Market Insights | Page 1

This year, more than 50% of retail brands will invest in tools that allow them to sell anywhere. And for good reason: Nearly 3 in 4 customers use multiple channels to shop. Meanwhile, research shows that the opportunity cost of not adopting an omnichannel retail strategy could be as much as 10% in lost revenue. But this sales-boosting strategy also comes with a key challenge: channel customization, or meeting the bundling and packaging requirements of multiple retailers and channels. 

Of the many retail dynamics to spring forth from the pandemic, one has shown unreliable staying power: Fulfilling e-commerce orders from retail stores rather than warehouses. Ship-from-store fulfillment is expected to reach $140.96 billion by 2024, driven by sky-high e-commerce order volumes and customer expectations for speedy deliveries. 

Like all emerging trends, ship-from-store fulfillment has the potential to deliver major benefits for agile early adopters. (Think: Faster deliveries, lower shipping costs and less reliance on distribution centers.) But in-store fulfillment can also pose risks for even the savviest retail teams. Without the right approach, your intention of enhancing shipping speeds could actually cause delivery delays, not to mention issues like limited in-store space. 

Smurfit Westrock Packaging Solution’s team has been on the leading edge of ship-from-store dynamics, and we’ve helped numerous nationwide retailers optimize their programs. Through this experience, we’ve gleaned proven best practices that you can implement now to overcome common pitfalls and pave the way to maximum value.

Keep reading for our team’s take on the ship-from-store landscape, including these programs’ benefits, their potential challenges and how the right packaging partner can reduce risk — to the benefit of both your brand and your customers.

Food waste is a significant problem. According to the USDA, an estimated 133 billion pounds of food produced worldwide for human consumption is lost or wasted.

It turns out that one of the biggest contributors to food waste is the packaging. In fact, packaging accounts for a significant share of food waste throughout its life cycle — from production to consumption and disposal.

Retail-ready packaging, also known as shelf-ready packaging, is a bit of a cheat code in the world of retail. It enables you to do a little less while ultimately gaining a bit more, which is something that’ll make any business owner’s ears perk up a bit.

The Power of the First Impression and Why Your Packaging Matters

When you're fighting to stand out, you have literal seconds to prove yourself. That starts with packaging. See why the first impression is your best shot.

Double hung. Bay/bow. Picture. Sliding/gliding. Windows and doors come in a variety of designs and sizes, which can make packaging them tricky. Even the smallest packaging mishap can lead to irreparable damage. This delicate and fragile process requires a team of experts that understand all the complexities involved in panel products. When looking for a packaging solutions company for easily broken and damaged products, it is crucial to partner with a well-rounded packaging solutions company that offers state of the art product engineering and various packaging products that minimize damage

People love their granola, and it’s no surprise why. Granola serves as both a quick snack and as a staple breakfast food. Hailed for its versatility, granola tastes good alone or in yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies or salads. This popular food is convenient and packs a good crunch. But the main ingredients that make granola taste so great; oats, honey, sugar and dried fruits can quickly lose their freshness and taste if not properly stored and packaged. Moisture can also affect the taste of granola by turning its oats, fruits and sugar soft, causing granola to lose one of its most defining characteristics: its crunch. Therefore it is essential to have the best granola packaging and shipping solutions to keep it crunchy and ready to eat –– from the time it leaves the warehouse –– to the time you take it home.

According to the Harvard Business Review, more than 30,000 new products are launched in the U.S. each year—each requiring packaging in some way, shape or form. Although packaging strategies are as varied as the sheer scope of product types available to consumers, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some common ground. If you’re looking to launch a new product and need packaging or simply want to improve your existing strategy, use these top factors of high-quality packaging to ensure your product is positioned for success. 

It’s conventional wisdom that the best products answer a clear customer need. The same can be said for packaging. As consumer preferences continue to shift, packaging strategies must evolve with them to stay relevant and appealing to customers. Given that packaging plays a key role in purchasing decisions, reflecting their desires in your strategy is just plain good business.

When most people think about packaging, the first things that come to mind are the design that compels you to buy or the moment you unbox your product. But in reality, the packaging development process is a lot more complex than that. Behind every memorable packaging experience is a team of engineers who use their expertise to craft customized solutions.