A LESSON IN PACKAGING PROCUREMENT

Why Choosing the Right Partner is Important

The process of procurement encompasses everything that happens before, during, and after the purchase of goods and services. It involves extensive research, planning and negotiation, and often results in a long-term partnership to ensure your business needs are met as you grow.

A question we are asked a lot is: why use a procurement company when I can go direct?

With a world of packaging options at your fingertips, it’s hard to know where to turn for reliable service and quality product.

Here are a few reasons why it’s important to work with a company who has strategic procurement expertise:

• The packaging industry is constantly evolving. Most recently, tariffs on products from China and domestic material shortages have impaired packaging supply chains nation-wide. Hitching your wagon to the wrong factory can end up costing you greatly – both in time and money. A strategic packaging vendor knows how to navigate these industry changes, offering the best solutions for your budget and timeline.

• What you see is not always what you get. It’s not always clear if a factory is who they say they are. This is even more of a risk overseas, with many manufacturers over-promising their capabilities and outsourcing to other factories. This can result in compromised quality, miscommunication, and ultimately a very large headache factor.

• Small mistakes can be costly. All packaging projects have their own unique hurdles at the beginning. Understanding the nuances of different packaging materials, machinery capabilities, tooling costs, and color matching across substrates are just a few of the services a procurement company can provide on your behalf. You can pretty much assume that problems and questions will arise throughout your manufacturing process, and a good partner will act on your behalf to mitigate and course correct along the way.

• Your company reputation may be at stake. Trust is a big factor for production, no matter where you choose to go (domestic or overseas). A good sourcing partner will vet factories for labor and environmental compliance in order to ensure your quality standards are met.

Simply put, our job as a procurement partner is to minimize the risks and headache factor so you can focus on what matters most: building your business. 

Contact CRP today to start a dialog about your packaging needs. We’d love to discuss details and get you started on the right foot!