The Ultimate Packaging Zine - LeKAC Sourcing (Summer 2021)

THE PACKAGING ZINE SUMMER

Editor in Chief

Gabrielle Ho

Art Direction

Muskan Kaur

Samneet Mann

Taylor Tran

Editors

Muskan Kaur

Taylor Tran

Graphic Designer

Samneet Mann

Writers

Muskan Kaur

Taylor Tran

Gabrielle Ho

Cover Photo

Samneet Mann

Contributers

LeKAC Sourcing Ltd.

MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM

First and foremost - thank you for subscribing to our packaging zine!

We’re really excited to share updates and packaging news with you!

For those who may not know, we offer completely custom packaging and sourcing solutions across North America! With the ongoing pandemic, we noticed that more people are shopping from their homes, causing a surge in e-commerce activity.

As a small business, we understand the stress that this difficult period has put on businesses everywhere With that being said, we’re overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from our amazing clients! We’re hoping that we can continue to support

each other in the upcoming years and look forward to deepening our relationships with all of you.

Due to ongoing restrictions, our office is open by appointment only! Our in-house COVID procedures include maintaining a 6-foot distance at all times, and regular sanitization of high traffic areas. Additionally, masks must be worn at all times.

If you’re not comfortable meeting in person, you can opt to schedule a video or phone call with a custom packaging specialist!

Sincerely,

Everyone from LeKAC Sourcing Ltd.

Learn with Lenny!

Have you seen Lenny making an appearance on our Instagram feed and stories: @lekacsourcing ?

PACKAGING FOR E-COMMERCE

What is e-commerce? Simply put, it refers to the buying and selling of goods and services using the internet. Frankly, this has been going on for years - it’s definitely not a new concept. So why are we only now creating a catalogue for these products?

With restrictions in place and technological advances in general, online purchases are at an all-time high. Many smaller businesses are shifting their business plans to include or promote their online presence through social media and their own websites.

With a major spike in online shopping, it goes without saying that there’s also a spike in packaging needs.

WHY CHOOSE CUSTOM PACKAGING?

Most businesses will opt for generic packaging (mailer bags and boxes), and add a custom sticker to represent their brand, especially with the rush to move their businesses online. But why let your packages blend in? What if you could get completely custom packaging that makes your products stand out for only a little bit more money?

Custom packaging allows for brand recognition and gets your customer excited for their purchase on sight. It also creates a bond between your company and the customer that’s sure to make them come back for more.

THE ULTIMATE UNBOXING EXPERIENCE WITH E-COMMERCE

When we first started discussing e-commerce packaging in depth, we needed to ensure we chose products that would be able to withstand a bit of rough and tumble.

Some other key points to consider would be the type of product we need the packaging to protect and the duration of shipping it will have to undergo. Also, we needed to ensure the level of presentation would be preserved for the end consumer!

With all of that in mind, we would like to introduce our e-commerce packaging line. Keep in mind that everything is custom made, and the designs shown in photos are only examples of what your packaging can look like!

Our products include:

• mailer boxes

• shipping boxes

• mailer bags

• drawstring bags

... and more!

FEATURED PRODUCT

COMPOSTABLE MAILER BAG

• High Quality

• Eco-Friendly

• Affordable

We offer a lot of different types of compostable packaging with the same level of quality and customization! Get in touch with our team to learn more about what we can supply.

FROM DESIGN TO DELIVER IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

and fast turn-around

custom packaging

Custom packaging is always the best route if you’re aiming for brand recognition – but turnaround can be an issue if you’re in a pinch.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, turnaround refers to the time needed to complete a task. This time period includes

placing your order, production of items, quality checks and shipment/delivery.

While regular custom packaging can take anywhere from 2 to 4 months to be delivered when placing your order, there are ways to achieve a custom packaging look without having to wait that long.

check out our fast turnaround product catalogue here for our full list of available products!

When people think of custom packaging, they often think of the main packaging components – the bag or box that offers the most protection to the product. But there’s another side of packaging – namely accessories. These bits and pieces add a personal touch and come in handy when you already have stock packaging. Don’t have time to wait for major custom components for your brand? Consider getting smaller packaging items/ accessories to complement your brand when paired with generic packaging.

FROM DESIGN TO DELIVERY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

Our fast turnaround items are perfect for making a statement while adding the personal touch generic packaging always misses. Not only are you able to showcase your brand, you can also share other important information such as:

• contact information

• social media platforms your brand is present on

• ingredients

• company information (motto, ethical promises etc.)

some fast turnaround products we offer are:

• stickers

• business cards

• pens

• tissue paper

... to see more check out the full blog post here!

These products are also easy to store (they take up very little space!) and transport so there’s always an opportunity to personalise a package!

CMYK VS RGB VS PANTONE

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

You may know that these are different ways that you can select colours, but what do they really mean? The different colour modes serve different functions, so it’s important to know when to use them.

HERE’S A QUICK BREAKDOWN OF EACH COLOUR MODE!

READ THE WHOLE BLOG POST HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHEN TO USE EACH COLOUR MODE!

CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key. By subtracting light where these colours overlap, new colours can be made.

The resulting colour is the visible spectrum of wavelengths that did not get subtracted. By assigning each letter a percent value, you can create different colours.

RGB

By contrast, RGB is the direct opposite to CMYK. CMYK uses a subtractive model, whereas RGB uses an additive model.

The RGB colour model relies on the addition of light to Red, Green, and Blue to create new colours. As each colour is assigned a value, new colours are made.

PANTONE (PMS)

Pantone is a company that uses the CMYK model to create a spot colour. Unlike CMYK, spot colours created by Pantone are solid and do not feature multiple small dots.

As a result, Pantone colours can go beyond the spectrum of CMYK colours to include metallic ones as well.

5 TYPES OF PROMOTIONAL PACKAGING INSERTS

Having custom packaging is not just an external affair. The inside of your package and its contents should be just as customized!

WHAT ARE PROMOTIONAL PACKAGING INSERTS?

First, we need to determine what the difference between packaging inserts and promotional inserts is!

Promotional inserts are things that retailers can add to their packages before sending them to customers. These are often used in packages from e-commerce businesses, but can also be used for brick-and-mortar businesses as well!

Having trouble picturing what we mean? Think back to all the times you received a thank you note or discount card with

your package! These inserts can add value to your brand’s packaging, turning it into an experience!

TYPES OF PROMOTIONAL INSERTS

There are many different types of promotional packaging inserts to choose from. Selecting the right one for your business is very important!

In the next sections, we’ll go into detail about the different types that are most common and best kind of promotional inserts ideally make sense for your brand!

1. DISCOUNT CARDS

Discount cards are the most straightforward type of promotional insert. These can be in the form of cards that have a code to use for discounts or to inform people about upcoming sales.

If your business is an e-commerce site, these can sometimes be emailed to the consumer, but it could possibly end up in their spam folder. Providing a physical copy of this discount code ensures that your customer receives it!

2. THANK-YOU CARDS AND HANDWRITTEN NOTES

Secondly, we want to talk about thank-you cards and handwritten notes. Providing your customers with a thank-you card and/or a handwritten note conveys your thanks to them for their support.

This personalizes the packaging to the customer, thus letting you create a connection with them past the initial purchase! Handwritten notes are more viable when your business is a bit smaller, but thank-you cards can be printed en-masse.

IMAGE SOURCE: hellofresh.com & hungryforever.com

Free sticker samples with my order? YES PLEASE!

IMAGE SOURCE: pinterest.com/frankbody

3. INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDES

Some products that require assembly, so including an instructional guide can be helpful for the customer.

For example, recipe boxes come with a recipe card with instructions on how to cook the ingredients. This is informational for the customer and provides them something they can refer back to.

4. PRODUCT REVIEW REQUESTS

In addition to other inserts, a card can be added to ask your customer to review the products they purchased. This is a great way to build a community and increase exposure.

For example, Frank Body has an explicit call to action to its consumers to share their opinion of the product they received on social media!

5. SAMPLES

Additionally, including a sample in your package allows your customer to try out other products you offer.

Customers can share their samples with friends and family, or they can keep them for themselves. As a result, this can encourage word-of-mouth marketing, resulting in an increase for your customer base.

Overall, choosing the right kind of packaging insert for your business is important! Some of these types of packaging inserts can be combined, so you can avoid having multiple loose papers floating around in your packaging.

For instance, if you want to make a connection with the customer and create repeat business, a thank-you card and discount card may be the best option!

Therefore, thinking about your customer and what kind of connection you want to make with them should inform your packaging insert choice.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to get customized packaging inserts for your business, contact us today!

PACKAGING Q & A

Q: Why are shipping rates increasing so much?

A: There are actually a few reasons rates have been increasing lately. Due to the pandemic, global supply chains have been disrupted and there’s a shortage of freight containers! That, coupled with limited staff available to work and increasing fuel prices, lead to delayed shipments. While we’re optimistic that things will go back to normal in the near future, our team is dedicated to keeping costs down for clients. Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do since this is a global issue, but if you’re in need of packaging soon, you may want to opt for premium or expedited shipping!

Q: What file type should I send my logo and designs in?

A: Ideally, you should send your digital files in PNG or AI formats. If you send JPEGs, the logo or design will be compressed so the quality won’t be as sharp as PNG or AI files would be.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE:

Q: Can you create other marketing materials to work with my packaging?

A: Absolutely! We can source products that match your packaging such as stickers, business cards, POP displays, etc. Our designers will make sure the designs match your brand!

Q: What if I don’t have a logo or a clear idea of what I want yet?

A: Don’t worry, our in-house graphic designers are at your service to help bring your packaging ideas and brand to life! (We can also design your logo for you!)

Q: What if I can’t decide on products and measurements?

A: Simply book a consultation with one of our Business Development representatives (it’s free!) and based on a couple of questions regarding your establishment, we can suggest products and sizes! We can also calculate measurements for specific product packaging to ensure that everything will fit!