People across the globe today are always on the move. This requires them to pack up their belongings effectively. In your attempt at such packaging of items you might come across a term “shrink wrap’.

Shrink wrap is nothing but is made up of the polymer plastic films. The formulae for using it are to apply heat to the polymer so that it shrinks and fixes tightly over whatever it is covering.

Common uses of shrink wrap

Most common uses of shrink wrap are as packaging materials. Most of the packages containing CDs, DVDs, books and reading materials, house hold appliances, pallet loads, and cartons use shrink wrap to pack and seal them. Sometimes the wrap is also used as the primary coverage for food stuff. Two of the food stuff that is most often wrapped with this material is meat and cheese.

These are not the only uses of shrink wrap. They are also used in boat covers after such covers are manufactured, and for winter storage purposes of many other materials. One of the most important use of heat shrink wrap is for sealing the electrical wirings. Labels are often protected from tampering in transit using shrink wrap bands on them.

A less common use of shrink wrap is for combining two different packages or parts.

Shrink wrap types

There are multiple types of shrink wraps. However, the most popular form is the polyolefin. You will find different types of polyolefin varying in their thickness, transparency, strength and shrink ratio. A couple of primary films are either cross linked or non cross linked. PVC and a few other compositions are also used to produce shrink wraps.

In the competitive commercial world to day, there is constant effort for improving the film properties. The objectives are source reduction and cost and energy economy. Shrink films could be mono-directional or bidirectional.

Shrink wraps are brought over to their usable forms by heating them so that the molecules form initial random patterns. When the hot material is cooled, the properties of the film are set. However, the film can be taken back very near to its original dimension by heating once again.

Shrink wrap equipments for packaging

Ordinarily, there are two types of shrink wrap equipments used for packaging purposes. Such equipments could be automated or used manually. With the help of the equipments Shrink wrap is flat roll stock, center folded

The first type is normally used for only the lower and medium packaging. It is also known as I-bar sealer. The sealer stretches a single cut on the polyolefin film and then the film is shrunk down with the help of heat gun or heat tunnel.

For higher volume packaging you will use the L-bar sealer. The cutting bar has an L shaped design. It cuts the film round the target product. You can also use the L-bar sealers in combination with the heat gun or heat tunnel. Cutting element in both types of shrink wrap equipments, that is, the I-bar and L-bar is a heated wire or impulse wire. The former uses heat to cut the film while the later uses electricity for the purpose.

Do not underestimate shrink wrap. You can even wrap buildings and roofs with them after incidence of natural calamites like cyclone, tornado, and such others.

Can you visualize a world without packaging tape? How will you send a package by post, or courier? You can use a twine or string to tie the package, or you can use glue to paste the ends of the package together. These alternatives require more time to apply compared to packaging tapes.

There are also special fasteners like ties, staples and such. Each of these has some disadvantages. For example, ties come loose, and storing it is not as easy as storing packaging tapes. Ties can also be only be used with packages designed for them.

In today’s world of tailor-made packaging tapes, these alternatives seem crude and inconvenient. Packaging tapes are versatile, being capable of application in different scenarios.

Applying Packaging Tapes

Packaging tape comes in convenient rolls of standard or custom lengths. They can also come in convenient dispensers, and can also be applied using specialized machines. Whether done by hand or machine, you apply the tape at all points that you want to secure.

Packaging Tapes and Tapes

Packaging tapes come in numerous flavors. There is the narrow cello tape that can be used to secure envelopes. There is the three inch paper or plastic tape with extra quick and strong adhesive that can securely seal heavy packages, even if they are over or under packed.

There are also stretchable tapes, strapping tapes, label protection tapes, double sided tapes and so on.

The tapes can come in eye-catching colors. Others might be clear and transparent. The packaging tape can also be plain, or overprinted with handling or other kinds of instructions, or with promotional messages.

Packaging tapes, particularly the wider varieties, offer good scope for printing your logo, name, and contact details. Such printed packaging tapes can act as your brand ambassador, building brand recognition. Enhanced with product promotional messages, the printed messages can also be sales messages.

Using Packaging Tape for Promotional Purposes

Plain packaging tapes might be less expensive compared to custom printed tapes. However, the opportunity cost of using plain tapes can be high. Particularly in the case of the wider and easily printable tapes, you are wasting promotional real estate. You can use this real estate for building your company brand, or promoting your product or service.

Print the tapes with your company logo, name and contact details. Where possible, add a short but strong sales message for your product or service. Select the tape material, color and printing with a view to high visibility. Lay out the whole message in an easy to comprehend design.

Your message will now be seen wherever the package goes. It might be just what one of these observers is looking for at the time. And you would have a new customer. With thousands of packages going to different destinations, the chance of finding such customers is not insignificant.

Even if no new sales result, your brand would imprint itself in many minds. Your brand will become recognized over a much wider area.

Conclusion

Packaging tapes make packaging your product for shipment a much easier task compared to other alternatives. They come in many flavors. Select one that suits your specific needs, and then use the packaging real estate to promote your brand and products.

A major factor in the t-shirt selling business is presentation. Presentation of your designs, presentation of your website or storefront, presentation of your promotional images etc, etc, etc! To make the sale and keep ‘em comin’, you really gotta get this presentation thing down and impress the hell outta your customers and potential buyers. That being said, impressive presentation of your t-shirts upon delivery is something to consider.

Here’s why:

Not many other online shops are using custom packaging.

Your shop can stand out by being one of the few.

Cool packaging will make a customer say “Hey, this shop is so frickin’ awesome! Even their packaging is cool!

Don’t underestimate the power of packaging. Customers are highly likely to spread the word about the interesting packaging of the t-shirts they order.

Let’s take a look at the various packaging options available to you.

Generic Plastic Bags

Custom Plastic Bags

Generic Apparel Boxes

Custom Apparel Boxes

Whatever mailer the product will fit in

Custom Mailer

Pouches

Jars

Other

According to a poll conducted on a t-shirt forum, most people just use the generic plastic bags or whatever mailer the product will fit in. It’s no surprise that barely anybody uses unusual packaging or customization to set their product apart. It’s simply overlooked.

Examples of great packaging are Johnny Cupcakes and Oddica. On one instance, Johnny Cupcakes t-shirts came packaged in cake mix boxes, something that fits the theme of his company. Be creative when coming up with packaging for your t-shirts.

So keep in mind that presentation does a lot for marketing to your customers. It’s fun and cool, and your shop could definitely use the individuality a unique package gives. Remember, impressive packaging can go a long way!