The Ultimate Packaging Zine - LeKAC Sourcing (Summer 2022)

THE PACKAGING ZINE SUMMER 2022

Editor in Chief Gabrielle Ho Art Direction Samneet Mann Taylor Tran Editors Gabrielle Ho Taylor Tran Graphic Designers Samneet Mann Writers Gabrielle Ho Taylor Tran Cover Photo Samneet Mann

SUMMER 2022 EDITION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Message from the Team

4

Trade Show Recap: SIAL 2022 & Bakery Showcase

6

Featured Product: Bakery Styling Folding Carton

10

The Voice of Design

12

What You Need to Know About PLA Packaging

14

How Far Can One Colour Print Go?

18

Learn with Lenny: Packaging Dictionary

20

Packaging Q&A

22

3

MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM

The weather is getting warmer, and

best efforts, orders are sometimes

summer is here! As always, we want to

delayed due to factors outside our

thank you for reading our seasonal

control. If you’re concerned about

zine. The last few months have been

the status of your order, please let

extra busy for LeKAC, and this edition

us know and one of our Business

is full of updates.

Development Consultants can provide an update.

If you’re new here, let us introduce ourselves. We’re a Canadian-based

As a final reminder, we are still open

custom company, providing custom

by appointment only! For our Ontario

packaging and sourcing services across

office, while mask mandates have

North America! We’ve also added

been lifted, our staff will continue to

services like graphic design, branding,

wear masks for our safety and yours.

and social media management!

Not comfortable meeting in person?

We’d like to take this time to thank our

No worries! Our Consultants are

clients for their patience and their ongoing

available via phone and video to

support. Especially with the rollout of

assist you as well.

our new branding service (and thus, new branding clients!) we’ve been hard

Sincerely,

at work making some beautiful custom

Everyone from

packaging and designs. Despite our

LeKAC Sourcing Ltd.

4

Check out our Marketing Services if you’re interested in branding, graphic design and social media management help!

Learn with Lenny!

Check out pages 20–21 to f ind Lenny teaching you about packaging terms you’ll f ind useful the next time you order custom packaging!

5

View our catalogues by industry on our website!

6

TRADE SHOW RECAP

SIAL 2022 & BAKERY SHOWCASE

Since our last zine, we’ve been busy

With each show we go to we learn more

attending trade shows! We attended

and streamline our processes. By the

the Bakery Showcase in April as well as

time we arrived at SIAL Canada, we

SIAL Canada in May. Though these were

were working like a well-oiled machine.

not our first trade shows of the year,

If you missed us at any of the shows

they were the busiest!

we’ve attended this year, don’t worry!

Keep your eyes on our socials or future

Our sincere thanks to everyone who

zine editions to see which shows we’ll

came by our booths to say hi. If we

be at next. If you can’t wait until then,

didn’t get a chance to speak with you,

contact us today and we’ll help you get

our apologies! Our small but mighty

started on your packaging journey. See

team was hard at work to make sure

you soon!

everyone was attended to.

7

Our team had an amazing time getting to know so many businesses and business owners at the trade shows!

We can’t wait to to see you all again at the next trade shows.

8

OUR ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS We are proud to show case a large variety of

Not sure what you’re looking for? No worries!

eco-friendly and fully customized packaging

Our packaging line is extensive and we

from our clients over the last few years!

have so much more to offer for the food

We featured a large variety of eco-conscious products at both tradeshows, including

packaging industry! The full catalogue is available to view on our website!

packaging for bakery, agriculture and

Want to see the products in person and

takeout industries! Some of these

didn’t catch us at SIAL in Montreal or the

products include:

Bakery Showcase in Toronto? You can come visit us in office (by appointment)

•

Reusable Bags

•

Gable Folding Cartons

locations! Visit our website www.lekac.

•

Bakery Boxes

com/contact-us to get in touch with one

•

Paper Bowls

•

Corrugated Pizza Boxes

•

Paper Bags

at either our Montreal or Toronto

of our consultants!

You can also give us a call at 1-866-996-6818, email us at info@lekac.com, or contact us on Instagram or Facebook! We can’t wait to hear from you.

9

10

FEATURED PRODUCT

BAKERY STYLE FOLDING CARTON

Our paper carton boxes come in a variety of structures, printing and lamination options! Get in touch with our team to learn more about what we can supply.

11

• High Quality • Eco-Friendly • Affordable

THE VOICE OF DESIGN

HOW PACKAGING CAN SPEAK FOR YOUR BRAND

The way you harness the voice of design can affect the way that customers perceive your brand through your packaging. In previous blog posts, we’ve talked about how to choose the right font and setting brand guidelines to make sure your brand is perceived the way you want it to be.

CASE STUDY: HATTENDO Japanese confectionery Hattendo places a heavy importance on their packaging. We’ve worked with them multiple times to create unique packaging designs that speak to their Japanese heritage. When designing their seasonal packaging for their Toronto stores with our graphic designer, we incorporated Japanese illustration techniques and culturally inspired characters and buildings!

Through the seasons, we create new packaging for Hattendo that conveys their Japanese (and now Canadian!) roots.

12

IMAGE SOURCE: THEDIELINE.COM

CASE STUDY: MAGNOLIA BAKERY

The new packaging is indulgent, whimsical,

If you’re a lover of sweets and you’ve

made for the modern era, but still references

been to New York, you’ve likely heard of

the brand’s Upper East Side roots.

Magnolia Bakery. The iconic bakery recently

Interested in more examples?

underwent a rebrand with the help of design

Click HERE to check out the full blog post on our website!

firm JKR! They transformed the original designs, but maintained key elements to pay homage to the iconic flagship store. The

HOW CAN I USE THE VOICE OF DESIGN?

new logo is modern and minimal, inspired

We know that harnessing the voice of design

by the signature Magnolia Bakery cupcake

can be difficult, but despite this, LeKAC is

icing swirl. Though the logo’s font has been

here to help! We offer branding and design

simplified, the whimsical swooping letters

services that can help bring your packaging

keep the business’ original character.

vision to life! Our knowledgeable Business

According to JB Hartford, Group Creative

Development Consultants and talented

Director at JKR, the new designs “[deliver]

Graphic Designers can make suggestions on

on the brand’s deliciously indulgent in-

what would work best for your business.

bakery experience with a joyful and

Whether you already have a design or you’re

eclectic kit of parts inspired by our design

starting from scratch, we’re with you every step

strategy—a bite of whimsical delight”.

of the way. Contact us today to get started!

13

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PLA PACKAGING POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA) HAS BECOME AN INTERESTING ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE. BUT WHAT IS PLA? HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM NORMAL PLASTIC?

14

HOW DO YOU MAKE IT?

uses. Additionally, it’s biodegradable! This biodegradable component makes it a truly

PLA is a thermoplastic made of renewable,

circular material, and helps contribute to a

plant-based sources. The sugars in the

more circular economy.

plant materials ferment and are introduced to a chemical reaction to create

A PLA bottle left in the ocean would

larger molecules.

typically degrade in six to 24 months.

Compared to conventional plastics (which

The resulting filaments are soft when hot,

in the same environment can take several

and hard when they cool. Unlike traditional

hundred to a thousand years to degrade)

plastics, when heated to its melting point,

this is truly phenomenal.

this material becomes a liquid instead of burning! You can form the material in a

In addition to this, it’s also usable as a

number of ways, from casting, injection

filament for 3D printing! Using it in 3D

molding, and spinning it into a filament.

printed packaging can not only help reduce the amount of plastic used for packaging,

PLA VS NORMAL PLASTIC

but can also help you add customization

Most normal plastics use a petroleum oil

and personalization.

base rather than the natural sources PLA

SOURCE: CREATIVEMECHANISMS.COM

15

USES OF PLA

DISPOSAL

Now you know what this alternative

As we mentioned, this material is

packaging material is–how can you use

biodegradable and compostable.

it? Its common packaging uses include

Though these disposal options are

cups, cutlery, lids, and straws! You can

possible for PLA, your local waste

also use PLA to insulate packaging for

facility might not accept it. We’ve talked

cold food transit.

about how to dispose of various common household and food

Since the material is biodegradable and

packaging items, but since PLA is fairly

plant-based, it’s a food-safe option!

new, not every waste facility may be

While it’s ideal for cold items, it’s not a

able to properly dispose of it.

great choice for hot foods or drinks. It’s permeable and more prone to oxidization, so long-term food storage is not ideal.

16

WHY SHOULD YOUR BUSINESS CONSIDER PLA? Overall, this is a great option for those looking to make the switch from traditional plastic. Especially with Canada banning single use plastics hopefully by the end of 2022, it’s a great eco-friendly option.

LeKAC is currently working to expand our range of products to include PLA! Not sure if it’s right for your business? Contact us today to connect with one of our knowledgeable packaging consultants who can help you learn more!

17

1 COLOUR LOGO PRINT

PRINT COVERAGE GUIDELINES:

HOW FAR CAN ONE COLOUR PRINT GO? When creating custom packaging, you

for our paper products, and a choice of

might have someone ask how much print

coloured fabric for our reusable bags.

coverage you need. At LeKAC, we’ll often refer to different printing levels by the number of colours the design uses, which can get confusing when you combine it with print coverage.

ONE COLOUR PRINT When we talk about this print level, we’re referring to a design that only uses one colour. All of our packaging includes one colour print on a base in the pricing. Our base colours include brown or white Kraft

Only using one colour doesn’t mean that you can only have one coloured element on your packaging! One colour print is versatile and can create eye-catching, minimalistic designs.

TWO COLOUR PRINT As the name implies, two colour print is a step up from one colour. These designs can also be minimalistic and eye-catching, while providing a little more depth.

18

talking about how much of the packaging the design will cover!

There are two main types of print coverage: partial and full. Generally, any design that covers 50% or more of a package’s total surface area (inside and out!!), is considered full coverage.

So what if you want a design to cover a large area on your packaging, but want to find the most cost-efficient option? Try a PARTIAL COVERAGE 1 COLOUR PRINT

one colour print! Getting creative with how

Overall, we consider any design that needs

far you can stretch the colour can be a

an extra colour a two colour print, which

great way to stay on-budget while still

comes at an additional cost.

getting an eye-catching design.

MULTI-COLOUR PRINT

FULL COLOUR AND FULL COVERAGE PRINT

Next, we call any design that needs three or more colours multi-colour print. You may also sometimes hear us call this full-colour!

This level of print comes at the highest additional cost, but affords you more freedom in designing your packaging.

DIFFERENT PRINT COVERAGE LEVELS We’ve established the different colour levels you can have in your packaging designs, but now it’s time to talk coverage.

TO READ THE FULL BLOG POST VISIT

When referring to print coverage, we’re

OUR WEBSITE WWW.LEKAC.COM 19

LEARN WITH LENNY!

PACKAGING DICTIONARY Here are a few terms we’ve used these last few months when working with you to create your custom packaging!

SAMPLE STAGE

BRANDING

The stage in which a prototype is provided

A vast concept that customers use to

by the supplier to allow customer approval

recognize a company. Allows your business

before mass production. Changes can still

to differentiate itself from competitors,

be made to the final design at this stage.

and can include your logo, colour theme, social media presence and/or storefront.

BLIND EMBOSSING

QUOTE

A raised impression of your logo/ design on the surface of the packaging

A packaging quote from LeKAC will initially

material with no ink printed, it creates

be provided by our BD Consultant and

a visual and tactile effect.

will provide the following information: the quantity, unit price and total price, the business name and item descriptions.

20

TEAR STRIP A pre-perforated part of the packaging that allows the end customer to easily open the product, commonly seen on corrugated shipping boxes or poly-mailer bags.

SLEEVE A paperboard sleeve that can be customised in size and design. Made to be slid over the top of another form of packaging usually for informative or decorative reasons. Sleeves are also a great and affordable way to add a custom packaging piece to if you don’t have the budget for boxes!

21

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: When should I order my packaging?

A: Ideally, ASAP!!! Shipments normally take approx 4 months, but we recommened ordering it as far in advance as possible with current shipping delays.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE: WWW.LEKAC.COM

22

Q: I don’t see what I’m looking for...

Can you still help me?

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: Can I get a sample without placing an order?

A: Yes, you can! However, there is a shipping fee of $250 CAD for requesting samples without orders. Get in touch with one of our consultants to learn more!

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

A: Simply book a consultation with one of our Business Development Consultants (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!

23

www.lekac.com 1 (866) 996-6818 TORONTO

MONTREAL

207-590 Alden Road Markham, ON L3R 8N2

7645 Rue Cordner LaSalle, QC H8N 2X2

@lekacsourcing