Packaging is far more than just the materials encasing your products. It’s a major factor in determining how your products are perceived and purchased by customers. So, figuring out the right option for your business is pretty important. Folding cartons stand out as a popular choice. If you choose folding cartons for your packaging, you’ll need to decide whether you want a stock or fully custom solution. Each choice comes with its own set of characteristics, so you’ll need to understand both to determine which best aligns with your products and your business goals.
What Are Folding Cartons?
Folding cartons are boxes made from folded paperboard to package products. Available in various styles, they’re a common option for food, medical, health and beauty, and other similar consumer products. This kind of packaging is lightweight, versatile, and highly cost-effective. The paperboard material, which is inexpensive and recyclable, ships folded and glued. Final assembly usually takes place at the product manufacturer’s facility.
What is Stock Packaging?
Stock folding cartons are a standardized, mass-produced option. They’re more generic boxes that come in a wide range of standard graphics and sizes. Customization options exist but there are usually fewer design elements and embellishments available than a custom folding carton offers.
Benefits of Stock Packaging
- Lower costs
- Faster lead times
- Lower minimum quantities
Stock packaging is a low-cost, low-risk option best suited for small businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations or individuals with limited budgets, especially in the confectionery industry. It’s also the preferred choice for customers looking to fulfill low-volume orders, which is typically any order under five thousand units. Generally, stock folding cartons can get onto shelves or into customers’ hands faster than custom options since production doesn’t include custom design elements.
What Is Custom Packaging?
Custom folding cartons are paperboard boxes fully customized according to a customer’s exact design requirements. This includes full control over folding carton size, color, branding, and other design elements.
Benefits of Custom Folding Cartons
- More control over visual brand
- Unlimited sizing options
- More collaboration with printer
Companies with specific packaging needs, including unique brand standards or sizing, should consider custom packaging for their products. Custom packaging, especially when closely aligned with a business’s visual identity, can impact customers’ purchasing decisions. Having custom packaging also affords a gift-like experience since there is excitement tied to opening and using uniquely packaged products.
Find Your Packaging Partner with MOD-PAC
At MOD-PAC, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with exactly the experience they expect from a packaging partner. That means our team comes ready with the knowledge and capabilities needed to meet design, quality, and lead time requirements. We have stock and custom folding carton options available for a wide range of industries, including bakery, confectionery, food service, and much more. Talk to our experts today to get started.