What should I consider when I package/bag my bulk goods?

When you have a product that needs to be shipped and sold in bulk, you may have a lot of things you need to ask yourself about how to go about getting it to your customers. In this article we will help get you prepared to reach your customers and answer any questions you may have and maybe even answer some you hadn’t considered. We have been packaging products for over 40 years and have helped many businesses grow and expand, and we wanted to share that expertise with even you. Here are the things we think are most important to consider when packaging your product.

What type and consistency of product are you packaging?

How granular is your product? Is it coarse like sand, or is it a fine powder? Maybe it’s a liquid. If so, does it flow like water, or is it thicker like a syrup? The consistency of your product can change the way it is packaged and the ease of packaging.

fine powders can be difficult to package. A good option may be valve bags they can be used to keep your product in without letting it escape.

A liquid will be completely different as you won’t have to worry about particulates, but instead with controlling the flow of your product. If your product is supposed to be used all at once, you may want a plastic lined barrel, whereas if it needs to be controlled you may want to use a container that has a manual valve or a resealable lid.

Knowing your product and how it behaves is the first step in choosing how to contain your product until you get it to your customer.

How much of your product is your customer going to want at once?

Now that you know how your product will behave, you will have to choose how much of your product you will package at once. Knowing your customers needs can greatly affect your packaging choices. Is your product one that the average person will keep in their home, or will you be selling to an industry where they can store larger quantities of your goods?

If your product is a household item like cat litter, or potting soil, you will want to use a container that can be easily moved and picked up by the average person, but will also be enough to fulfill their needs. In these cases you will want to consider the weight that the average person can or will be willing to lift. A 20 lb. bag is accessible for a much larger audience of people, but won’t carry as much. A 50 lb. bag on the other hand will almost certainly have enough of your product for their needs, but many people will find it too heavy to move around or to use. In some cases, you might want to have two versions of your product, one in a bulkier size, and one in a more accessible size.

If you are shipping your product to a larger industry or building site, your considerations of size will be different. Is your product one that you would expect a single individual to use or carry? Would it be used with a piece of machinery? Is it something that would be used a lot but in small batches. If your product was a cement powder you may want a bag that is light enough to be carried but large enough that it could mix a reasonable batch of cement. If it’s a liquid or crystal used to prevent freezing, you may instead want a compact container where you can easily remove a portion of your product at a time. In that case, you may want something with a valve for a liquid or a resealable bag or container for a crystal.

Picking the right size for your product is essential to make it accessible for your client and could lead to your product being chosen over a bulkier or less accessible competitor.

Does your product require specific packaging or storage needs?

Now that you know how your product behaves and your customer’s needs, you will need to consider the best way to keep your product in the best condition until it reaches your client’s destination. Some things to consider are whether your product needs to be kept in a certain temperature, does it react with common particulates, or even does it need to be handled in a specific way.

Some products freeze when exposed to lower temperatures and depending on the product that can be well over 0 degrees Celsius. In cases like these you will need to make sure that your product is kept in a heated space or warehouse. If you want to keep your product cold or frozen, then a refrigerated space would be required for your product.

Conclusion

Now that you have taken a look at your product and your client’s needs you should be well equipped with the knowledge to get your product packaged and out to your customers. Here at BarChem Packaging we do a lot of packaging of different products for our customers and have assisted many small businesses with getting their products out to their clients, We are based in Wheatland County Alberta, near Calgary. If you would like help getting your product packaged you can reach us at our contact page.