Why we offer it
When we visit a customer's packing area, we learn about how you pack now, what works, what doesn't, and what you'd change if you could. Then, if possible, we watch you pack a typical order. We look at the time it takes, the technique, the materials, how much of each you use, and what the finished parcel looks like to the customer who opens it. That informs what we can do for you better than a brochure or price list. Each operation is unique and sharing best practices between all of them often yeilds good new results.
But most businesses are busy, and a visit from a supplier you haven't met can feel like one more thing on a full day. So we've built Pack Proof to get as much of that learning as possible without you having to host anyone initially. It takes a few minutes of your time, and can see the result for yourself, at little to no cost.
Proof, rather than a sample
Sample material is easy to send and easy to ignore. It gets lost, lands with the wrong person, sits in a corner, or gets a quick look and a quick objection. How the packaging is used with your product is just as important, along with how long it takes to pack, and how the parcel arrives after a real courier journey. Pack Proof repacks your own order and posts it back to you by courier, so you see how it performs in the real world, with your product(s).
How it works
- Tell us a little about how you pack. Use the enquiry form on our contact page and say you'd like Pack Proof (Try Before You Buy). Use the comments box to tell us what you'd like to improve. Tell us what you currently use, what you like and don't like about it, and anything else we should know, such as where your orders go. The order you send tells us most of what we need, and the more you tell us, the better the result, but "just show me what you can do" is a perfectly good brief.
- Send us one typical order. Pack it the way you normally do and post it to us at your own cost, as you would any parcel. You don't need to send a high-value order. A low-value order is ideal, and so is a returned or damaged one, so you're not worried about sending something precious to a supplier you haven't met yet.
- We repack it. We unpack it as your customer would, note how it was packed and with what, and repack the same product using the materials and method we'd recommend. We keep an eye on the amount of material, the time taken and how well protected it is.
- We post it back, free. We repack it and post it back to you at our cost, within 3 working days of receiving it. When it arrives, you open it as your own customer would, and see what the experience is like.
- A short comparison, if you'd like one. If you've told us what you're looking for, we can send a brief summary of what we found.
What you could get back in the comparison
Depending on what you've told us you're looking for, the comparison can cover:
- how much packaging material each version used
- how long each took to pack
- how many different materials were needed
- how the parcel looks and feels when it's opened
- how well protected the product is
- what can be recycled, and how
We can also offer a cost per pack. We'll keep it honest. If your current packaging is already right, we’ll say so and offer a quote on the same materials.
What it isn't
- It's not a sales call, and there's no obligation to buy anything.
- It's not a full audit of your operation. It demonstrates what's possible in principle, using one order. A proper review of your packing area, volumes and costs would come later, if you want one.
- It's not a machine trial. But it could lead to this. Please ask about a demo or trial.
Who it's for
Pack Proof suits any business that ships products and might be open to a better way of packing them: online sellers, manufacturers, wholesalers, fulfilment businesses and others. It's open to businesses anywhere. It suits orders that go out in boxes best. If your needs are different, such as orders in wider transit boxes or pallets, we can visit your packing area to understand them better. The one exception is hazardous products, which we can't accept. It's especially useful if you've been meaning to look at your packaging but haven't had the time, or if you're happy with your current supplier and just want to see what's out there.
What happens afterwards
Most people just want to see the result and think about it. If you like what you see, we can talk about the next step, which might be a visit to your packing area, a sample of materials, a machine on loan or simply a quote. If not, you've lost nothing but a few minutes, and you have a repacked order and a comparison to keep.
Related questions
Is Pack Proof really free? Yes. There is no charge for the repack, and we pay to post the order back to you. You pay to send the order to us, as you would for any parcel.
How is this different from a free sample? A sample is material. Pack Proof is a repack of your own order, posted back by courier, so you see how the packaging works with your product and how it arrives, which a sample can't show.
What should I send? One typical order, packed the way you normally pack it. A low-value order is fine or a returned or damaged one works well, so you're not sending anything you'd worry about.
What if I send something fragile or valuable? If these are your typical orders we'd like to see how you currently pack and send them. The aim is to show how we'd pack it, not to put anything at risk.
Do I need to tell you how I currently pack? It helps, but isn't essential. Seeing your typical order when it arrives tells us most we need to know. But the more we know about what you ship, where it goes and what you like and don't like about your current packaging, the more informed is our advice.
How is this different from a free machine loan? A free loan puts one of our machines in your packing area. Pack Proof asks nothing of your packing area: you send us one order, and we show you the result. If you like the result, a loan is one possible next step.
How long does it take? We repack your order and post it back within 3 working days of receiving it.
Do you accept orders from outside the UK? Yes. The service is open to businesses in any location. We can't accept hazardous products.
How do I start? Fill in the enquiry form on our contact page and say you'd like Pack Proof (Try Before You Buy).
Pack Proof is run by Forever Green Packaging. Request yours, or read about our approach in What makes Forever Green's commercial approach different.
