In this video series from The Atlas Network, President & CEO Kerim Kfuri breaks down some quick tips to help brands select the right packaging for their product. Kfuri provides some insight into selecting the right bottle and securing your supply chain, along with an overview of current packaging trends.
Custom vs. Stock Packaging
In the first video of this series, Kfuri explains the pros and cons of using stock or custom bottles to assist beverage alcohol entrepreneurs in picking the right packaging for their brands.
Domestic vs. International Sourcing
In the follow-up, Kfuri breaks down the differences between using a domestic supply chain or an international supply chain to assist beverage alcohol entrepreneurs in sourcing the right packaging materials and choosing the right suppliers for their brands.
Current Trends in Packaging
Finally, Kfuri reveals the latest trends in beverage packaging, including a return to classic and elegant designs, quality over quantity, and premium material. Kfuri also explains why particular trends are taking hold.
Custom vs. Stock Packaging
Kerim Kfuri (0:14)
Hi, this is Kerim Kfuri, president of The Atlas Network, very proud and honored to be part of the Park Street University Series. This episode will be about custom versus stock production and the benefits of both of these opportunities. Many businesses may think that stock is the first way to start, and there are some benefits to this, but also some drawbacks. Some of the immediate benefits of going with a stock production are that there’s no customization needed. Generally speaking, you’re buying a model which is off the shelf, and you’re decorating it in any number of ways. This could be something that could be convenient for a beginning business—it allows you to purchase in smaller quantities and oftentimes can be a good way to get started.
Kerim Kfuri (0:55)
Although there are some benefits to stock, there are also some drawbacks and some negatives to be considered as well. First and foremost is if the stock runs out. This happened consistently during the supply chain dilemmas during COVID and pandemic times, and many small businesses truly felt difficulty when it came to producing or getting their product because certain stock models may not have been available. Another drawback of using stock is the fact that a small business ends up using a significant amount of their time and resources to manage the various stock producers, meaning that you get one bottle from one location, stock labels from somewhere else, boxes from somewhere else, and closures from somewhere else. This is a production operations management nightmare for many small businesses who don’t have the time and resources to go through that process.
Kerim Kfuri (1:52)
Another thing to consider as a negative component of going stock is that your bottle or your packaging looks like everyone else’s. So you’re basically dressing up a pig in many ways by slapping labels on already existing forms and shapes that many of your competitors may have, which does not allow you to differentiate yourself in the product marketplace. Finally, many small businesses believe that by going stock, it is the more affordable option, when in reality it actually can be more expensive than going with a custom production. Simply because by buying a stock product, you have to pay for the warehousing and overhead of a larger corporation who has it as part of a larger catalog. Because of this, you may end up paying more by going with a stock option rather than a custom option.
Kerim Kfuri (2:46)
In the food and beverage industry, custom packaging becomes very important because people eat and drink with their eyes. Producing a fully custom production will increase sales and allow you to have a better outcome on the shelf at stores. The benefits of custom packaging are many, but the number one reason for doing a custom package is to stand out—in the end, your package is truly your physical marketing presence when at the storefront. Also, custom packaging allows you to truly tell your story and have the look, shape, and feel of your packaging all aligned with your brand identity. One benefit that many businesses may not know is that to actually do a custom production could cost you less than a stock production. This is because once you have a mold in place and you are commanding the production line, especially in an overseas production capacity, you can get certain efficiencies of production costs that you may not be able to get with catalog stock bottles and packaging.
Kerim Kfuri (3:47)
On the negative side, doing a custom package takes some time, and it takes a little bit of resources as well by way of some molding fees. However, molding fees in different parts of the world may cost dramatically different levels of pricing and structure, so it’s important to shop where you may get the best price for doing your molding process. Also, as mentioned, to do a custom production takes some time compared to a stock production where you may be able to buy readily available glass that’s already sitting in a warehouse ready to go. In the stage of doing a custom production, there is a development timeframe that’s usually between two to three months to really go through sample molds, then mass production molds, and then finally settling on your final production capabilities and timeframes.
Kerim Kfuri (4:35)
When you are ready to get started, here at The Atlas Network, we work with customers every day to help them facilitate the best packaging for their needs, whether custom or stock. For more information on everything that we do here at The Atlas Network, please visit us at www.theatlasnetwork.com. Thank you.
Domestic vs. International Sourcing
Kerim Kfuri (0:14)
Hi, this is Kerim Kfuri here with The Atlas Network, very proud and honored to be part of the Park Street University. The topic today is domestic versus international sourcing. To source domestically is always going to be an advantage simply because of time and distance. If you have a local provider that can give you the type of quality that you’re looking for, to find a domestic supply chain is always going to be a great option. Another advantage to being domestic with your supply chain is being in the same time zone as your supplier, as well as not having any kind of language barriers which may interfere with your supply chain. Finally, another advantage of having a domestic supply chain is with regards to payment and currency: you’re paying in your local currency, you’re usually using local banks, and this facilitates the process and makes it quite easy to facilitate your production domestically.
Kerim Kfuri (1:13)
Unfortunately, to source in the domestic market has a whole host of disadvantages as well, which must be considered. One of the primary disadvantages of sourcing the local market could be technology—the technology just may not be in place in the local market to facilitate the production you are looking to produce. As well, another disadvantage of domestic sourcing could come by way of costs, in the fact that the source overseas may be more cost-efficient than what you may get in the domestic market. A final domestic disadvantage may come by way of labor force as well as potential work ethic, where you may get a different level or scale of workforce overseas and potentially a different type of work ethic due to cultural norms.
Kerim Kfuri (2:03)
The advantages to sourcing the international market are many. Some of the primary advantages to consider could come by way of costs, technology, and efficiency. More advantages would include currency differentials in the fact that your currency may go longer in the overseas market, as well as differences of work ethic due to cultural norms which may benefit you in your global supply chain.
Kerim Kfuri (2:28)
There are several disadvantages to working in the international supply chain space that also must be considered. One of the primary disadvantages could be cultural differences and language barriers. If you don’t have a facilitated agent overseas, this could make the process extremely difficult and cause complexities for your supply chain. Another disadvantage to consider is quality standards. It’s very important that when you’re working in the international market, you set the quality standards up front, have contractual obligations set, and have a third-party attestation group that can manage the quality on your behalf if you’re not able to be there on the ground.
Kerim Kfuri (3:04)
Finally, another disadvantage could come by way of political risks, as well as economic and currency-related risks, which could pose a major threat or disrupt your supply chain or cost you additional expenses that you may not have been anticipating. When working in international supply chain, you also must get your products here, which involves a complicated process that—if you don’t have certified logistics operators—could provide trouble for your production and receipt of your goods.
Kerim Kfuri (3:35)
In conclusion, domestic versus international supply chain and sourcing has a number of advantages and disadvantages to be considered. For more information on how The Atlas Network could help you with this process, please visit us at www.theatlasnetwork.com. Thank you.
Current Trends in Packaging
Kerim Kfuri (0:14)
Hi, this is Kerim Kfuri with The Atlas Network. We’re proud and honored to be part of the Park Street University. This series is called “Trends in Beverage Packaging.”
Kerim Kfuri (0:28)
Approximately 10-plus years ago, the craft booze really took off in America and other parts of the world, and it seemed that the trends in beverage packaging were “the crazier, the better.” The more outlandish the design, stylish decoration, and so forth were the way that people thought they could get the most attention for their brand.
Kerim Kfuri (0:52)
However, what we’ve been seeing most recently in the trends in beverage packaging has been a return to more of the classic styles and more of the elegant looks. This is because a significant amount of the market has moved more so towards premium packaging, and because of this, they’ve ditched the outlandish, crazy designs.
Kerim Kfuri (1:09)
This is not to say that designs have become any less unique; it’s just that the focus has been more on more traditional styles in design and decoration in the more common days. Now that the craft market has matured quite a bit, it has been more about quality rather than quantity and less volume plays, therefore screaming for more premium packaging, which is lined up with more traditional designs and decoration techniques.
Kerim Kfuri (1:33)
In order to maintain more of these premium looks, a lot of the materials and substrates have been carefully thought out to be aligned with each other—from the bottle to the closure, the shippers to the on-bottle decoration—so it all comes together as a uniform design rather than a hodgepodge of different kinds of elements and materials.
Kerim Kfuri (1:57)
For more information on how The Atlas Network can help you with your packaging and design, please get in touch with us at www.theatlasnetwork.com. Thank you very much.
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