With winter fast approaching, it is the perfect time to take a look at your product packaging to ensure it can survive the cold temperatures and snowy weather that are sure to come. Depending on the product you sell, it may be sensitive to freezing temperatures. This is particularly true for foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, in particular. Regardless of the type of product you sell, the following advice will help you confirm that your packaging can handle the winter.
Why Does It Matter?
You may not think it matters whether your packaging can withstand cold temperatures, but this is far from the case. If your packaging leaves your product vulnerable, you will have an increased risk of damage. That will hurt your bottom line as you will have to replace the products at your company’s cost. It could also hurt your reputation if consumers (or retailers) consistently receive damaged items.
Think About Shipping and the Supply Chain
When considering if your product packaging can handle the winter, start by thinking about your supply chain. Picture where the product travels and what types of vehicles it is in. Will it always be in climate-controlled transportation? Or do your shipping trucks lack insulation? Will the product likely sit out on the loading dock in the snow and cold? Will your product get damaged by the cold? These questions can help you gauge the extent to which you should be concerned about updating your packaging for the winter.
Try Insulation
One of the best ways to handle the winter weather with your product packaging is to add some insulation. If it is feasible, consider adding a bit of insulation to the individual product packaging. Alternatively, you could just make sure to opt for insulated shipping containers and save money and effort on insulating the individual packages. This would also likely reduce the materials used.
Consult Your Packaging Manufacturer
If you are unsure about your current packaging’s abilities to protect your product in the winter, then consider consulting your packaging manufacturer. They should be able to let you know how your packaging materials will fare and give you suggestions based on their experience.
Give It a Test Run
After you settle on the packaging that you think will work, give it a test run. Order a short run of product packaging and put it to the test, covering various temperatures. This will let you know if you need to make any changes before the cold weather hits. A short run is a nice alternative to just asking for sample packaging since it will give you enough packages to test in various conditions.
Does It Have Winter Appeal?
Once you are sure that your product packaging is ready to handle the tough weather conditions of winter, it is time to check whether you have winter appeal. Consider creating special edition packaging for the winter that takes advantage of winter themes. You can incorporate winter holidays or keep it non-denominational with designs like snowflakes. Unique packaging can help your product fly off the shelves.
