Protective packaging is at the forefront of today’s online retail environment. Inflatable cushioning and void-fill systems are game-changers for shipping operations, since they deliver premium protection while charming consumers. Research indicates that manufacturers and retailers opting for flimsy packing materials could pay a steep price: the loss of brand loyalty and customer retention.
Breakthrough research tracking consumers’ emotional reactions showed that in-box protective packaging affects a receiver’s shipment satisfaction. The study, commissioned by industry leader Pregis and conducted by Package Insight, measured three areas of emotional engagement when participants opened boxed shipments. They include:
- Product protection
- Type of packing materials used
- Packing material disposal
While product protection ranked as the “most important” of these three areas, study participants also had notable emotional responses to the material type and disposal convenience. Overall, void-fill air pillows, like those produced with the Airspeed 5000, scored well with consumers.
Package Cushions Satisfy Consumer Expectations
If your product is fragile or has an irregular shape, safe delivery depends on quality void-fill packaging materials. For decades, craft paper or foam packing peanuts have served as economical solutions, but the Package Insight study found that today’s consumers expect more.
Packing peanuts elicited feelings of frustration and irritation from 18 percent of study participants. Consumers were also more likely to throw loose-fill materials in the trash instead of recycling them. Inflatable air pillows scored high for product cushioning and evoked feelings of frustration from only 6.25 percent of participants. Air pillows also scored best for sustainability since they were recycled 75 percent of the time.
Advantages of the Pregis Airspeed 5000
Retailers and product manufacturers can take advantage of these study findings when they invest in the Airspeed 5000. This compact, portable void-fill system produces protective cushions on demand—and delivers positive consumer responses. Airspeed 5000 advantages include:
- Easy operation
- Compact portability
- Fast, on-demand production
- Low maintenance design
- Custom pillow sizes & fill rates
- 100-percent recyclable air pillows
Breakout Packaging Solutions Build Your Business
To thrive in today’s retail environment, you need a packaging partner that understands how buyers think. Seattle’s PackageIt is an industry innovator, helping retail and shipping partners wow their customers while earning brand loyalty and repeat business. The PackageIt team is your single-source for shipping, warehousing and custom protection solutions, including the Airspeed 5000.
Product presentation matters in today’s online retail environment. According to the Package Insight study, material selection is a vital part of shipping operations—and companies shipping to consumers should take note.
To learn about the advantages of PackageIt’s cushion systems, custom bags, cartons and tapes, call 888.743.0907. To request an estimate for the Airspeed 5000 or other Seattle packing cushion systems, you can also connect with us online.
