Lessons Learned From 2014-2015 Trade Show Season Part 1: HANDCUT vs PROTOTYPE BOXES

​As we look back on the 2014-2015 trade show season, we want to thank all of our customers, both new and returning, for trusting us with your box prototype needs. With the 2015-2016 season right around the corner, we thought we'd share some of the insights we learned

It is always so surprising to us to see how many companies still use hand-cut boxes in their tradeshow exhibits. Why spend thousands of dollars on trade show fees, and thousands more on travel, hotel, and food expenses, yet stop short by not investing in and displaying professionally produced product packaging in your booth?​

The overwhelming majority of hand-cut prototype boxes look flimsy, ill-fitted, and completely unfinished, not to mention it makes your trade show effort look rushed and incomplete. This is NOT the image that you want to portray for your new 'hot' product(s) and your company.

The focus of your exhibit IS your product and packaging! Having your product ready for show is one thing, but also having your packaging on display finishes off the presentation and makes your company look prepared.

The Hidden Costs of Hand-Cut Boxes

1) Wide Format Ink: Typically costs up to $12/ft of coverage.

2) Employee costs: (what you pay your employees per hour, including wages, benefits, & payroll taxes). Hand cut boxes can take 1-3 hours per box to produce!

3) Opportunity cost: Prior to trade shows, there are so many other tasks that your team can be doing to get you ready for your big show.

4) What is your cost in lost sales?

The bottom line is: good quality prototype boxes SELL YOUR PRODUCT. They are often less expensive than producing hand-cut boxes in house, free up your team for other critical tasks that will produce a better return for your company, they look better, fit extremely well, and show off your packaging.

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2:

How to expand your product line with zero manufacturing costs.​​