How to Select the Ideal Contract Packing Partner for Your Business

As a business owner, it’s a given that there are many decisions you have to make – daily decisions plus major ones that can impact your business’ growth. And if you have decided that partnering with a contract packer is something you need to further your business process and expand, good for you! There is indeed a lot a contract packing partner can do for you – but you also need to choose one wisely. It follows, then, that you have to go through what you require and write down the specifics and choose your partner accordingly. But how else can you make sure of your decision? Here’s how you can select the ideal contract packing partner for your business.

Ask them the right questions

You first need to understand your specific requirements before you can get going. The rule is to look for contract packers (whether based on location, experience and services, and what-not) and narrow down your options depending on these criteria. Once you have a list of three, it’s time to compare their services and what they can give you – and it’s also time to ask them the right questions.

Some questions to ask would be the following:

• Have you ever worked with someone who has the same or similar products as ours?
• If the answer is yes, what challenges did you face and how did you overcome those challenges?
• Would you be able to offer specialised contract packing based on my requirements? What general services do you offer as well?
• Would you be able to provide me with a list of your current or past clients, and would it be okay to contact them directly?
• What price base do you have for a specific contract packing requirement or project?
• Can you give me details on how you assure quality when it comes to your contract packing services?

Learn about the cost

Of course, you also have to ask them about the cost. The overall cost of packing projects will depend on various factors, including the kind of industry you are in, the type of business you have, the product that will be packed, etc.

The cost of your project will also depend on a few other aspects, such as the cost of the material they will use or you want them to use. This is actually a primary factor that can affect your total packing cost. For instance, flow wrapping and sachets can be less costly than other materials, but there are more expensive ones such as hand-assembled packaging or HDPE containers.

The total cost will also be influenced by the volume of your order as well as the packaging complexity. The number of products you want to be packed by the contract packer will affect the price, and it’s important to remember that the higher your volume, the cheaper the cost and the more efficient the process. If your packaging comes with a complicated design (such as special hand-assembly or techniques), the cost can also increase, as it means extra hours, technical skills, and labour as well as special equipment.

Remember to get at least three quotes or proposals from different companies, compare their services and rates, and make sure they can give you your precise requirements. Good luck!