How to prepare for the increased seasonal demand on packaging

It has been revealed that shops are already at risk of being left with empty shelves in the run-up to Christmas because of the labour crisis gripping the economy, combined with the fact that lorry drivers are in particularly short supply, causing further stock shortages.

With the demand for popular packaging products such as corrugated cardboard around this time of year, there will be little surprise if we do face further packaging shortages in the upcoming months leading up to Black Friday and Christmas. So, how can you make sure your business is prepared for the increased seasonal demand on packaging?

In this article, we will be exploring how you can ensure you are prepared, along with providing some packaging suggestions.

Order customised seasonal packaging early

With Christmas being so disrupted last year due to lockdowns, we could be about to experience a Christmas spending spree like no other this year as people are excited for the prospect of – potentially – a proper Christmas. If this is the case, leaving anything until last minute could cause a real headache for your business.

So where to start? Firstly, it would be a good idea to make sure you order any seasonal packaging early, including custom sized boxes and printed tapes. This is especially important for your most popular packaging that could be in high demand, so try to foresee that and pre-order early.

Designing custom packaging and making sure it is suitable for the product you are delivering can take time and this is without the added problems of any packaging shortages. If you can get your seasonal packaging done right, you will be able to deliver a better experience to customers who purchase your products over the festive season.

Ensure there is enough storage space for your seasonal packaging

There is nothing worse than having an overflowing, unorganised stock room at a busy time of year when workers need to know where everything is kept, especially if there is limited space. Storage of low value packaging items on-site could be prohibiting your business from meeting demands.

There are many ways you can ensure you have enough storage. One of which could be to reduce the number of packaging pallets onsite through pallet optimisation. Alternatively, you could consider packaging automation. Auto boxing systems and machines can significantly speed up your packaging operations, especially when it comes to stretch wrap, which will lead to less waste lying around in the warehouse.

Our packaging team can carry out a full, no obligation, packaging audit at your warehouse to gain a deep understanding of your packaging operation and any challenges you face. This can result in 57% cost savings, up to 40% productivity and up to 74% less waste. Contact us today for more information.

Seasonal packaging should be easy for customers to return

With the winter season and potential lockdowns occurring, a lot more gifts could end up being ordered online. This makes it really important that your seasonal packaging is easy for customers to reseal and return if necessary. Nobody wants the hassle of having to find a new box to return goods in, especially since the cardboard shortages and during the busy Christmas period. It’s also much better for the environment if your packaging can be re-used, which will show that your company cares about the environment just as much as the consumer.

It’s good practice to add a second seal strip to your boxes to provide that extra protection to prevent any damages occurring whilst also reinforcing security.

Timing is everything when it comes to seasonal packaging

Forecasting demand is one of the greatest challenges with seasonal packaging. A common problem for companies during the holiday season is overestimating or underestimating how many products they need. To help be prepared, know what your product lead times are, how popular a product is – be on top of stock, and ensure you have enough space to hold the extra packaging. For example, look up historical packaging demand and see previous shortages of products so that you can be prepared and pre-order those products early so your business is not affected by any packaging shortages.

Seasonal packaging from Swiftpak

At Swiftpak, our packaging experts will be happy to help you prepare for the upcoming busy festive season. It’s never too early to start thinking about your custom packaging designs and making sure they are ordered ahead of time.

Please contact us today and we will be happy to help you prepare.