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Time is very important, no matter whether you are producing a product or shipping it. This thing becomes very important when it comes to the custom packaging. You have to understand how production and shipping timelines work during a new product launch or during other seasonal promotions. These timelines are perfect for determining a brand’s fate and the timing of your packaging’s arrival. So, it is very challenging to meet market demand, maintain a prominent brand presence, and deliver a seamless customer experience while balancing packaging production time and order shipping.
What compromises the brand credibility, pushes back launch dates, and damages the well-planned marketing campaigns? It is delays. Delays in packaging production and shipping. For brands, it is necessary to stay a step ahead to handle situations like this. There are key steps to staying agile and managing expectations effectively. You need to understand what production and shipping times really mean and why they are important to meet all marketing requirements. Read this article and make a perfect plan for smooth and on-time delivery.
What Is Production Time? And What Are The Factors That Influence It?
The time period between your order being confirmed and the completion of your product packaging is called production time. During this timeline, raw paper materials are turned into custom product boxes, pouches, bags, and other packaging solutions.
Several factors influence production time. To complete your order and deliver your product to them before your customers, you need to read this article.
Material Availability
Product packaging is manufactured with special materials. Textured papers, sustainable & eco-friendly stocks, and premium finishes. The availability of these materials directly impacts the production timeline. Materials that are not available easily definitely extend the production timeline.
Design Complexity
It is understood that simple packaging designs require little time, while complex designs require some extra time. Multilayer structures, innovatively die-cut, and advanced color matching need time to come into shape. Also, they need additional quality checks, so it is obvious you are gonna spend some time on the assembly line.
Customization Options
Foil stamping, embossing, UV coating, window cutouts, and inserts are add-ons that enhance the functionality and practicality of custom jewelry boxes. As their names suggest, add-ons require additional stages of printing, cutting, and manufacturing. So, yes, it is time-consuming. Also, it involves extra labour skills and specialised equipment.
Manufacturer’s Workload or Seasonality
What do busy seasons do? They keep the product packaging manufacturer, which directly delays the orders. So, extra workload and higher ordering volumes of custom packaging are obvious reasons orders and shipping are delayed.
What Is Shipping Time? And What Are The Factors That Influence It?
The time between your order leaving the production facility to arriving at your doorstep is called shipping time. As a product manufacturer, you are well aware that production time determines when your order is ready, and shipping time determines how soon you will receive it. Many factors directly influence the shipping time. If you really wanna know, then you have to stick tight as this article will explain all these essential components with you.
Domestic vs. International Shipping Timelines
The major difference is between domestic and international shipping. Domestic shipping generally arrives faster than international shipping. In other words, the distance between it determines how fast your product will reach you.
Shipping Methods
Shipping and carrier companies use different transport mediums to bring your product to your doorstep. Let’s point out some of the general means of transportation.
Air Freight
It is one of the fastest options for international shipment. Some companies use air freight for domestic shipping, too. It is one of the fastest and most expensive ways to ship your custom jewelry packaging.
Sea Freight
If you want to ship in bulk, then this means of transportation is for you. If you want to save some money, then go for sea freight. But it may take several weeks for your product to reach you.
Express Courier Services
For door-to-door order delivery, express courier services are the best options. It is best for small order shipments at a high cost.
So, choose the right transportation medium carefully, with a perfect balance of speed, cost, and size.
Key Factors Affecting Overall Delivery Time
Now, it’s time to learn about the overall factors that affect delivery time. Due to these influencers, the production plus shipping time changed dramatically.
Order Quantity
Small batches of custom jewelry boxes with a logo manufacturer are faster than bulk orders. Large or bulk orders manufacturing involves longer printing cycles, additional quality inspections, and extensive material handling. So, they need more time to get into shape.
Custom Packaging Finishes or Printing
If you want some luxury in your packaging, then you have to go for premium finishes and more complex printing. So, monkeys need some bananas, which means it takes more time to roll your order.
Quality Checks and Approvals
Reputable brands run additional quality checks and approvals before entering mass production. So, if they find any glitch or delay in approvals, then your order will be delay.
Logistics and Customs Clearance (for International Orders)
There are some domestic and international shipping & customs rules during transit. Every shipment must go through these parameters. It may take some extra time, which is another reason to delay your orders.
How to Plan Your Order Timeline?
If you are a packaging manufacturer or buyer and want to make timely deliveries, you need to plan. You can’t just prepare your order of custom jewelry boxes wholesale, pack it, and send it away with any plan or something.
Confirm Production + Shipping Before Ordering.
So, keep a perfect track record of when your order is being processed so that you can pre-plan your shipping freight, timeline, and cost. That will save a lot of your time.
Build a Timeline with Buffer Days
Be a wise manufacturer and add some buffer days to your order timeline. Delays can happen due to customs, transportation, weather, and supply shortages. So, don’t be nuts and add some days for last last-minute issue.
Communicate Your Launch or Event Date
As a buyer, tell your manufacturer your deadline at the time of order placement, and the same applies to the manufacturer. This way, you will receive your order as soon as possible.
Request Real-Time Tracking Updates
Transparency is also essential for brands and customers. Tracking keeps them updates and allows them to monitor their order in the air, sea, and on the road.
Some Top Ideas & Tips to Reduce Delays
You can’t just deal with order delays. But, but don’t lose heart. Here, we are going to point out some of the greatest ideas of all time to at least minimize the risk.
- Approve Designs and Samples Quickly
- Choose Reliable Shipping Partners
- Work with Experienced Manufacturers with In-House Production
- Order During Non-Peak Seasons
By adopting these ideas, you can easily get and ship your order without any worry.
Conclusion
To keep your project and business on track, the timely arrival of custom jewelry boxes is essential. To get the order time, you have to understand the production and shipping timelines. Although it is very hard to eliminate all delays, with the help of our article, you can at atleast get a plan to avoid them. You need to maintain a balance between speed vs cost. Avoid rush orders by keeping production low and placing small orders to save the most on shipping. Also, you can go with a prominent and responsible packaging supplier, such as Instant Custom Boxes, that takes all the necessary steps to deliver your custom boxes order quickly.
Contact Instant Custom Boxes to get your custom packaging boxes on time.
