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Q: How do I know if it’s time to invest in better packaging?
A: Are your men’s accessories (key chains, money clips, etc.) packaged in better boxes than your fine jewelry? Do you carry a pre-boxed sterling silver line whose boxes are nicer than yours? Have you ever had a customer complain about your boxes? Do you use the same type of box as a competitor, a deep discounter or a chain store? Are you being out-packaged by the competition? If so, it’s time for a change.
Q: Where can I go to see great, jewelry merchandising?
A: Rather than go to a jewelry store, tour the cosmetics section of your favorite department store. As a product category, jewelry is closely related to cosmetics (both fashion accessories), and cosmetic manufacturers do a great job of merchandising to your target customers - women.
Q: What’s more important - box shape or color?
A: Color - always color. Box shapes can be manipulated, but relative to branding and establishing a store’s image, color is king.
Q: How often should I change my color?
A: Never. Well, not really, but once you’ve established an identity through color, why change it? Ever see a blue Coke can?
Q: How do I pick a color for my packaging program?
A: For the most part, forget about what you like and focus on two things: you are in the fashion business and your target customer is a woman. Then look around your store for color clues - maybe there’s a color in your wallpaper, drapes or carpeting waiting to be discovered. Or borrow color ideas from a cosmetics manufacturer (check out the similarities between Tiffany and Estee’ Lauder). If you already have a color, rather than replace it, refreshen it. A new box or bag line can give your existing color a boost.
Q: Jewelry looks great on white. Why don’t you like white boxes?
A: White is not a color, and besides, everyone uses it, including mall stores and deep discounters (want to look like them or be different?). White - and other light colors - can be used on the insides of boxes, as white is a great and universal jewelry merchandising color.
Q: What’s you opinion of black boxes?
A: Like little, black dresses, I love them. It’s the only “commodity” color I approve. Anytime you see a box used as a prop in a movie or TV show, it’s usually a black, velvet box. The black velvet box is an icon.
Q: Your products sound expensive. Are they?
A: Our average ring box costs $2.50. Would a discounter or chain store use something that nice? Probably not, which is a good reason that you should (differentiation). Think marketing, not P & L.
Q: Why spend $2 for a ring box when I can buy one for $1?
A: For a number of reasons. First, a customer won’t be fooled - they know a good box from a cheap box. Cheap packaging is a huge turnoff - it will certainly damage your chances for repeat business. Next, a good box adds value to your products, thus satisfying more customers and reducing the likelihood of returns. Who doesn’t want some of that?
Q: What should I use for my less expensive jewelry?
A: Your normal boxes (what better way to make a less expensive piece look great?). Or you could try pouches or one of our custom, import, hinged paper box lines.
Q: What’s tiered packaging?
A: Tiered packaging are two lines of packaging - one expensive and one not - used for different values of jewelry - that share the same color characteristics. A green, wooden box line for expensive jewelry, and a green, leatherette box line for everyday purchases, for example.
Q: Speaking of wood, do you like wooden boxes?
A: If they’re nice, yes - for special purchases and special customers. Men get really turned on by them, for some reason.
Q: How important are colored, outer, box packers?
A: If your budget is unlimited, use them. If you gift wrap, it’s an option. If you don’t gift wrap, it’s a must.
Q: Can I color match boxes and bags?
A: Yes, in quantities of 2000 bags or more. We do offer bags in most color families - blues, greens, cremes, gold, etc. - that have minimums as low as 100 pieces.
Q: Explain your principle of using ribbon as a secondary color?
A: Be funky with ribbon. Say your box is royal blue, white and gold. The safe ribbon choice? Gold. My ribbon choice? Pink. Make a statement. Create your signature.
Q: What’s your minimum order?
A: There’s no dollar minimum. For most products we make, 24 pieces are the minimum. Some of our custom, import program carry minimums of 200 to 1200 pieces.
Q: How long does it take to ship?
A: Domestic products - 2 to 3 weeks. Custom, import boxes and bags - 90 days.
Q: How much do samples cost?
A: They’re free.
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