Shelf ready packaging that helps your product sell
Packaging that stands out on the shelf and is filled in one action. Designed and produced in-house, from concept to print.
Design and printing technique
Retail packaging does not have to be full color to stand out. Corrugated cardboard in its original brown color also attracts attention, for example with surprising print or an unusual shape. Akarton has flexo printing, offset printing and digital printing in-house. For each situation, we advise which technique gives the best result at the lowest cost per box.
Read more about our packaging concepts on the Pack & Play page.
Sustainability
Our packaging consists of at least 83 percent recycled material, and we want to increase that percentage further. Corrugated cardboard is a mono-material, so after use the packaging goes back into the paper chain in one stream. Thanks to 500 solar panels at our production site, we use renewable energy, and by applying circular principles we contribute to a sustainable future. Akarton also has the FSC and ISO 26000 sustainability certifications.
Knowledge of your market
When we design shelf ready packaging, we often work together with the client’s marketing department or with an external design or marketing agency. Our designers know what commercial packaging needs to stand out on the shelf, and they know the requirements retailers set for dimensions, stackability and visibility of brand and barcode. For new product launches, that knowledge saves a design round.
Less transport damage
The tray absorbs the load during transport and in the distribution center, instead of the individual products. This means fewer damaged items on arrival and less written-off stock, which becomes especially measurable at a high turnover rate.
The shelf runs empty less quickly
With shelf ready packaging, filling takes less time. With a regular outer box, an employee must open it with a knife, take the products out one by one, place them on the shelf separately and throw away the cardboard. That is a lot of handling, so new products will be on the shelf less quickly and less often than with shelf ready packaging. A product that is on the shelf sells.
Lower storage and transport costs
Packaging that is designed for both the shelf size and the pallet leaves less air. That saves pallets per shipment and space in the distribution center. That is why at Akarton we do not only look at the box, but at the whole supply chain: under Pack & Collab, we combine packaging with storage, distribution and process optimization, so the gain does not stay in the design.
Corrugated cardboard packaging
Shelf ready packaging asks for two things that seem to conflict at first:
- The packaging must be strong enough for the stacking pressure on a full pallet
- Easy to open, so this can be done in one movement
Corrugated cardboard does this better than the alternatives, because the strength is in the construction and not in the thickness of the material. By varying the flute type, the quality and the shape, we choose how much strength each product needs. We also look at the line along which the perforation or tear tape must run.
Corrugated cardboard also makes it possible for the tray to do its commercial work on the shelf. The material can be printed directly with flexo, offset or digital printing. The printed surface that stays visible after opening does not have to be a separate layer or sticker. It is one material and one production step, so no mixed construction that must be separated later. Finally, it is predictable in the supply chain. We deliver the trays flat and they are only set up on the packaging line. That saves transport volume.
Good shelf ready packaging meets five practical requirements, which we include in every design.
- Recognizable on the shelf: clear print, so store staff immediately find the product among the rest of the stock.
- Easy to open: opens in one action, while the tray stays strong enough for transport and stacking pressure.
- Quick to stock: no knife, no taking products out of the box one by one, ready for the shelf immediately.
- Clear for the consumer: brand and barcode stay visible as soon as the tray is open.
- Easy to recycle: corrugated cardboard is a mono-material and goes back into the paper chain in one stream after use.
Why Akarton
Akarton has made custom corrugated cardboard packaging since 1988, from two production sites. In Venlo (the Netherlands), the focus is on niche work and custom work in small and medium-sized runs. In Schüttorf (Germany), a new line produces up to 800 boxes per minute, enough to handle large retail rollouts and peaks in demand without waiting time.
Our Packaging Engineers think along with you from the first concept through to production. Design, engineering and printing are fully in-house, so short lines of communication and one point of contact.
What is shelf ready packaging?
Shelf ready packaging is packaging that protects the product during transport and then goes onto the store shelf as a whole. The products do not have to be taken out one by one. That is why the packaging itself is also designed for what the consumer sees on the shelf.
Why is shelf ready packaging important for retail?
It speeds up shelf filling and at the same time increases the chance that a product is noticed and bought. This matters most for products without a large marketing budget or a recognizable house style.
Can Akarton also make shelf ready packaging for webshops?
Yes. Online, the packaging works differently than on the shelf: the print appears in the product photo and at the moment of unpacking. And instead of speeding up shelf filling in the store, the tray speeds up order picking in the warehouse. For brands that sell through retail and their own webshop, we often design one package that works in both channels.
Is shelf ready packaging from Akarton also sustainable?
Yes. Our packaging consists of at least 83 percent recycled material and we have the FSC and ISO 26000 certifications.
Ready for packaging that sells?
Tell us about your product and the retailer you are designing for. Our Packaging Engineers think along with you from the first concept about shape, print and shelf-ready transport, and take into account the shelf dimensions and pallet requirements that apply to your market. Fill in the form and we will contact you to discuss the options.
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