With Halloween approaching quickly, in 34 days to be exact, we wanted to share a spooktastic Halloween DIY project with you! Some people like “tricks” and some people like “treats”—well we are here to tell you that “treats” are our favorite!

We put together a Halloween pedicure kit that is sure to be a favorite to share with friends, include in neighborhood “Boo Baskets” and goodies for Halloween sleepovers.

Here is what you need to create this boo-tiful “treat” for your toes:

• 1 bottle of orange nail polish
• 1 orange nail brush
• 1 set of orange nail clippers
• 1 set of orange toe separators
• Black crinkle paper
• String
• Halloween printable
• Box or bag to put in all in

Using our ornate purse box, we assembled one side of the box in preparation to place the items inside. We then attached a “Smell My Feet” tag (using the provided printable) to the handle with a piece of black and white twine.


Continue assembling the kit by placing some black crinkle paper on the bottom of the box. Next line up the pedicure items on top of the crinkle paper and secure the box closed on the open side.

Finish by attaching the tag to the handle of the box.


Now your kits are done and ready to share with some of your ghoulish friends!

At ClearBags, we believe in getting the most bang for your buck. It’s not only a wise course of action but necessary for a successful, thriving business. When it comes to packaging costs, saving a nickel here or a dime there can amount to dollars later, dollars you can apply to growing your business in other areas.

A little business savvy, mindful ordering practices, and some forward thinking may very well provide the jump-start you need to take your business to the next level. Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense and, most importantly, in a way that will save YOU some cents.

While some may say packaging costs a pretty penny, we have five tips for you that will save your money over time.

Tip # 1: Consider Flexible Packaging

Every product requires a package. We rely on packaging to provide necessary labeling and protect the products that we use. Unless you are personally delivering your product directly into the hands of your customers, your product needs packaging. You could use a box, a bag or perhaps even a glass jar to package your product. The question is which of these options will help save you money?

A product like bath salts, for example, could be packaged in a glass jar or in a clear stand-up pouch. The stand-up pouch option offers some clear advantages.

The lightweight material of the stand-up pouch material weighs less and, thus, costs less to ship. A stand-up pouch made from quality material offers a durable, puncture-resistant option that protects your product so that it may arrive safely into the hands of your customers.

The material of the stand-up pouch readily conforms to the shape of the bath salts so this product is easier to store. It takes up less space in your warehouse and on a retailer’s shelf allowing more products for your customers to buy.

A stand-up pouch offers great shelf appeal as well. Customers often choose a product based on how a package looks and feels. A clear stand-up pouch showcases your product, inviting customers to see the color and consistency of the bath salts before they buy it. There is plenty of available space on the package for your company branding to draw in customers. Flexible packaging packs your product with an emotional punch that is a win-win for you and your customers.

Tip #2: Take Advantage of Price Breaks with Bulk Ordering

While flexible packaging has clear benefits, buying in bulk is another way to save on your packaging costs. For example, maybe what you need is 800 plastic bags for your product, so you play it safe and order exactly 800 bags. That’s what you need after all. Consider ordering a little more to get a much-deserved price break. Let’s look at this example with one of our flap seal bags (B75). The breakdown for pricing is as follows:
Here, the customer is saving $18.00 and getting an additional 200 bags. A penny saved is a penny earned. If you put some planning in place and increase your ordering quantities in these slight amounts, you stand to save dollars over time and grow your business.

Tip #3: Try the One-Bag-Fits-All Approach 

Ordering stock bags in larger quantities guarantees price breaks. Another trick to saving money is to use one size of a stock bag to fit multiple products.

Say, for example, your business is cookies. You may have multiple types of cookies with similar sizes that require separate packaging. Ordering one bag size in a larger volume will reduce the number of SKUs and, consequently, give you price breaks. Ordering more bags does not guarantee price breaks when you have multiple SKUs. The key to getting those price breaks is to place an order with fewer SKUs.

Limiting your bag to one size will also reduce your printing costs (if you are printing) as well since each packaging size requires separate upfront, set-up and design costs. When your business really takes off and you can afford more elaborate designs, go for it. In the meantime, a focused approach with less packaging options is one solution for saving those nickels and dimes.

Tip #4: Start with Labels

A label can help distinguish your product branding and is a special part of packaging. You may already print you own sticker labeling from your home office or perhaps you haven’t even contemplated using them for your product. If you are experiencing an increase in volume of orders, outsourcing the printing and design of a label may be an opportunity for you to take your product to the next level with a more polished look.

Investing your resources in packaging may entice new customers you didn’t know existed. What kind of finishing will you choose? Matte, gloss or metallic? What about a fancy holographic image? Many websites offer design services at reasonable rates where you can obtain a professional look for a smidgen of the cost of a full-fledged creative service.

You can minimize your design costs by limiting the number of colors in the design. While this is important, you may also want to weigh the value of capturing the true essence of your brand and what it represents going forward.

A great way to trim your labeling costs is to start with a single-sided label. While food products require specific, nutritional labeling, a single-sided label can work for other products. Stationery and photography come to mind.

In time and with increased volume, you may consider double-sided labels and employ a service to apply the labels to your product(s).

Just think, not too long ago, you were doing all the work of designing, printing, and applying labels. Now your product looks more polished and you have more time to spend on other areas of your business. Outsourcing the printing of your labels may be just the ticket for jump-starting your business and enticing new customers.

Is it really September already? Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are right around the corner (and if you are a mega retailer, Black Friday and Cyber Monday too!). If you haven’t started preparing for the holiday season yet, you are cutting it close. Take some time this month to lock down the packaging you will need for the upcoming busy season.

Trail mix is a nutritious and quick energy boost. It was first recommended by outdoorsman Horace Kephart as early as 1910 in his camping guide. Since then, the combination of granola, dried fruits, nuts and sometimes chocolate make it a popular choice for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Lightweight and easy to store, trail mix is a healthy snack for anyone. So, whether you’re hiking the trail, at the office, or need a healthy snack for your hungry campers, trail mix is a delicious, convenient choice.

Check out these 3 quick and easy ways to package trail mix.

Perfect for Travel and Reuse

On the trail or taking a trip? This clear zipper pouch gusset bag works great for holding trail mix when you are on the go. The resealable pouch is simple to open and close for a quick nibble. Apply a hole punch and tie it together with brown twine. Add a custom label to finish off your presentation.

Save this pouch and reuse it for the next time you hit the trail. You may want to skip the label so you can reuse this packaging for other items.

To create this look:

• Zipper Pouch Bag- we used our ZBG2
• A piece of twine, ribbon or bow 
• Homemade gift tag (see Printables below)

Party Favor Ready

Fill this flat bottom gusset bag with your homemade or store-bought trail mix. Either way, your hungry campers won’t leave the party empty-handed. Try a Kraft paper twist tie for a special touch.

To create this look:

• Flat Bottom Gusset Bag- we used our FG4
• Twist tie, ribbon, or twine- we used a Kraft twist tie
• Homemade gift tag (see Printables below)

Single Serve Snacking

Snack on some trail mix before your workout, single serve style. This bag works well when you want a heat sealing closure and is perfect for the single serving snack size. Show off your package with an attractive label.

To create this look:

• Flat Heat Seal Bag- we used our SFB38
• Hand Sealer
• Double Stick tape
• Homemade gift tag (see Printables below)

Download the printable:

At ClearBags we understand commitment, high standards, and the need for flexibility with a growing brand. Today we would like to focus on a special relationship with one of our customers, Rifle Paper Co., which is co-owned by Nathan and Anna Bond. In the span of just six years, Rifle Paper Co. has enjoyed a trajectory of steady growth. In 2009, Anna and her husband launched Rifle Paper Co. from their apartment garage with a line of “couple scene” wedding invitations. Since then, her whimsical, nostalgic designs have become a lifestyle brand and have set a new bar for surface design.

Like any blank canvas, paper is merely a surface. Anna’s lush, romantic designs have blossomed onto many surfaces including journal notebooks, appointment planners, calendars, wallpaper, fabrics, iPhone cases, pencils, and more. The company’s product lines are featured in more than 4,000 stores, encompassing 50-60 new products a year, and includes big name partners like Anthropologie, Garance Doré, Hygge & West, and Puffin Books. Her creations are inspired by fashion, travel, nature, textiles, patterns, architecture, old film, and interior design. Whether her designs appeal to the aesthetic eye or serve a functional purpose, it’s likely Rifle Paper Co. makes a lasting impression.
We had our first impression of Rifle Paper Co. at the National Stationery Show in New York in 2010, where we both exhibited at. We like to think this meeting was written in the stars. Since then, our stars have aligned to form a creative relationship in which we have expanded alongside the growth of their product line, a testament to what we value as an important strength of our company philosophy. We want to work with you to find the most perfect packaging solution to fit your product, whatever it may be.

Like with many of our customers who are first starting out, Rifle Paper Co. used our stock products to try out their concepts. In 2011, Rifle Paper Co. placed their first order with ClearBags to include 7 flap seal bags, all of which they still use today. In one short year, they ordered 11 additional bags for their expanding product line. The first clear box was added to this list in 2012, offering a boost in the quality of presentation, and an important component to Rifle Paper Co.’s packaging strategy.

As Rifle Paper Co. launched new products at stationery trade shows, our paths continued to converge. With their products developing from stationery to calendars, planners and notebooks, their orders evolved from stock products to custom design. By 2014, four of their five custom bags were moved from custom to stock, due to the high quantities and order frequencies over time. Besides convenience, this affords faster turnaround time for their orders to help keep up with their product line growth.

Our latest custom collaboration with Rifle Paper Co. is their much anticipated 2017 Constellations Calendar. They were looking for the perfect bag to show off the gold-foiled illustrations that are found throughout the calendar.

We here at ClearBags, look forward to working with you to provide exquisite packaging that puts your creations on display for the world to see.

If you can dream it, we can package it!

 
Apples and the fall season go hand-in-hand. Caramel apples are a popular choice this time of year and are bound to make an appearance at your local farmers’ markets, orchards, and retail confectioners. Here are three packaging ideas that we feel are worthy of the caramel apple’s gooey goodness and are sure to make them fly off the shelves:

1. The Ornate Candy Apple Box
2. The Flat Bottom Gusset Bag
3. The Flat Bottom Gusset Bag with White Paper Insert

These options, whether box or bag, travel well and keep your caramel contained. A loaded caramel apple dipped in chocolate, toffee, nuts or sprinkles is no easy thing to hold together. These options ensure all your fancy morsels won’t be wasted.

With so many packaging options out there for caramel apples, we get that it’s hard to choose. The focus of this packaging is on the apple. That’s what should show through. That’s what should POP! It doesn’t matter if it’s fancy or a simple old-fashioned caramel apple. It’s the quality of your apple that is important. Wouldn’t you agree?

Let’s take a look at each option more closely to match the needs of your apple.

Elegant Minimalism with a Candy Apple Box

Less is more with a candy apple in a box (FS56). This sturdy, sleek box is built specifically for the caramel or candied apple. A hole-tip on the top of the box will keep your apple from tipping over. An apple double-dipped in chocolate or in an extra layer of nuts stays secure and free from any smudging against the walls of this roomy box. It is also easy to put together and scratch resistant. Add a custom label for the perfect finishing touch.

Cutesy Does It with Flat Bottom Gusset Bags

Gusset bags offer a cute and casual lunch-sack style for packaging your apple. The flat bottom gusset bag (FG9) works well for large, bulky items and is a great fit for a decadent caramel apple. A 4-inch gusset on the side seam minimizes cling and spilling of precious toppings. It’s a convenient way to package your apple for picnics, hayrides, or a walk among the changing fall colors. Tie a bow on this package to add your own favorite fall color.

Sophisticated Charm

The flat bottom gusset bag with a paper insert in the bottom (FGPB7) is a sophisticated packaging option without compromising anything in the charm department. The white paper insert adds stability and a refined touch. This bag is flexible with a 4-inch expandable gusset and tall enough to enclose the apple stick. Hold the bag in place by folding down the top of the bag and applying tape or an adhesive tie. Your apple will be fully protected in inclement weather and poised to brace any fall storm.

These three packaging ideas put a spotlight on your caramel apple. Celebrate fall with this scrumptious treat!

Love one of these options, but want something more? Try custom printing! Check out the customs page on clearbags.com to explore creating something perfectly tailored to your brand and product.