carries out in its company, the certificates it holds, and the quality and assurance it offers
• Find out more about its customer type (large companies, multinationals, or small and medium-sized enterprises)
• And, most importantly of all, how long it will take to produce and deliver your order
These are the key questions:
1. Which products and services does your supplier offer?
Before contracting a supplier, you must be certain that it will meet all your needs and requirements. Above all, that it can offer the diversity of products you require. Make a list of the services and advantages it offers, the products it can create for you, and the solutions it provides. Think about everything: from the shape of the packaging to the materials (films, structures), minimum and maximum size, colour range to be printed, etc.
Although you’ll soon have more questions, having a general idea of the capacities of your supplier is a good way of starting the conversation.
2. What is the usual delivery time?
This might seem like an obvious question, but delivery times can vary between 10 days and 6-12 weeks, depending on the company. Knowing the standard delivery time will enable you to determine the date on which you will receive your order, whether it is a new design or a repeat.
One very important factor to consider:
Unlike traditional printing, DIGITAL PRINTING offers “à la carte” printing and last-minute changes. Has a new ingredient been added to your product? Has it been given a new certificate? Has the design of the logo changed? If your supplier is a company that uses digital printing, these last-minute changes can be applied and you won’t have to think about additional printing plate or pre-printing costs and, therefore, will never have an obsolete or unusable stock of material. With digital printing, the delivery time also becomes much more streamlined. Companies like ours can send orders to customers within 15 days, once the design has been approved.
3. What are its minimum orders?
Ideally, companies should have small minimum orders. This is particularly important for a SME that cannot afford to have a lot of money tied up in stock. It has been a long time since ordering large quantities was the only option. When you find the appropriate partner, this matter will be solved. Always ask about the requirements regarding minimum orders and weigh up whether they meet your needs.
Suppliers often offer minimums that are way higher than your needs. Being aware of the minimum quantities per order is a determining factor, especially if you’re looking for a company that offers exactly what you need; no more, no less.
Most of the SMEs we work with cannot afford to have a lot of money tied up in stock, so small minimum orders are essential to them. What's more, it enables them to streamline delivery times much more.
A good supplier will be able to agree to shorter delivery times with reasonable quantities.
4. With which type of supplier are you used to working?
Make sure your supplier has extensive experience in your market and your sector. Ask them to mention other similar brands to yours with which they work as an example to make sure they are active in your sector. Ask for samples of other work they have completed for other customers: a reliable supplier will be willing to show you the work it has done for other companies. It is also very important for the supplier to have experience in different markets. This means it will have more information and experience on the format and the function of the packaging. You will have access to a greater knowledge base, which will also help you expand into other markets.
5. How does its customer service department operate?
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 partnership and that your request is not just another job. You should work with your supplier so that it can advise and guide you through the entire process of your order, making sure it is interested in establishing a long-lasting, reliable relationship with you.
6. What type of films do they use?
Your supplier must offer the best material for your product. It must have high quality films that preserve the integrity of the product inside. Confirm that your supplier is able to prove that its films are suitable for being in contact with food products, that they do not allow light to pass through, that they offer a barrier to oxygen and other gases, etc. Ask whether they can offer higher quality films, such as PET, metallised PET, PE or BOPP. Whether they have barrier, laminated and recyclable films. And lastly, whether they recommend a certain material structure depending on the product inside. Choosing a company that is capable of guiding you, especially in the case of a new product, is a huge advantage.
7. Do they use traditional or digital printing methods?
This question has most likely already come up, but it is important to bear it in mind. In our busy every-day lives, digital printing has a great many advantages. It is faster and more effective, as it avoids many of the steps required in the conventional printing process. The quality of the graphics in actual high definition is greater than that of traditional printing methods and allows for the quality of existing prints to be matched or even exceeded. The graphics and variable data mean that the packaging can be customised in a more creative and attractive way than with traditional printing methods.
Although traditional printing remains an option, knowing all the advantages of this type of printing will be very useful when you’re looking for a new supplier.
8. With what size of company do they normally work?
This is a very relevant question. Especially if you want to place short and long-term orders. Confirm that your supplier knows how to deal with companies of your size and that it is not only interested in major brands. Ask for them to identify some of the customers with which work to be able to check the profile of clients they supply.
9. Will they send your order directly or will you have to collect it?
Saving time is the equivalent of saving money. To save time, look for a supplier who is able to correctly manage the different types of transport so that your order reaches you as quickly as possible and you don't have to waste time collecting it.
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 your supplier can offer. Some questions that can help along these lines are:
Next steps
Once you have met with all the FLEXIBLE PACKAGING COMPANIES and have asked these questions (which are expert-level), it is time for you to make your decision.
If you still have some doubts, or even if you’re sure, ask for a quotation. You’ll talk to the customer service department and the quotation will become another factor to consider in your decision-making process.
We know that contracting a new supplier is an exciting yet complicated experience. Finding a suitable supplier for your company is ESSENTIAL and is yet another part of the overall growth of your company.
To be a success, it is important to have a supplier that is capable of delivering quality products on time and in line with your specifications
If you want to put this list of questions into practice, CONTACT US TODAY. We’ll be delighted to offer our assistance.
• Find out more, look for information, establish ties
• You must be a priority for your supplier
• Find out which processes your supplier carries out in its company, the certificates it holds, and the quality and assurance it offers
• Find out more about its customer type (large companies, multinationals, or small and medium-sized enterprises)
• And, most importantly of all, how long it will take to produce and deliver your order
These are the key questions:
1. Which products and services does your supplier offer?
Before contracting a supplier, you must be certain that it will meet all your needs and requirements. Above all, that it can offer the diversity of products you require. Make a list of the services and advantages it offers, the products it can create for you, and the solutions it provides. Think about everything: from the shape of the packaging to the materials (films, structures), minimum and maximum size, colour range to be printed, etc.
Although you’ll soon have more questions, having a general idea of the capacities of your supplier is a good way of starting the conversation.
2. What is the usual delivery time?
This might seem like an obvious question, but delivery times can vary between 10 days and 6-12 weeks, depending on the company. Knowing the standard delivery time will enable you to determine the date on which you will receive your order, whether it is a new design or a repeat.
One very important factor to consider:
Unlike traditional printing, DIGITAL PRINTING offers “à la carte” printing and last-minute changes. Has a new ingredient been added to your product? Has it been given a new certificate? Has the design of the logo changed? If your supplier is a company that uses digital printing, these last-minute changes can be applied and you won’t have to think about additional printing plate or pre-printing costs and, therefore, will never have an obsolete or unusable stock of material. With digital printing, the delivery time also becomes much more streamlined. Companies like ours can send orders to customers within 15 days, once the design has been approved.
3. What are its minimum orders?
Ideally, companies should have small minimum orders. This is particularly important for a SME that cannot afford to have a lot of money tied up in stock. It has been a long time since ordering large quantities was the only option. When you find the appropriate partner, this matter will be solved. Always ask about the requirements regarding minimum orders and weigh up whether they meet your needs.
Suppliers often offer minimums that are way higher than your needs. Being aware of the minimum quantities per order is a determining factor, especially if you’re looking for a company that offers exactly what you need; no more, no less.
Most of the SMEs we work with cannot afford to have a lot of money tied up in stock, so small minimum orders are essential to them. What's more, it enables them to streamline delivery times much more.
A good supplier will be able to agree to shorter delivery times with reasonable quantities.
4. With which type of supplier are you used to working?
Make sure your supplier has extensive experience in your market and your sector. Ask them to mention other similar brands to yours with which they work as an example to make sure they are active in your sector. Ask for samples of other work they have completed for other customers: a reliable supplier will be willing to show you the work it has done for other companies. It is also very important for the supplier to have experience in different markets. This means it will have more information and experience on the format and the function of the packaging. You will have access to a greater knowledge base, which will also help you expand into other markets.
5. How does its customer service department operate?
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 partnership and that your request is not just another job. You should work with your supplier so that it can advise and guide you through the entire process of your order, making sure it is interested in establishing a long-lasting, reliable relationship with you.
6. What type of films do they use?
Your supplier must offer the best material for your product. It must have high quality films that preserve the integrity of the product inside. Confirm that your supplier is able to prove that its films are suitable for being in contact with food products, that they do not allow light to pass through, that they offer a barrier to oxygen and other gases, etc. Ask whether they can offer higher quality films, such as PET, metallised PET, PE or BOPP. Whether they have barrier, laminated and recyclable films. And lastly, whether they recommend a certain material structure depending on the product inside. Choosing a company that is capable of guiding you, especially in the case of a new product, is a huge advantage.
7. Do they use traditional or digital printing methods?
This question has most likely already come up, but it is important to bear it in mind. In our busy every-day lives, digital printing has a great many advantages. It is faster and more effective, as it avoids many of the steps required in the conventional printing process. The quality of the graphics in actual high definition is greater than that of traditional printing methods and allows for the quality of existing prints to be matched or even exceeded. The graphics and variable data mean that the packaging can be customised in a more creative and attractive way than with traditional printing methods.
Although traditional printing remains an option, knowing all the advantages of this type of printing will be very useful when you’re looking for a new supplier.
8. With what size of company do they normally work?
This is a very relevant question. Especially if you want to place short and long-term orders. Confirm that your supplier knows how to deal with companies of your size and that it is not only interested in major brands. Ask for them to identify some of the customers with which work to be able to check the profile of clients they supply.
9. Will they send your order directly or will you have to collect it?
Saving time is the equivalent of saving money. To save time, look for a supplier who is able to correctly manage the different types of transport so that your order reaches you as quickly as possible and you don't have to waste time collecting it.
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 your supplier can offer. Some questions that can help along these lines are:
- Does it offer transparent packaging or the possibility of adding a window to the packaging?
- What types of die cut for hanging does it have?
- What types of bag does it offer? Doypack bags with base? Flat bags?
- How can I be sure that the colours will be the same as my corporate colours?
- Do they offer puncture-resistant films? How many microns do they have?
- What is the appearance and feel of the film? Matt finishes? Soft touch? Gloss? Metallised finishes?
Next steps
Once you have met with all the FLEXIBLE PACKAGING COMPANIES and have asked these questions (which are expert-level), it is time for you to make your decision.
If you still have some doubts, or even if you’re sure, ask for a quotation. You’ll talk to the customer service department and the quotation will become another factor to consider in your decision-making process.
We know that contracting a new supplier is an exciting yet complicated experience. Finding a suitable supplier for your company is ESSENTIAL and is yet another part of the overall growth of your company.
To be a success, it is important to have a supplier that is capable of delivering quality products on time and in line with your specifications
If you want to put this list of questions into practice, CONTACT US TODAY. We’ll be delighted to offer our assistance.
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