The Festival day

Every year around the first or second week of January, something amazing happens for me and thousands of other people in the US: the annual Bonnaroo music festival lineup drops. And for all of us, it’s essentially our Christmas morning full of gifts (disguised as artist and band names, of course).

Well, I can confidently say that this year’s lineup has absolutely blown me away and is one of the best in Bonnaroo’s 19-year history. My music tastes have shifted quite a bit in the past year, and somehow the festival curators have answered my prayers for the artists I wanted most. It’s a dream come true for someone like me who listens to around 5 or 6 hours of music every single day.

So here I am, giddy as a kid on Christmas morning as I comb through the lineup and continue to find more and more gems. I’m already looking ahead to June, excited as can be about what’s in store for me this year during the 5-day festival. I’m already looking forward to all the shipping boxes that will end up at my front door as I order gear and other items that I know I’ll be taking to the festival in the summer. (Last year, we had a few “fake” sunscreen bottles arrive in shipping boxes around March. You can imagine what those were used for.)

I think that lineup day is one of those things that no one truly understands unless they’ve been to a festival before. For some, it’s make or break, meaning they may not even attend the festival if the music isn’t up to their standards. For others (like me), I already know I’m going. It’s just a matter of digging into new bands I’ve never heard of and finding gems that are buried in the undercard.

I’ve always viewed my experience at music festivals as dependent on the lineup. That is, until I came across Bonnaroo. The festival experience itself is otherworldly, and I will go this year onwards for the rest of my life regardless of who they book and bill. I know that concept is foreign to some who really go depending on what artists are playing. But there are a good majority of us out there that will go no matter when the festival is and who’s playing. To me, that shows exactly how powerful the festival is regarding culture, people, and experiences outside of the music. And you just don’t get that experience at every festival you attend. It’s special for just a few.

Trying Out Something New

Lately, I’ve been in the habit of trying to introduce friends and family to some of the stuff I like and what I’m interested in. I look at it as a way to open up to them about myself while also letting them know there are some seriously cool, useful, or efficient things out there in the world that they don’t currently use or know about.

One of the best ways to describe what I mean is what my wife and I just got for my mother’s birthday a few weeks ago. You see, we’ve been on a huge cooking kick, always trying to make our meals from scratch and from whole foods. Being vegan means we sometimes will throw in plant-based alternatives, but for the most part, we make everything we can from the produce we buy. So, it comes as no surprise that one of the first things we thought of to get my mom for her birthday was a one-month subscription to Hello Fresh. What better way to “force” something you enjoy doing onto your parent than sending them some shipping boxes packed with that thing?

Now, I’m not saying I love the idea of Hello Fresh since I find the costs to be way too much for me. We always end up saving money when we buy our own groceries and make meals, but Hello Fresh seems to be on par with spending money out at a restaurant, and at that point, why not just have someone else cook your food for you?

However, I do see the merit in trying it out to get someone interested in cooking their own meals more often (and preparing new/novel meals, on that note). So, we figured gifting 8 meals to my mom, meals she normally wouldn’t cook or have the time to go out and find, was the best gift we could get. It also meant she could bond with us more when it comes to diet and talking about what we cook, so it was the ultimate solution.

My mom (and dad) are both people pretty consumed with work, and they’re also resistant to “new” things. So having a little trial run that sends them their own groceries in shipping boxes, making it easy and quick to prepare is a fantastic way to get them to try new food. Even better, my mom has been on a health kick, so I’m sure she’s excited to have my dad try some of the foods he normally would turn away (especially considering how tasty some of those meals looked when we ordered them for her!).

The most Common Packaging Mistakes to Avoid

Packaging is great for businesses, and it can improve brands, boost the current ones to new levels, and also gets rid of waste. However there are some pitfalls to watch out for, and here are the most common mistakes brands are currently making with this. 

Materials Being Wasted 

If you’re purchasing mailers, boxes, or whatever, the bad decisions on the materials used will impact the mistakes that you make. Unlike normal packaging, this is definitely less likely to be refunded or returned. You also must consider the materials that you need and get rid of anything that’s in excess. While it may seem like a good practice to get more than you should, never go too crazy with this, or else you’ll be stuck with leftovers. You should also keep this in mind when choosing extras, including void filler, since you need to figure out whether or not anything needs to be taken out or not. 

Bad Box Sizes 

The right box size plays a major part in the way that you put together orders. Fi the boxes are too big, it will damage the products, and the extra order costs will be put in the void filler that you purchase. 

If it’s too small, it will not be able to be used period. 

If you’re buying custom boxes, you also should check to see if the retailer can replace and return. You should try to be mindful of the boxes, get the right size, and if they are not, you should figure out other uses, and make sure that all boxes fit the needs of the business. 

Spelling and Grammar Errors 

You need to make sure that there aren’t any typos or errors when you’re printing out information for order. S small typos, including your slogan and mission statement may not seem like a major deal, but it looks bad in the eyes of customers. 

Remember that once the packaging has been produced, it can’t be taken away, and it will cost money and time to fix the mistakes, even if you can replace it. 

If you’re not sure whether or not the sentences and words Fitr the business, you should use a spelling and grammar tool, and also have someone else proofread all packaging copy for any other errors at hand too. 

Bad Label Readability 

You may be able to red it, but if you’re printing it on a tiny label, that may not be the case. Try to go for a font that’s clear, and also utilizes sharp, contrasting types of colors so that you’ll be able to read it, and the reliability is consistent. 

Non Eco-Friendly Packaging 

This is something that a lot of people struggle with. They may get packaging materials that may seem good, but they’re not eco-friendly, so they end up in different landfills. While it may not seem like much, the opinion of the public will break down because of this. 

Utilize various materials that are biodegradable and try to use paper tape and boxes that are recyclable, and make sur that you keep everything as environmentally-friendly as they can be. Remember, this matters a lot to customers, and it’s something important. These are the most common mistakes in the world of packaging, and they’re also what a lot of retailers struggle with. Try to avoid these mistakes today, and make sure that before you put this out there you do keep in mind the needs of the business, and any excess packaging options that are out there, so you can get the results that you want today.

The Best Packaging for Bakery Products

When you’re selling bakery products, you might wonder what the best kind of packaging materials that you should use. 

The answer is that it varies, and here, we’ll go over what the best ones are. 

Remember with bakery items, you want something that protects the containing items from possible damage or contamination as they’re stored and exported., but at the same time, you also should look for stuff that won’t dry out the product, and also will help to keep it hot and fresh too. 

Brown Paper 

One of the most com on ones is well, brown paper, since it doesn’t really have many bells and whistles, but it’s super cheap, and offers a second layer when you’re taking the item home as a customer, or even taking it from one location to the storage area as well. 

Parchment Paper 

This is probably the best for a bit longer storage, since it does have an extended period, and is good for those that will impulse buy, but may not be able to eat it right away. It’s become almost commonplace everywhere these days for a good reason. 

Polypropylene 

This is pretty much a film that offers better stability for the package as it’s transported from one location to another, making sure that the contents as perfect as they get to each destination. 

It also is a great moisture barrier too, especially when packaged with something else. 

Sheeting that’s Plastic 

This is another great option since it let you see exactly what’s inside, and customers can see what they’re buying, so they’ll be spending less time opening to look at the inner parts too. 

Another thing that’s good and kind of similar is metal mylar bags, since it also is great for trapping the moisture from getting in there, and also keeps it nice and hot if it’s something that you’re going to be eating later on. 

Metal films 

Metal films are also really good because it’s cheap, traps the heat and moisture, and also will be useful because you can print on this too, which is perfect for those bakeries that are looking to offer branding on their items too. 

Custom paper 

And finally, if you’re looking to possibly add a bit of branding and want to keep grease off the products that you have, consider custom food paper. 

It’s also compostable, which you can’t necessarily say for everything, and it also is very easy to spread awareness to others. 

It’s very simple to get this too, and you can even buy this online if you don’t feel like going in anywhere, and it offers a super simple, effective way to take care of the baked goods that you have. 

Transporting  and storage 

The big thing that you do need to remember is that you need to transport and store the items easily, and make sure that you have the right items that are carefully selected, and make sure that you choose the right option that lets them stay fresh until they get to where they need to go. 

The best rule of thumb is to pick something that keeps your contents as fresh as possible, and also will insulate the items if you’re not sure if they’ll be eating this fright away. 

The beauty of bakeries is that there is so much that you can do to benefit this, and you can offer packaging solutions that are quality and affordable, and also very simple to use, so you’ll be able to get the benefits of this right away, no matter what it may be for your business. 

All about Glassine

 

Glassine is a new type of wholesale packaging that’s a big step in the fright direction for good, sustainable packaging. Glassine is basically an alternative to bags that you might need for your business and are paper based.  This is something that’s perfect for brands who need clear poly bags, and as more brands look to get rid of the plastic packaging, a lot are looking some of the more renewable, recyclable alternatives, and this is something that’s great for users to try. 

What is Glassine 

This is something you see in a lot of products already, such as the following: 

• Snack bags and bakery good s

• Tracing and archival paper 

• Protection for sheets of art and also bags 

• Apparel protection 

• Merchandise 

This is basically a paper that’s smooth and glossy that is resistant to water, air, and grease. It is important to note though that it is resistant to water, but it is not waterproof, so if you dump some water on it, then it’ll seep on through. But it’s good for general resistance to elements as well. 

Despite the looks too, it’s made from wood pulp. Basically, the wood is first created into a pulp, similar to how any other paper products are. They’re chipped, and then the wood chips that are from the trees get cooked to help reduce the chemical bonds of the lignin in it, so the pulpers are able to separate this directly from the cellulose as well. 

However, unlike other kinds of papers, the glassine paper that’s there does require lignin that’s complete for it to work, and it must be separated from such. The slurry of pulp gets bleached, treated, and then pushed through a wire cloth, draining out the water. Then, the fibers are mat and then intertwined to create paper sheets as well. 

When it tries, the material then gets calendared or a fancy word for pressed between some of the cylinders and its’ called calendars, and then, the paper that’s created is made. However, glassine is a bit different, creating another process aptly titled supercalendering, which is basically where the paper goes through the calendaring means, and then, it’s basically heated, then cooled and pressurized, and then, it makes the fibers move in the same kind of direction. 

It’s not just the “basic pressing” but it changes the paper on a more cellular level, so that the paper capillaries are broken down in a much better way, offering more density, and less porosity, and a finish that’s more glossy. 

Different from paper 

It basically will e more resistant to water. It’s not waterproof, but basically the substrate is able to fully expand, and then contract based on the way the humidity is in the surrounding area. Supercalendering is something that is used to make the paper less susceptible to the hygroscopicity. 

It’s also more durable and a lot stronger than normal paper that’s the same weight. This is due to how dense it is compared to paper, and it has a much larger tensile strength, and bursting capability. Plus, it also comes in different weights so you can get it based on your needs. 

Finally, it’s toothless, which is basically the way a paper feels. The larger the tooth is, the rougher the paper tends to be. Glassine doesn’t have a tooth, so it won’t be abrasive, so if you have art or something delicate, this can protect it from that, making it even easier for you as well to use. Glassine is definitely a new paper that’s changing the world of packaging easily.

How to Choose a Long box for Shipping

Long boxes are good for any sort of item in the packaging world that’s well, long. They’re sturdy, versatile, and practically indispensable for items that don’t’ fit the normal mold.  

These long boxes come in all sorts of sizes and shapes and cater to a ton of different needs. From elongated to slender, these boxes really do matter. 

Here, we’ll go over the best items for long boxes, and why they are the best. 

Art for long boxes 

Wall art, or mirrors are really good for long boxes.  While large art tubes are good, if they’ve got a frame, they’ll be stronger, and it’ll arrive in a more gallery-ready manner. 

Lighting fixtures and lamps are delicate, long, and awkward.  They can be a challenge to ship, especially lamps. But long boxes, however, are the ideal solutions.  They light up rooms and cool down the stress. 

Musical Instruments 

Violins, guitars, and even cellos fit well in long boxes. They’re great if you’re shipping out the equipment and need something with a little more protection. 

The same goes for wind instruments including trombones, flutes, and the like. It helps to protect them so that they’re in-tune and ready to go prior to the delivery. 

Sporting Equipment 

Sprots and long boxes actually do go hand in hand. While you can use these for baseball bats, they actually are great for longer items, such as golf clubs and fishing rods. They get full VIP treatment no matter where they are going. 

Garden Tools 

Garden tools and items are long.  They don’t ship well in regular old boxes. However, long boxes hold these items, and they can house the tools that are needed without breaking, bending and the like. 

Business needs 

Finally, they’re great for industrial business. For engineers, marketers, or even architects, these long boxes are great for holding art tubes that contain your blueprints and documents without damage or creasing.

Choosing the right box 

There are a few things that you have to do when choosing the correct long box for your needs. 

The first is the material. You want to make sure that corrugated fiberboard is something that you’re seeking out. Look for these corrugated shipping boxes that do offer the right balance between strength and weight. They need to be sturdy not only for protection but are also light enough not to add to extra shipping costs. 

The size as well is important.  Sometimes, various off-the-shelf types of items won't be. customized long boxes are what’s needed, especially for items that are high-ticket. 

They also need to be easy to use, especially for assembly and storage.  The time that you spend on this is money, so don't waste it. 

Finally, you also want to look at the environmental impact. Sustainability and eco-friendly materials are best for the planet, and they’re important to customers, so you can get stuff that’s recyclable or bio derived easily. 

As you can see, there are a few factors that come with long boxes. While it may not be used for everything, mostly just those awkward items that just don’t fit anywhere, it’s important to remember that this is a secret weapon for yourself. So where it’s a corridor of a tall box for a guitar, providing a snug embrace for a fishing rod, or just housing some robust art, long boxes are going to be your hero, and are perfect for the shipping arsenal that you want to have. 

They are versatile, easy for you to use, and tend to be perfect for those interested in really enhancing their experiences. 

How Restaurants can Package Food Safely

If you’re someone who is trying to create a better packaging experience for food, you’re not alone. The pandemic did push a lot of people to start opting for better ways to package the food that you have. 

If you’re someone who is curious about the better ways to package the food and offering a better means to prepare these foods in a way that’s safe to handle, warm, and also free from the contamination that’s’ there, you’re in luck. Here are the best tips to package these foods. 

Be mindful with hot Drinks. 

You want to make sure that you take extra caution when you sell hot drinks to your business.

To make sure that the drinks are delivered in a spill-free manner, while also warm, you want to make sure that you get the correct cups. Paper cups, along with foam cups, are the cheapest, but if they’re too hot, this can cause the customer to scale their hands.  They’re better for a colder drink.

Metal, plastic cups, and the like are better for you to prevent spills. But this can cost a bit more. 

Paper hot cups are a new option. This is supported with a rim that’s rolled, with the goal to stop the item from leaking. It’s studied so that it supports temperatures that are shorter, but they’re incredibly light too.

 Seal to Keep the flavor. 

If you’re going to be selling foods, you want to make sure that the flavor quality does not deteriorate, especially when left at room or warmer temperatures.  If you’re handling food that is prone to this spoiling, you want to make sure that you seal this. 

This is something that can be done in a few ways. For one, make sure that you have a delivery service that doesn’t mess around, and also is able to offer new and innovative delivery options. You want to try and make sure that it has the right prep, so that by the time it gets to the customer, it’s still really fresh.

You want to make sure though, that you seal all of the containers correctly. Yes, this includes takeout containers.  You can use Styrofoam, or plastic contains, but just make sure that the flavor gets preserved.

You can also use different packets to hold the condiments. This is great for gravies, ketchup, and other sauces. 

Try Foil Bags 

This is something that’s good for preventing moisture. Moisture is very common in the kitchen, and is almost expected, even on the least busy of days. but the problem is, if you let moisture get into pastries, or even tortillas for Mexican foods, you’re going to have a packaged food that’s limp and soggy, almost gross, by the time it gets to the customer’s hands.

You should try to use foil bags for packaging. This keeps the food nice and hot, while also preventing it from getting moist and gross. This is great because they offer a lot of protection not just for moisture, but light as well. This keeps everything super fresh, so you can enjoy them.

Take your restaurant packaging to the next level with these different ways. You’ll be surprised at the difference this makes, and the way things go after you decide to change your packaging. It can change your business. 

If you haven’t thought about properly preparing the foods that you consume, then start to do that today. Try to make sure that you have food that’s fresh, and also reflects the excitement you have for cooking and bringing these foods to others that need them.