How Have the Needs of Packaging Buyers Changed Over the Years?

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Time of issue:2019-02-21 15:56
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While in the past brands and packaging buyers had a segmented buying supply chain, today’s packaging customer is looking for consolidated buying.

They’re looking for a supplier that can handle end-to-end projects, everything from creative to production and through distribution.

what elements cause this changes? It’s all about efficiency and quality. If you have a segmented buying supply chain, there is great disconnect between each supplier. One supplier might be doing the vacuum tray while the next one is in charge of the full packaging. The issue with this is that they are not in touch with each other and that leaves a lot of room for error and quality inconsistency.

When working with such small tolerances as we do in packaging, precision is critical. An end-to-end supplier has much better control. This increases quality and consistency. Fewer suppliers in the mix mean better control and quality.

When choosing an end-to-end supplier, customers typically look for three things: creativity, quality and on-time delivery. No one’s working with the same packaging of ten years ago. It’s all about innovating and upping the ante. Most customers are not looking for a typical, expected packaging. They’re looking to raise the bar on their own packaging so they want to know that they are working with a highly creative supplier that can not only make their vision possible, but can also push the boundaries of creativity.

Quality is also just as important. Making sure that the final product meets or exceeds quality expectations, from both the customer and end-consumer, is critical. And with quality comes consistency from one job to the next.

On-time delivery is of course expected, but a defining aspect of a reputable supplier. Being able to meet tight turnarounds or ensuring that projects are always on time can be a challenge for inexperienced suppliers. If a customer is working with multiple suppliers in the mix, the chances of on-time delivery are even less promising. We have to remember that there are a lot of moving parts in a client’s overall plan – launch dates, marketing campaigns, etc. That’s why on-time delivery is so critical.