Market Insights | Page 1

There’s no denying that sustainable packaging is becoming the new norm. More than 40% of consumers say it’s a key decision-making factor, and about half are willing to pay more for products that feature eco-friendly packaging. Fueled by customer sentiment, corporations and retailers alike are embracing sustainable materials. In a global survey from McKinsey, nearly 75% of companies said they have already committed to sustainable packaging. Meanwhile, retailers aren’t just using recycled or recyclable materials in their own packaging; they’re often requiring the brands they stock to do the same. 

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. 

Victory Packaging’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.

Here at Victory Packaging, we know that navigating the ecommerce world can be challenging. That's why we work with ecommerce fulfillment companies — those that sell and ship products out to customers — to help them select and stay stocked with the right packaging. It gives them one less thing to worry about in the grand scheme.

At the start, it's all about understanding your ecommerce needs and how your packaging might be affected by them. After that, you'll need a solid packaging provider that can make sure you don't miss a beat when it comes to shipping your goods. We cover both of these topics below.

First up: understanding your needs.

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.

The packaging you use for your retail products can make a big difference when it comes to attracting customers. In order to boost business, your products need to stand out among the competition and make a strong impression on customers. Whether your products are on store shelves and displays or delivered right to a customer's home, custom retail packaging can provide you with an effective way to help your business thrive. How can you make sure customers head right for your products in stores or online? Consider the following packaging ideas for your retail products.

In order to stay competitive in the ecommerce industry, it is important to have a well-oiled ecommerce fulfillment machine. This means having a system that can receive and inventory products, pick and pack orders, and get those orders shipped out quickly.

To ensure you have the packaging products necessary to pull this off, you need a partner who understands the challenges of running an ecommerce empire. This is where Victory Packaging comes in. We have the experience and expertise to understand your needs and keep your fulfillment centers stocked with the packaging materials your business requires.

When it comes to making environmentally conscious decisions, the packaging industry is in a unique position. On one hand, there are many options for eco-friendly materials that can be used in packaging designs. On the other, many companies are hesitant to switch to more sustainable materials for fear they won't be able to meet performance and aesthetic demands.

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.

For far too long, packaging had one job and one job only: protect the product. Not much mind was paid to what packaging looked like or how one felt when opening it for the first time. This approach led to designs that kept products safe while inflicting stress and anxiety upon the customer.