Product Focus: Lil envelope cardboard envelopes re-invented

Have you seen those rather good-looking cardboard envelopes that come through the door containing CD’s, books, posters and more? You know, the expandable ones made of cardboard? Well, whenever they are delivered to your door, there’s a good chance they’ll be one of ours.

The boffins at Lil Packaging started making these envelopes decades ago – but in the past few years, we’ve really gone for it and have innovated like crazy. Which has resulted in a product that is difficult to beat, and most definitely one of the best in the industry at what it does… which is getting product from point A to point B quickly, safely, securely and in style.

So what makes our way of doing this, just that bit special?

• We have ended up using the toughest possible card to get the right balance of mailing weight vs strength for clients – because you know… weight costs money in mailing!
• It’s fair to say we like being environmentally friendly, so Lil products are manufactured using FSC® certified environmentally sustainable materials on all products bearing the Lil name.
• Our manufacturing plant ‘contours’ the shoulders of our glue seams on these envelopes to ensure a maximum of 3 material thicknesses in the finished product. This way, we make sure our envelopes ‘fit’ in the situations they are delivered into.
• Ever tried to fold a card envelope that doesn’t want to fold? We thought the same as you did… so we included the task of pre-folding the flaps in an extra section of our machines to make it easier for our clients to close our envelopes. Simples.
• The spookiest part of producing these envelopes was when we decided to include ‘ghost creases’ on all our Lil envelopes to allow for capacity of inserted items/contents being mailed – because we’ve all had that experience trying to get a book or dvd out of a package that’s just too darn tight right?
• Fulfilment speed is a big thing in e-commerce. When you’re packing boxes and envelopes all day, every second counts to get product out and delivered quickly. Overhangs on the white release paper on our envelope flap make it quick and easy to remove. Having the fastest packaging speed for our clients is always a win! With video evidence to prove it!
• We are one of the only European cardboard envelope manufacturers that use hot melt glue, a special way of sealing envelopes that actually makes sure they stay closed until the customer has them! (See our special article on hot melt glue!)

What makes them really special is the fact that they’re continually being improved through feedback from our real internet retailers – including some of the biggest! If we identify an improvement tomorrow, the chances are it will be implemented within 4 weeks of successful testing. For example with our envelopes, it wasn’t exactly obvious to us that we should write ‘open’ on the tear strips. Several customers suggested this, and now all of the tear-strip products we do carry this instruction. When you’re close to a thing, it’s difficult to have the perspective that another viewpoint can give you – we rely on our customers for exactly that.

Because of this, our products and our service are continually improving, and ranges like our Lil envelope are continually getting better and better.

Shop Lil envelopes – click here

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Rough Trade Case Study

The now iconic Rough Trade is a group of independent record shops with sites in the UK and US. The first Rough Trade shop was opened in 1976 by Geoff Travis in the Ladbroke Grove district of west London. In 1978 the shop spawned the famous Rough Trade Records, which was to go on to be home to bands from The Smiths to The Libertines. In 1982 the two separated and the shop remains an independent entity from the label, although links between the two remain strong.

Calling all vinylphiles and music lovers – we thoroughly recommend checking out their extensive collection over at roughtrade.com

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The Challenge

With a brand as cool as Rough Trade we knew that we needed to pull out all the stops! They needed postal packaging that was quick to fulfil, offered unparalleled protection and provided their customers with an improved unboxing experience with a strong brand presence.

The Solution

• Lil packaging were able to provide Rough Trade with custom printed self sealing FLP flatpack vinyl mailers and C3 bukwrap book mailers. Utilising our “hot melt” peel and seal technology our mailers seal with 300% more tack than standard tape strips, we’re also the only company to use over hanging tape to considerably speed up assembly time.
• Our stock mailers come with a red tear strip opening for a frustration free unboxing experience and a tamper evident seal for added security.
• Over 98% of our orders are dispatched within 24 hours and combined with packaging that’s quick to assemble and pack has meant that Rough Trade can continue to provide their own speedy delivery service to their customer without the worry of running out of mailers.
• As the mailers were chosen from our extensive range of stock products we are able to provide smaller regular deliveries to avoid the issues related to lack of warehouse space and we also have extensive stock holding facilities to act as a much needed buffer during peak seasons.
• Rough Trade now have the added benefit of their own dedicated Account Manager at Lil Packaging that continues to be a consistent point of contact for packaging orders and any changing requirements.

The Outcome

“We approached Lil Packaging with the challenge of providing our customers with an improved unboxing experience and increased brand awareness. During the early stages of the project we were provided with sound advice as well as samples which not only met our requirements but also provided us with what we feel to be the best looking Vinyl and CD mailers on the market! Our new custom mailers also came with the added bonus of faster packing speeds (we were using a lot of tape at the time); improved strength and security; as well as providing our customers with frustration free tear cord seal which virtually eradicated the risk of damaging expensive vinyl records on opening (ie no scissor/knives required!). We’ve already had great feedback from our customers since the switch and zero returns due to failed packaging. As a custom printed e-commerce packaging provider, Lil Packaging comes highly recommended.”

Rough Trade, London

Just take a look at the pictures of the end product below – I hope you’ll agree they look awesome! Clever use of single sided, 1 colour flexo print saved on production costs but without compromising on the look. We love how the design of these custom mailers incorporates some of the most iconic and well recognised band logos and record sleeves from the past 40 years – it really continues the experience you’d get from the Rough Trade website and their in-store design. This is a prime example of the power of e-commerce packaging to create unboxing experiences that drive brand exposure. As the final consumer touch point, getting custom mailers right can create a lasting impression and in this case it’s definitely one that’s worth remembering.

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Are you interested in ordering custom mailers or custom printed e-commerce packaging?

If you’d like to talk to us about custom printing one of our stock items or producing something bespoke, feel free to drop us an email sales@lilpackaging.com or call us today on +44 (0)1480 396 200.

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Choosing the right Cardboard Box a Lil guide

When companies ship their product, they don’t necessarily put much stock into the humble cardboard box. Details like the quality, size and shape of the cardboard boxes they use do not always come to mind. Things like material specifications, fluting types and ethical credentials are usually an afterthought – but in this product focus guide you’ll learn the importance of a good-fitting, well-specced cardboard box.

Lil Packaging manufactures and supplies cardboard boxes to individuals and businesses the world over. With over 1700 sizes and styles to choose from, we’re pretty much guaranteed to have a box size to fit your needs!

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Go back to basics.

Cardboard boxes can be more complex than they may seem!

When selecting boxes for your brand, go back to basics by examining the size of the box, the items you plan to store inside, the transport method and your intended stacking height. Lil Packaging boxes are built to carry all kinds of items and batch orders, retail products, computing equipment, subscription orders and so much more. Our E5-SP range of boxes, for example, is perfectly sized to get the most out of the small parcel tariff, and ideal for mail-order businesses looking to get the most amount of product through the small parcel limit. However, we offer a full range of vari-depth perforations to maximise versatility on our core Lil cardboard box range. This brings us to our next point…

One size does not fit all.

If you are in search of the perfect box and have yet to meet your match – there’s no need to worry. You can find the best-sized box for your shipping needs with a little knowledge on the industry standard for sizing boxes (and all postal packaging for that matter). The process may seem daunting given the sheer volume of sizes available, but navigating box sizes isn’t all that challenging.

Here is how it works: the dimensions of the box include the longest opening dimension first (the length of the box), the shortest opening dimension (the width of the box) and the height (also known as the depth of the box). For example – a size of 200 x 200 x 200mm would indicate a perfect square, while a box with substantial depth might be available in the 200 x 200 x 1500mm size – which would be a long cardboard box with a small end opening (the first 2 dimensions always stipulate the opening end). The best visual representation of this can be seen on our sort by size page.

Calculate the dimensions you need based on the items you plan to ship – it really is that simple! Our dimensions are internal size. Note that measuring the content is essential, as an oversized box could be more expensive than necessary (with the addition of void fill), while a cardboard box that is too small could damage the products inside. Cut costs where you can on size, but do not risk damaging your items by using a poorly fitting box. Do you send out batch orders on a regular basis? Be sure to choose a size that offers maximum versatility.

Finding the right cardboard box shape.

Just as there is a song for every mood, there’s a box for every item. When buying cardboard boxes, you must consider the shape and weight of whatever it is you want to carry, and select the size and material specification that is best suited for that item. For example, if you are shipping rolls of material, you will need a long cardboard box of close enough diameter to secure the product in place (otherwise you’ll need wasteful bubble wrap or void fill) – if that particular item is heavy or is at risk of impact damage, consider using double wall boxes.

At Lil Packaging, we offer additional features to accommodate unique shapes. Our long cardboard boxes for example are available with both small end opening and long-edge opening options, which provide the best corrugated fluting direction for maximum strength and rigidity as well as ensuring the ideal level of support and damage resistance for awkwardly shaped products.

We use quality, environmentally-friendly materials.

If you are deep in your search for a new cardboard box supplier, make quality and social responsibility top priorities. Our cardboard boxes are all made with 100% FSC® certified material, produced from sustainably managed forests.

While ethics are of the utmost importance to us, we also believe in durability. Our core range of ecommerce cardboard boxes, for instance, are BCT-stamped. This means they are certified 20% stronger than the industry standard – which means they’re pretty much guaranteed not to let you down – combine that with our 30 day return policy for total peace of mind.

Our FSC® certified cardboard boxes feature a variety of fluting grades to suit all customer requirements. From Single Wall B/E flute up to Double Wall BC flute, for when failiure really isn’t an option – although there are many more options available, our stock products are made using fluting grades proven to be the best fit for the job.

A Lil™ Cardboard Box makes quite the impression!

Your packaging is likely your customers’ first physical experience with your brand. As such, making a good first impression can have a lasting impact. At Lil Packaging we’re all about that final unboxing experience, and we can assure you all of our cardboard packaging products will not let you down on that front!

Put your trust, and everything else, in a Lil™ cardboard box

SORT 1600+ CARDBOARD BOXES BY SIZE

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Samsung Case Study

The Challenge

In April 2015 the Samsung Headquarters (Korea) had just spent the previous 12 months in search of the perfect global ecommerce box specification. They wanted a 100% secure postal box which printed jet black internally, with a further internal black tissue paper. They planned to use it at all ten of their global ecommerce operational sites. But before they could commit to major investment in transforming their global ecommerce operations, they needed to source packaging to the specification they required.

The Problems

Finding black tissue paper to be integrated within the box was their biggest challenge. Prior to contact with Lil Packaging, every supplier was proposing to do this by hand at a high cost to them. Their second big challenge was finding suppliers who could supply internationally in multiple currencies. For example their far eastern suppliers would only accept payment in $USD which was not to the liking of some Samsung subsidiaries. They also struggled to find a type of void-fill that would be aligned with their brand image, as the Samsung brand is certainly not “cheap and nasty.” They felt strongly that a Samsung customer deserved better than being presented with bubble wrap or crushed-up paper.

The Solution

In April 2015 Lil Packaging offered its machine-made Breezebox product which requires no voidfill. The magic of this product is that it features integrated black tissue ‘Breezepaper’ which only sticks to itself, giving the impression that the Samsung product is internally gift-wrapped within the Lil Breezebox.

Samsung HeadQuarters (Korea) commented how the learner videos for our Breezebox on www.lilpackaging.com enabled Samsung to explain / educate all of the ten seperate global ecommerce operations about our product, in just one conference-call. Apart from the product being exactly what Samsung required, why else did they choose us to be their packaging partner?

• Quarterly GROUPED batch-productions enabling all subsidiaries the advantage of reduced pricing due to combined buying power. Lil Packaging dedicated much time to obtaining forecasts from all Samsung subsidiaries to combine total productions. Therefore all of Samsung’s subsidiaries pay the same for each box regardless of usage.
• We accepted multiple currencies to do business with Samsung, a truly global business.
• Lil Packaging provided free material upgrades. A Samsung Netherlands subsidiary commented that two sizes would benefit from increased box stiffness. Lil Packaging agreed, created a solution quickly, and Samsung did not incur any extra cost for the upgrade. That’s a partnership for you!
• Lil Packaging can ship to any location in the world – with the ten Samsung ecommerce operations needing a truly global provider.
• A total of 52 sample prototypes were dispatched in 19 packages during the opening development period – we are never short of options for our customers.

The Outcome

Samsung now have a fantastic ecommerce packaging solution to use on a global scale, sourced from a UK packaging manufacturer, using sustainable materials, that does exactly what they want it to. Compromise isn’t always necessary – and getting what you want precisely, doesn’t have to be expensive.

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