Picture of Sara Greasley

Sara Greasley

Sara has been in the packaging industry for over 15 years, not only on the design and manufacturing side, but also as a packaging buyer. She has intimate knowledge of all facets and perspectives of the custom packaging industry.

Where to Buy Packaging for a Start-Up Company

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If you are a start-up company, where do you go to buy custom-designed and printed packaging? I want to address new companies just starting up who are having a hard time finding a packaging vendor that will give them the time of day.

It’s tough out there. If you don’t have the volume, a lot of senior-type packaging professionals or old style manufacturers (which I call dinosaurs) will not think that their time invested in your company will pay off.


Even though these packaging companies may not want to help you, they may know someone who will. So it doesn’t hurt to ask. They may still just brush you off, however, but don’t get discouraged. Keep looking.

Some places to start:

1) Packaging Industry Trade Shows

Packaging Industry trade shows are great places to find packaging companies of all sizes, and often they are regionally based. If you live in North Carolina and a packaging show is held there, you’ll get a lot of companies from North Carolina and surrounding states. Additionally, these trade shows have exhibitor information listings on their website where you can browse if you can’t attend in person.
 
Some packaging trade shows are:

WestPack Trade Show

Pack Expo Trade Shows

2) Packaging Industry Directories 

Packaging Industry directories are also great places to search for packaging vendors. Such directories can be made available through industry specific publication/magazines or associations.
 

Health and Beauty

Beauty Industry West (BIW) is a west coast-based trade organization

 
 

Nutritional Information and Ingredients with Some Packaging Info

Nutritional Ingredients and Packaging Regulation Info

 

Food

 

Industrial / General

3) Social Networking

Network online via LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Skillpages, social media sites, where you’ll see companies and packaging professionals posting their latest projects and ask them where to find [fill blank] in the U.S.

At some point you will find professionals that are not all in it for themselves and can point you in the right direction OR actually take you in and work with you to try to come up with a suitable packaging solution.

Also, you can Contact Me with questions and I may be able to help you.

This has been a part of my tutorial series called How to Buy Packaging 101. So click the link below to head back if you haven’t finished reading it yet. 🙂

How to Buy Packaging 101 Part 4 – Finding the Right Packaging Company

2 Responses

  1. Robin A Jones says:

    Sara, your information is specific and concise. Thank you.

    I want a private label for water with packaging.

    What are my next steps?

    Robin

    1. Sara Greasley says:

      Hi Robin, for a private label you need to find a co-packer. A co-packer is essentially a manufacturer, and may have their own brand, but will also offer their services of the same products to include your brand private label.
      I suggest going straight to the water company and inquiring about a private label program with them. If they won’t offer that, ask for a reference to a company that will. Companies know their competition and should be able to refer you. You’ll go over who will buy the label, what bottle you use, any special “formula” that makes your product different from theirs, etc. I suspect the volume minimum needs to be high, probably several truck loads.

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