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Expertly Crafted Furniture Deserves Quality Packaging

AN EXCITING SHIFT IN FURNITURE DESIGN

There was no shortage of inspiration at the Cape Town 2024 Decorex Exhibition with eye-catching furniture designs of all shapes, colours and sizes. Based on the favourites, it’s clear South Africans have unique and wonderfully creative tastes.

Whether at Expos or in international showrooms, interesting furniture trends are emerging. We’re seeing more natural stone finishes, upcycled designs made from eco-friendly materials, heavier, darker wood tones, and delicately crafted sets with intricate components. These are the concepts that consumers want more of.

Manufacturers have answered the call and are working hard to supply the market. But this comes with challenges. As a builder of these fine creations, you may experience a shortage of suitable labour, material scarcity, and competition from global players.

Transporting and handling is another area that needs special attention. Packaging for luxury and uniquely designed furniture needs to be a specialised process. It must factor in travel impact and the possibility that handlers may not be equipped or compelled to care for your valuables as you would.

Packaging must also consider separate components, some fragile, others heavy and robust, and varying sizes. These must be factored into a solution that positively represents your brand without breaking the bank.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

Wooden Crating is popular, especially for heavy-duty furniture. It offers a high level of protection and allows a degree of customization. But it may drive costs up. The box, pest treatment, weight, and space could hit you in the pocket.

Palletized Packaging is another go-to for furniture manufacturers. It involves placing your furniture on a pallet and wrapping it up with protective plastic. It’s an excellent option because of its forklift suitability. It does, however, come with cost implications, space challenges and the need for specialised equipment during the handling process.

Corrugated Carton Boxes are another option. They’re lightweight, cost-effective, environmentally friendly and offer superior customization. If designed well, they can match the strength capabilities of wooden options.

Cardboard Crating is quickly becoming a top choice for manufacturers because of its excellent strength-to weight-ratio and versatility. These products have a fluted core design, making them highly robust and perfect for supporting heavy furniture. They’re also environmentally friendly and encourage sustainable practices.

Combination Packaging Solutions may involve all of the above and include blankets, foam inserts, vacuum packaging, or shrink-wrap. This approach could plug many of the gaps in your strategy but could cost you in complexity and time.

ALL YOUR NEEDS MET IN ONE PLACE

Relocating? Ensure Your Valuables Make the Journey too

YOUR NEW CHAPTER SHOULD BE A POSITIVE ONE

South Africa boasts enticing residential options from coast to coast and lots in between. Many people have packed up to make the trip from the Northern regions to the Western and Eastern Cape. Figures suggest that the Western Cape alone welcomed almost half a million new residents in the last few years.

“Semigrating,” as it’s known, is the act of moving from one part of a country to another, often in search of better economic conditions, quality of life, or simply just a change in scenery. If you fall into either of these categories and are thinking of making the move, you’ve probably begun to feel some anxiety and emotional distress about the logistics involved.

We believe starting a new life in a new place should be a positive experience. But moving priceless art, expensive furniture and antiques can be challenging. They’re fragile, don’t fare well on the move, and are exposed to many unforeseen scenarios.

PROTECT YOUR ART, FURNITURE AND ANTIQUES

So, to help you make relocating more uplifting and get your valuables safely to your new home, we’ve unpacked some insights for you to consider before heading over.

The trip may be long, which means whatever you’re transporting could pass through various checks or holdups. Some may not be as welcoming as you’d like. Know the route your goods are travelling and ensure they’re safe and not easily accessible.

Temperature and humidity differences can be hazardous for your items, especially art. A short trip from the Highveld to the coast can take you through 4 seasons, so valuables must not be exposed to the elements.

Consider the unforeseen. Get comprehensive insurance coverage to protect your goods while in transit. It’s a welcomed safety net for the unexpected.

Choose your movers wisely. Specialised moving companies can help ensure a seamless journey from one end of the country to the other. Select a provider that prioritises inspections, has positive reviews and provides quality training for their staff.

Most importantly, the journey is physically demanding. Quality packaging is essential to protect your items from transit vibrations and rough handling and packing.

PARTNER WITH PACKAGING PROFESSIONALS

TAKE THAT TRIP, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

Quality Packaging Puts the Positive Back Into Moving

BIG CHANGES BRING REAL STRESS

Imagine for a moment you’ve just moved out of the house you grew up in to begin an exciting new chapter in your life. Knowing just how tough changes like this can be, you take along the possessions that hold the most sentimental value so you can hold on to some happy memories.

As you begin to unpack in your new house, you suddenly feel less optimistic when you find your father’s artwork crushed in a box that clearly couldn’t handle the demands of the journey. Now you feel like you’ve made a huge mistake!

WHY IS MOVING SO EMOTIONALLY TAXING?

A survey by OnePoll on behalf of North American Van Lines found that moving house ranks as one of the most stressful and traumatic life events. In fact, 64% of the survey participants cited moving as the most stressful thing they’ve ever endured.

But why does it cut so deep? There’s a lot going on when you pack up and ship out. You’re going through a significant life change, and the lack of familiarity or perceived safety, and security can cause anxiety. You may also be leaving cherished people and places behind. Almost everything about it throws you out of your comfort zone and into the unknown.

Although the emotional impact of moving is usually more distressing than the physical act, mishaps in the handling and transit process can aggravate the situation further. Finding damaged irreplaceable heirlooms or valuables can easily dial up the negative emotions and make moving an experience you’d rather avoid.

MOVING CAN BE A SIMPLER HAPPIER PROCESS

WHY PACKAGING MATTERS WHEN MOVING

UBUSI MAKES MOVING A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

Thank You for Being Part of the Ubusi Journey in 2023

LOOKING BACK

This year Ubusi enjoyed the support of businesses in industries with products ranging from kitchen countertops to outdoor leisure equipment. Some of our relationships are new and just beginning to gain momentum, while others are long-term partnerships that continue to strengthen.

In 2023 Ubusi was the top crate and pallet choice for many businesses transporting valuable products to local and international destinations as well as for consumers moving priceless art, ornaments, and furniture. We’re thankful for the trust – its inspired us to raise our game even further.

Earlier in the year, we also strengthened our operational capacity by installing a generator, which has helped us maintain production in line with demand even as power cuts rolled through the country. It’s another step towards ensuring we always deliver a reliable service and a positive customer experience.

THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY PACKAGING

Our growth in 2023 reminds us there is no substitute for a quality packaging solution. More people are catching on to the wins that come with being proactive about their crate and pallet choices.

Businesses that consider packaging a little more intently save on fuel costs, enjoy greater market access where quality and compliance are an issue, and ensure their customers are always on the receiving end of undamaged goods.

Quality packaging initiatives can also benefit those moving valuable pieces of art, furniture, and ornaments and may cut out the stress of handling rare or irreplaceable items. Strong, shock-absorbent packaging can protect even the most fragile goods and ensure they arrive exactly as they left.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS TO US

LOOKING AHEAD

New Opportunities Await, But Will Your Packaging Get You There?

BIG LOSSES IN A CRITICAL INDUSTRY

The fresh fruit and vegetable industry has learned about the pitfalls of product transport the hard way. Reports suggest that some areas of this sector in Sub-Saharan Africa still suffer losses of between 17 – 25% of their produce before consumption. It’s a staggering ratio for a market that can’t afford the loss. It strains the success of small farming enterprises, chokes the nutrition supply to communities and forces a reliance on costly import channels.

So where exactly do these losses stem from? There are many factors responsible, but the main issues occur during pre-harvest, harvest, processing, distribution, and consumption. The distribution phase which contributes up to 10% of this loss has its own set of challenges that include difficult travel conditions, improper handling, and a reluctance from business owners to invest in suitable packaging solutions.

Packaging is certainly not the place to cut corners when looking to save. Mechanical damage, which refers to the physical impact on goods while in transit, is an almost inevitable challenge but is heavily compounded by poor packaging. Businesses that neglect this area lose unnecessary amounts of produce.

But there’s an even bigger loss; businesses that don’t give their packaging the attention it deserves miss vital chances to impress their markets. Products may arrive battered from transit, which could send the message that either the product or the customer is not worth investing in.

Giving attention to higher quality packaging that reduces vibrational impact offers one of the biggest areas of opportunity for producers looking to tighten up their operations and wow consumers. Introducing more robust solutions prevents physical damage to produce and has been shown to cut post-harvest losses and increase the supply of fresh goods to consumers.

UNPACKING THE SOLUTIONS

Solutions to improve the resilience of fresh produce packaging have cropped up all over the world. Indian companies that added structural liners to their crates reduced guava damage by 12%. Similar initiatives in a variety of African countries also yielded positive results when higher-quality shock-absorbing packaging solutions were introduced.

In each of these cases, the improvements to packaging strength reduced losses so significantly that business owners began making their packaging a much bigger priority. Not only did their interventions cut mechanical injury-related losses but they also started seeing how more creative packaging could enhance packing efficiency and cut transport costs.

Companies that have adopted this approach are enjoying the increase in opportunities that come with packaging innovation. They have greater access to markets because their packaging can handle more demanding journeys and can get higher yields to their regular customers.

IMPRESS CONSUMERS WITH QUALITY PACKAGING

Well Planned Packaging Gets You to Market and Wins More Customers

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PACKAGING BECOMES AN AFTERTHOUGHT?

When businesses rush to get their products to market and end up with crating solutions that don’t support their product objectives, the financial, brand, legal and logistic implications can be huge.

Think about customer experience for instance, packaging creates an impact before the product is enjoyed. If the presentation of our packaging is inconsistent with the product, the customer’s perception may be affected, and our brand may take a knock.

The same applies to the quality of crates. If it’s a sub-standard solution and fails to protect our product in storage or transit, then we’re indirectly telling customers that the quality of our product is low too.

Then there’s the final stage of delivery and other courier methods that move products from distribution hubs to their destination. Packages can suffer serious damage here, especially if our crates have not been designed with this demanding part of the journey in mind.

Succumbing to challenges like these is often the result of adopting last-minute packaging solutions after we’ve already begun our marketing. A better alternative is to plan for all eventualities and avoid the costs of getting it wrong.

WITH PACKAGING, THINKING AHEAD WILL GET YOU AHEAD!

A proactive packaging strategy that’s part of the entire marketing mix is a powerful tool that can prevent your product from failing at critical stages and can turn your business into a customer favourite. Start by considering these areas as early as possible…

Understand the consumer mindset. This commonly overlooked element may leave us thinking that because something is easily delivered, it’ll be well received, which is not always the truth. We must ask how we can use our packaging to create an exceptional experience for the receiver. If the target market prioritises environmental matters, then there’s an opportunity to wow them with a crating solution that supports positive environmental practices. Customers are usually very vocal when businesses show this kind of care towards their values.

Package development. Invest in quality packaging that absorbs the rigours of transit and handling. Good crating solutions factor in the potential impact of couriers and final stage delivery and are designed to get valuables to their destination in perfect condition.

Legal implications. How does your packaging relate to the laws of your target market? Some countries won’t accept wooden pallets at all, while others require compliance with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures. There are also varying approaches to recycling, so cardboard, paper and plastic choices need to be thought out carefully. Doing sufficient homework on market legislations may prevent your products from being quarantined or returned – both costly scenarios.

Showing that we’re fully supportive of local legislation and business values is a promising start in any new market and is a great way to get accepted into bigger circles.

Investigate the logistics. There are many layers of logistics. By digging into all the possible avenues of distribution one may uncover a packaging snag that could prevent our product from reaching a critical segment of the market. What works well for flight may not work well for backstreet city or rural distribution. The key is knowing our market thoroughly and modifying our packaging to suit the various stages of transit.

TURN PACKAGING INTO A BUSINESS STRENGTH

Going Green in 2023 Can Save Your Business Money

Providing a transport packaging or storage solution in 2023 that both resonates with a growing population of environmentally conscious consumers and considers the need to cut costs is a serious juggling act for many South African business owners. So today we’re asking… How can you go green, and save your business money at the same time?

THE EVOLUTION OF GREEN.

The first packaging companies that latched on to the concept of going green were passionate about the environment and they had the means to try new and experimental business models. They implemented recycling initiatives and sourced natural materials that had less of a destructive impact on the environment. This approach to business hit all the right notes with a consumer mindset that was also evolving.
Today, being environmentally conscious has become the standard. Regenerative cultures are reflected in the processes, the marketing and even in the long-term growth plans of businesses.

THE COST OF GOING GREEN.

As a collective attitude towards a better future, this is a great way to think and has a long list of benefits, but many business owners have come to a fork in the road where two trends play out in opposite directions; the growing environmentally conscious trend in one direction, and our cost-cutting needs forced by a struggling economy in another direction. Simply put, there are businesses that cannot afford to adopt environmentally friendly practices on a normal day, and now even more so during tough economic times.
Packaging companies that are new or limited with their budgets often struggle to handle the larger initial costs of using fully recyclable cardboard materials because they tend to be more expensive. This is partly because the demand for environmentally friendly materials is not yet at the same level as more commonly used materials.
Plastics, for example, have been around for a long time and there’s just so much of it available, making it a highly competitive option. Additionally, business owners with pallet or crate needs and cost-cutting in mind, usually gravitate towards wooden products because they’re highly abundant, strong, and can be picked up for very low prices.
We cannot blame businesses for taking the cheaper, and less environmentally friendly option to survive tough circumstances. We can however encourage a deeper look and ask… what if there are alternatives that support profits in tough financial circumstances, and allow the adoption of environmental regenerative practices?

DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER.

Some due diligence on emerging plastic packaging or standard wooden alternatives highlights some encouraging options. Corrugated cardboard is continuously cropping up as a winning alternative, especially with the continuous improvement and innovative approaches some manufacturers are applying.
Corrugated honeycomb design cardboard for instance is designed to match the strength and rigidity needs of pallets, bins, and crate seekers. It’s also a lightweight product which means that significant costs are saved in transport. In addition, cardboard doesn’t require treatment with harmful and problematic chemicals like methyl bromide to prevent pest issues. They also don’t accumulate in space stealing piles, and they can be sold back into recycling. These are all much needed cost-saving benefits, welcomed at a time when our primary focus is on beating the economic pinch.
The goal is to become a clear advocate for environmental sustainability and to have impactful regenerative practices built into our operation because this offers additional access to business networks with similar values and objectives. New partnerships make the future look great! We know this can be achieved while staying within the green where our finances are concerned – it’s just a matter of getting a solution customized to suit your needs.

PARTNER WITH A PROFESSIONAL.

If you’ve got packaging, storage, or transport needs and you’re uncertain if there are cost-effective solutions appropriate to your business that could help you contribute to a healthier environment, then consulting with an industry expert like Ubusi may be the best thing for you to do.
Our innovative approach to product development is responsible for the unique honeycomb design cardboard range that’s proven to deliver high-quality results and positively impact profit margins. We tick all the right boxes for you.