Triple white e-flute corrugated package

Just finished this project and wanted to highlight the use of triple white e-flute corrugated. The tray is unprinted 3X white corrugated, sandwich in such a way as to create three cavities. The outside box is triple white e-flute, mounted one side using Ecological Fibers' Matador smooth gray. The Matador is silk screen printed with metallic silver ink. All materials are recyclable, no plastics were used for manufacturing. 

The client was seeking a way to display his product and reduce his travel and trade show expenses (after all who is attending trade shows during this pandemic?). This is a clean way to present samples and showcase influencer packages.

 

Triple black B-flute corrugated - luxury packaging

The two images below show an updated corrugated product that might be of interest for those of you seeking elegant packaging, gift boxes or unique marketing materials. Its called triple black b-flute. The material is vat dyed (not printed); it's then converted into corrugated b-flute sheets. It's a rich deep black color with depth that is available only through the dying process. Flexo flood coating won't give you the same results. The raw material is about 4 to 6 times the price of plain kraft b-flute, however compared to other solutions (turned edge boxes; it rather affordable. It's called triple black because both outside liners and the inside medium are dyed black.

The material is available in small quantities for custom projects (ex: 600 sheets of 23x35 minimum) on a making item basis. Additionial custom sizes (widths and lengths) are also available.

Make sure you click to enlarge the images to show additional detail.The material is rather two-sided which means the top side feels and looks different than the 2nd side. I lightened the second image slightly to enable the reader to examine the product in more detail.

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Well Designed Retail Display

I ran across this really cool display at Lowe’s Hardware. We didn’t produce it, but I felt the design was graphically well done and you might enjoy it. Considering it’s a seasonal display and not permanent, the construction might be considered "adequate". So let’s look at it, break it down into its components, find the good ideas and discuss the weaknesses.

Lowe’s currently has 1,754 stores across the country. allen + roth is Lowe’s house brand. There is no way of knowing whether this outdoor furniture display was in all the stores or in select geographical stores. I can’t imagine this display was still in their Maine or Seattle stores 3 weeks ago when I took the photos; their outdoor season has come and gone long ago. I bring this up because this display was produced on a digital UV flatbed large format press, direct to white corrugated. Although the photos don’t show it, I examined the print and dot structure and determined the UV production method. If we guess, and this display was in half the Lowe’s stores; this was a very expensive way to produce displays. The general breakeven point for a display of this type is approx. 300-to-500 units.  Below this quantity, digital is more cost effective. Above this quantity, traditional large offset pinted litho sheets mounted to corrugated is much more cost effective.So I'm going to go on record and say, it most likely could have been produced more cost effectively. 

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Above is the same image, however I added notes. The display sides were constructed using three vertical panels that interlock. I don’t think the 3 lug design worked all that well; the sides are pulling apart a bit due to the weight of the fabric samples plus some store wear and tear. The center lug was placed right at the crease; 4 lugs would probably have worked better and moved the lug away from the crease. The base holds the bottom of the panels together; if some simple and very inexpensive white plastic panel fasteners were added it would have really help straighten the base; it's pulling away from the vertical panels slightly.  Since this display is shipped all over the country, it needed to be shipped compactly. Notice the folding score; this allows the display to be folded in half and packaged for more convenient and less costly distribution into the stores. The metal hanging hardware was attached with simple wingnuts during on-site assembly. This is very common.

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This display takes a fair amount of abuse with all the customer fabric touching and feeling. The hardware is installed on one side of the display only.

 

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You can see where the display is pulling apart on the right edge. Nice solution: plastic formed pockets simply insert into the four die cut slots on the display. 

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This second floor display presents a more comprehensive selection of allen+roth furniture choices and fabric and I think the color works better than on this smaller display.

 

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These nifty little plastic u-shaped rings attach easily with wingnut style fasteners. See below photo.

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If you want to create a display to sell your retail revenue, we have the capabilities to produce either a counter or floor standing display using the best processes of digital or traditional printing. Give me a call to discuss how we can help you increase profits.