When choosing your construction materials for marketing collateral, packaging, and samples, there are many things to consider.
If you are not sure where to start, you can waste a lot of time and effort narrowing it down to the best materials options for your packaging, marketing binders and other branded collateral. Forbes has experience and expertise in many different materials, constructions, and decorating techniques. Contacting us early in the process can save a lot of time and money. We know the questions to ask, and how to achieve the best solution for your goals and budget.
Here are some general rules of thumb to start:
Turned Edge or Case Bound Boxes, Binders, Swatch Kits, Etc.
- Applications – Binders, boxes, display panels/books, totes, easels, slip cases.
- Durability – Very good. How components are spec’d will impact this.
- Decoration – Full color, spot color, textures, stamping, debossing, laminations, spot coatings, various finishes
- Cost – High perceived value, and generally more expensive than other constructions. There are many variables that allow for price control.
Poly / Plastic Binders, Totes and Displays
- Applications – Binders, boxes, display panels/books, totes, easels, folders, covers, slip cases.
- Durability – Best. Holds up to nearly all elements, and can be spec’d in very light, to very heavy gauges.
- Decoration – Full color, spot color, stamping, clear/opaque, die cutting.
- Cost – Economical in most instances, especially when considering durability/longevity.
Poly has the added benefit of a wide range of construction design. Product can be design to ship flat, saving $ on the product itself, as well as freight and storage.
Corrugated Boxes and Packaging
- Applications – Boxes, POP Displays, inserts for other boxes.
- Durability – Higher than paperboard, but lower than turned edge and poly. Can be designed to hold a lot of weight, but it is ultimately a paper product.
- Decoration – Direct printed spot and 4CP (digital), mounted with 4CP and lamination, specialty papers
- Cost – Extremely economical in higher quantities. Die charge(s) can influence pricing on very low quantities.
Corrugated can be configured in a very wide range of designs, and typically ships flat.
Vinyl Binders, Sleeves and Folders
- Applications – binders, folders, covers, sheet protectors, envelopes, sleeves, pockets
- Durability – generally very durable, but depends on construction and materials spec’d. Water resistant.
- Decoration – full color, spot color, stamping, debossing, faux-leather, clear/opaque.
- Cost – Very economical. Only paperboard is likely to be less, but not always.
Vinyl often competes with paperboard, but has several unique qualities, including flexibility, water and tear resistance, and the fact that it can be clear, frosted, opaque, or some combination. Vinyl pockets/sleeves are often used as components on/in other applications.
Paperboard Boxes, Cartons & Folders
- Applications – Folders, totes, boxes, covers, POP displays, binders
- Durability – Least durable, but perfect for high impact, but short term, or low usage applications.
- Decoration – Full color, spot color, stamping, embossing/debossing, laminations, textures, die cutting, etc.
- Cost – Most economical.
Vinyl often competes with paperboard, but has several unique qualities, including flexibility, water and tear resistance, and the fact that it can be clear, frosted, opaque, or some combination. Vinyl pockets/sleeves are often used as components on/in other applications.
Quantities have a strong correlation to pricing. It affects not just material and construction, but decoration as well. What’s the best solution at one quantity may not be at a different quantity. Forbes’ expertise can be very valuable to you when evaluating various options. Our best advice when entering into a design project for marketing collateral or packaging is to keep an open mind. You may have a specific idea of what you want, but depending on the quantities you need and your overall budget, we may have a more suitable and pleasing solution that will meet your project needs all the way around.