Our customer advisors have probably thought carefully about what they are going to wear. After all, they visited a customer who has an eye for good men’s outfits and the details that go with them: Gentlenero (the fashion start-up with us in the interview) tailors and sells exclusive and completely customised menswear for those who are not like everyone.
The company “took off” quite quickly, and today Gentlenero already processes about 20 – 40 orders per week via online orders, plus personal consultations and sales in the retail shop. Time to think about processes and their standardisation – without losing individuality and personality!
How can standard packaging be personalised?
Can you ship in standard boxes if individuality is virtually the company idea?
In an on-site meeting, we saw how much value the company places on individual production. To the owners, shipping in a standard brown cardboard box seems almost like a betrayal of their own products.
However, given the comparatively small amount of shipping packaging needed, packaging made especially for Gentlenero is not an option at the moment. A dilemma? Not only Gentlenero, but many of our customers feel the same way: The demands on a shipping package are immensely versatile!
What must a shipping package “be able to do”?
The natural sponge should not arrive in a box filled with bubble wrap. On the other hand, the electronics shipper would be ill-advised to fix his washing machine in the package with paper padding. Why?
A shipping package must, together with the product sold or the Brand imagemust speak a common “language”. But the packaging must first and foremost offer one thing: Protection! Heavy or sharp-edged products therefore simply need more effective cushioning protection than light ones, such as clothing. Here again, another point also plays a role: Postage optimisation. Not only for the sake of the environment, but also for the sake of the wallet, it is advisable to use as little cushioning material as possible- by using as little as possible. Precisely fitting shipping packaging.
These questions face every company that also sells via the internet. And especially at the beginning, when the online business is still developing very strongly, it is not possible for most start-ups to already invest a lot in the personalisation of packaging. But does that mean they have to forego individualisation altogether? No! Because packaging can already stand out even with a multitude of smaller optimisations and customisations. Our range covers and serves all “development stages”, from standard goods to partially personalised and fully personalised.
Our packaging ideas for Gentlenero
We have therefore presented some options to our customer Gentlenero:
The standard postal box, brown or white (suitable carton size find here!) can be printed inside as well as outside. Here: Laid out with printed tissue paper “Thank you”.
(Alternative: The tissue paper in your company colours, a large selection of 22 colours already available as standard).
The carton with personalised logo print – is already available from a quantity of 500 pieces and on request.
Adhesive tape to seal the shipping box – personalised as desired in company colours and with logo print.
Labels for sealing the tissue paper or envelope
Personalised packaging at Gentlenero
Individualisation is in the detail: Gentlenero gentlemen with an eye for detail like our suggestions, especially as they can be implemented with a relatively manageable budget. Some of these ideas are already being implemented. The favourite, let’s say, was the brown corrugated cardboard box with a surprising interior, for the element of surprise when unpacking.
Excellent choice, we think. And because we agreed so quickly, we then also had time for “set-up questions” :
Process optimisation at a fashion start-up
When it comes to process optimisation, WE have a special eye. And that’s why we showed the surprised gentlemen how to simplify and standardise their processes with simple measures. To do this, we divided the shop area into three parts: shelf storage area, showroom and shooting area, and packing area with packaging storage.
Making clever use of shelf storage space
When the goods are delivered, they have to be quickly placed on hangers – and protected against light, dust and other influences. Ideal for this are our Clothes boxesour protective sleeves for clothing on the roll and our rollable clothes rails.
Making clever use of storage space
In the warehouse, our pick boxes would also make things easier: Shirts, pocketkerchiefs and accessories are stored here in a protected manner and can still be accessed easily and conveniently.
Packaging sector: Staying flexible
For the packaging area, we recommend furniture that is flexible. The packing table with a table depth as large as possible (up to 1.2m available from us as standard) as “fixed furniture” is supplemented by variable Roller tables – which are more flexible and space-saving than, for example, a second work table and extremely mobile thanks to four castors.
Showroom and shooting area
We’ll stay out of it and leave the design entirely up to the creative minds.