MrTakeOutBags.com Foodservice custom packaging Blog

If you follow our Instagram, or if you like us on Facebook, then you’ve probably heard us talk about cohesive packaging before. But what exactly is that – and why is it such a game-changer for food industry business owners?

What it is

Quite simply, it’s packaging that has a consistent looking and feel across a variety of items. So for a fast food company, for example, it would mean French fry bags that match the look and feel of the burger wrapper, which match the look and feel of the soda cups and paper bags.

How it looks

There are two ways this can go. First, it could be using the same color scheme and graphic style across all printed items.

Another way to do it is to use the same logo and vary the color across each item.

Choosing the right one depends on several different factors, but at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. What’s the best way to get customers to recognize your brand? Is it through the colors you use or is it your logo?

Why it matters

You want people to recognize your brand, right? If you have food or coffee going out your door, you want to make sure it’s properly branded. You’ve heard us say so many times that it’s like a walking billboard. Well, make sure all those little billboards sync up and make sense with your company’s aesthetic.

We like the way Ignite 2X puts it in a piece they wrote about brand awareness and packaging:

“Packaging is the only form of branding that you invite home.” It’s an opportunity for customers to bring a little piece of your shop home or to the office with them. Make sure that packaging feels it comes from your restaurant, rather than a generic, could-be-from-anywhere item.

Where to start

That’s easy – just give us a call! Our Packaging Advisors will spend some time with you to learn what you envision for your cohesive packaging. Since we offer a wide array of food service items (like hot cups, cold cups, deli wraps, takeout boxes, and napkins, to name a few) we can be your one-stop shop.

Get started today by calling 888-321-2248.

Now that you’ve given some serious thought to getting your logo printed on your packaging, you probably want to know how to get the most bang for your buck. We get that. We’ve been helping company’s boost brand awareness through custom packaging for years, and we’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t.

DO keep your logo art simple. Printing onto a cup or a bag is much different than printing on to a piece of printer paper. When a logo has too many fine details it can complicate the printing process and cause roadblocks for your project.

DON’T muddy your logo by using many different colors. Often times, the best logos are one or two colors. Close your eyes and try to image the Starbucks logo, or the target logo. How many colors? Right, just one. The single color makes it much easier for customers to recognize and remember.

DO take the highest quantity you can handle. For nearly every item, the price per piece is reduced as the quantity goes up. For example, printing 5,000 coffee cups vs. 25,000 coffee cups. The price per cup will be significantly less when purchasing 25,000 cups.

DON’T take on more than you can store. We always remind our customers to consider how much storage space they have when ordering a custom run line of packaging. If you have questions about how many cases will come in an order, just ask our Packaging Advisors!

DO take the time to work with an advisor to make sure you’re getting the absolute right product to fit your needs. Your business is your baby and the packaging is a reflection of all the painstaking care you’ve taken. When you’re using the correct bakery box or drink cup or takeout bag – or whatever! – for what you’re selling, then you enhance the overall customer experience.

DON’T settle for the wrong item, or the wrong size item, simply because it’s easy or it’s cheap. Your customers will pick up on your decision to cut corners. Trust us, we’ve seen it happen hundreds of times.

DON’T wait any longer!

DO give our Packaging Advisors a call to learn more about getting your food service packaging printed with your logo.

888-321-2248 – Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST

Here at MrTakeOutBags, we obsess over packaging. We’re constantly thinking about how to improve packaging, and often times it all comes down to custom printing. When a company adds their logo to a bakery box or a takeout bag, it leaves a lasting impression. But what about customers who choose not to print their packaging? There has to be some way they can get their products noticed, right?

That’s where the power of the window comes into play. It allows your quality products to be immediately viewed by potential customers. Whether it’s delightfully decorated cupcakes, artisan sandwiches, or high-end olive oil bottles – there’s packaging designed to help you flaunt your wares! It’s a creative and inexpensive way for you to set yourself apart from your competition.

Bakery Boxes

Cakes, pies, and cupcake – they should all be on display! What better way to entice would-be customers than by showing off the goodies you offer? We have windowed bakery boxes fit to hold a single cupcake, all the way up to window boxes big enough for a dozen. Find the right color box that plays well off your products and you’ve just enhanced the presentation substantially.

Takeout and Catering Boxes

People love to see what they’re buying before they make a decision – especially when it comes to meal prep. A perfectly prepared salad may go unnoticed unless it’s packaged in a Bio-Pak View takeout box. One simple little window can be the difference that helps you make a sale. Selling sandwiches? No problem, we carry clamshells with a built-in window so customers can get a view of the food before purchasing.

For catering or for large carryout orders, use windowed catering squares. Rigid and sturdy, these handy squares allow your clients to see exactly what they’re about to dig into.

Bottle and Jar Carriers

If your product is often purchased as a gift (think jams, spread, oils, and wines) then your customers will all but demand you have windowed packaging. Of course, you could sell your fancy, infused olive oil without special packaging. But why would you? Increase the overall value of what you sell by presenting it in a window gift box. The same holds true for jams, spreads, and mustards. Put them in a window box and you’ll elevate their look, and increase their worth.

Still not sure how you can use packaging to improve your products’ value? That’s alright, we’ve got experts for that. Remember, we do obsess over it, after all. Give us a call at 888-321-2248 to learn more!

We work with a variety of talented and bright business owners and entrepreneurs. There’s no doubt that they’re rock stars at what they do. But they can’t be expected to know everything, right? That’s why we frequently run into customers who struggle to understand what we mean when we say we need “vector artwork” in order to print their logo. We wanted to put together an easy guide to help better understand what it is and why it matters in the printing world.

What is it?

In the simplest terms, vector artwork is clean artwork. When a logo is vectorized, it means that it’s created with specific software (often Adobe Illustrator) to produce high-quality images. To make vector art, the software uses some pretty complicated algorithms, resulting in artwork that is outlined precisely. This outline makes it possible out rework the art as needed for printing.

What does it look like?

It’s easy to spot non-vector, or raster, artwork. Those files will make an image turn blurry when resized. Lines aren’t smooth and details are all but washed away.

Another easy way to tell if you’ve got raster artwork is to take a look at the file type. Files that are .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif will be raster files. Those saved as .ai, .eps, or .svg will be vector art. Note that most PDF’s are vector files, but not all of them are.

Why is it important?

For starters, it allows our art department to alter your logo to the exact right size for printing – all without getting a fuzzy image. If you’re going to put in all the time, energy, and money to have your logo printed on your packaging (or on anything, for that matter) then you definitely don’t want it to look blurry.

So when you’re working with your graphic designer on your company logo, be sure to ask for vector art files. It will save you so much hassle in the long run! Only have raster files? That’s alright, we can still help you out. We can convert nearly any file into print-ready artwork.

Give our Packaging Advisors a call now to chat about getting your business name printed on your company’s most-used packaging.

888-321-2248 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST

Branded packaging is more about credibility and perception than it is about providing something to carry your product. Having your company name, logo, slogan or graphics added to your packaging represents so much more.

The pricier the product is, the greater impact will come from branding the packaging. No customer wants to walk away with an expensive purchase, carrying a cheap looking package. Customers want to be proud of their purchases. And a well-developed brand enhances that perceived value.

Marketing Dollars Hard at Work

You could be offering the best coffee in the city, but if it’s in a Styrofoam cup, nobody will take you seriously. But, serve that same beverage in an environmentally-friendly paper cup with your shop’s logo on it? People will remember it and identify with your brand.

You could serve the best sandwich in the state, but nobody will remember it if it’s sitting on a plain sheet of tissue when its photo is posted to Instagram. Showcase that same delicious sandwich on a branded tissue, and everyone will know where to go the next time they’ve got a craving.

Create a Buzz

You could be selling the best wine in the region. If you’re giving customers their bottle in a plain bag, though, nobody will recognize your product when they pass your customers on the street. Present your wine bottles to the customer in a shopping bag with your brand’s name showing and people will take notice.

You could make the best pastries in the land, and nobody will know they’re yours if they’re in a plain box. But, pack those same pastries in a nice bakery box that has your bakery’s name on it, and suddenly everyone knows that it was made with pride.

Boost Brand Awareness and Company Credibility

Branding is about more than slapping a name on a cup, a bag, a box, or a basket liner. Branding is about credibility, awareness, satisfaction, and desire. It’s about the emotional bonding that takes place with your customers. And it’s an intangible value that can’t be denied.

Not sure where to begin? Not a problem! Let our Packaging Advisors guide you through the process of going from boring to branded. Give them a call at 888-321-2248 Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

You may think that custom printing needs to have a lot of flashy colors in order to have an impact. Sure, a multicolor takeout bag, for example, may get noticed by some, but it’s not always the best route. Sometimes simple is best. And when it comes to custom branded food packaging, single color printing can be your best friend.

Impact

Think about it, how many colors is the Starbucks logo? How about Target’s logo? They are only one color and they are instantly recognizable. When you get too many colors involved with your logo, it can become difficult for people to really remember it or know it when they see it. When someone sees the Coca-Cola logo, they know immediately what brand it is. In fact, the marketing team at Coke may have influenced how we envision Santa Claus today.

Focus

Sticking with one color allows your customers to focus on what’s most important: the product behind the logo. Without the dizzying distractions of six different colors, people are able to focus on just the brand and what it means to them. Do you represent quality product? How about great customer service? These are the things that will come to mind when they are able to focus solely on your brand.

Price

This may come as no surprise, but in most cases printing one color is less expensive than printing multiple colors. Opting for one color is a great way to keep cost down while still investing in your brand. In fact, sticking with one color printing also allows for, in most cases, a lower minimum quantity to print. This allows you to test the waters with a small quantity order to see if it’s the right choice for you.

As we often say, printed packaging is like a walking billboard. Why dilute a striking logo with a variety of different colors when simplicity can have a bold effect. Still not sure? Give our Packaging Advisors a call to learn more. They can help you decide what type of printing, and on what item(s), is going to have the best overall effect on your business. Call today at 888-321-2248.

Whether you get your custom printed items from us or from a competitor, you may have noticed recently that turnaround time for printed items has gotten longer. The extended lead times are frustrating, of course, but we find it’s helpful to understand why they occur.

TIMING

The lead-up to the holiday season is without a doubt the busiest time of year for production plants. So many businesses are gearing up for seasonal shoppers and diners, so they’re getting their packaging ready now. That type of large influx can, of course, create a bottle neck in the process.

DEMAND

For starters, there has been a shift in demand. Many customers who used to buy plastic bags are making the shift to paper ones. Some do so in an effort to be more eco-friendly while others are required to by new state laws. There has been a steady increase in the need for paper, and right now we’re seeing longer lead times across the board as a result.

TRENDS

In the last few months we’ve noticed a shift in customer preferences. More and more people are intentionally purchasing US-made products rather than importing. We believe part of that is a result of tariffs, and part of it is more eco-conscious. Buying American-made goods means shipping is minimal – compared to shipping overseas. That, in turn, reduces the customer’s carbon foot print.

It’s best to always plan ahead and be ready for delays, but that’s not always easy to accomplish – especially for busy business owners. That’s why we’re here to help. Our Packaging Advisors will always be transparent with you when discussing how long it takes to get a custom printed item. Give them a call at 888-321-2248 and they’ll be more than happy to answer all your questions!

You may think that custom printing your logo on bags, boxes or tissue wrapping paper needs to have a lot of flashy colors to have an impact. Sure, a multicolor takeout bag, for example, may get noticed by some, but it’s not always the best route. Sometimes simple is best. And when it comes to custom branded bakery or restaurant packaging, single color printing can be your best friend.

Impact

Think about it, how many colors is the Starbucks logo? How about Target’s logo? They are only one color and they are instantly recognizable. When you get too many colors involved with your logo, it can become difficult for people to really remember it or know it when they see it. When someone sees the Coca-Cola logo, they know immediately what brand it is. In fact, the marketing team at Coke may have influenced how we envision Santa Claus today.

Focus

Sticking with a one color logo allows your customers to focus on what’s most important: the product behind the logo. Without the dizzying distractions of various colors, people are able to focus on just the brand and what it means to them. Do you represent a quality product? How about great customer service? These are the things that will come to mind when they are able to focus solely on your branded logo.

Price

This may come as no surprise, but in most cases printing with one color is less expensive than printing multiple colors. Opting for one color is a great way to keep cost down while still investing in your brand. In fact, sticking with one color printing also allows for, in most cases, a lower minimum quantity to print. This allows you to test the waters with a small quantity order to see if it’s the right choice.

Quantity

If you have a one color logo for your to go bags or boxes, you can usually have options to print smaller quantities.  In many cases it’s as few as 1,000 pieces. When printing multiple colors, it becomes much harder to print small quantities.

Product

Deciding which of your food service takeout or beverage packaging to print can be difficult. Your budget may require you to choose between multiple items you want to brand. Typically the most visible item is often the best choice. That is often a takeout bag, but not always. On the other hand, a bakery may be better off printing their cupcake boxes than their bags. The box is likely to stick around longer and be seen by more people.

A coffee shop will likely want the cups printed instead of a bag or box. There are a ton more cups leaving a coffee shop than there are pastry bags. A sandwich shop may want to have the wrapping paper printed because the customers see that in most cases. It can also serve to be a tray or basket liner with the printed logo.

We are here to help.

As we often say, printed takeout bags are like a walking billboard. Why dilute a striking logo with a variety of different colors when simplicity can have a bold effect. Still not sure? Give our Retail and Food Service Packaging Advisors a call to learn more. They can help you decide what type of printing, and on what item(s), is going to have the best overall effect on your business. Call today at 888-321-2248.

Think about it: what makes you choose one brand over another? What makes you even remember one brand while forgetting another? Companies that differentiate themselves from the competition are the ones that are remembered – and revisited – by customers. Many will say that it’s extremely difficult to get noticed in the food service industry, and they’re right. Thankfully we know a thing or two about how to stand out in a crowd.

Color

One of the easiest ways to set your business apart from others? Become a horse of a different color. Meal prep containers, for example, are available in more than just the standard black base and clear lid. Package your food in vibrant lime green, or eye-catching orange. Coffee shops that go against grain opt for nontraditional cup colors such as black or blue. Each customer that leaves the shop with one of these cups in hand helps to draw attention back to the business.

Quality

We’re all familiar with the standard plastic “Thank You” bags – but standard is not what you are. Graduate to the next level by switching to wave carry out bags. The flat bottom makes it easy to stack takeout boxes without them tipping and spilling. A wave-like handle with a circular cut out adds to the design, but also provides durability. For restaurants using a delivery service, the new Seal-2-Go bags are the best way to ensure food arrives to your customers hot and untouched.

Application

Sure, you can have top-of-the-line premium packaging but it means nothing if you’re using the incorrect item. Imagine a bakery that put their sweet, butter-heavy treats in a bag that was not grease resistant. Customers’ fingers would become covered in oil before they even got to the pastry. At the same time, you wouldn’t put a catering tray into a flimsy bag, you would need something that was up to the challenge. Simply by making sure you have the proper items for the application, you give yourself a leg up on the competition.

Of course, if you need any help figuring out what exactly the right items are – or if you’re ready to talk about putting your logo on your packaging – feel free to give us a shout. Our Packaging Advisors can be reached Monday through Friday (8:30 – 6 p.m. EST) at 888-321-2248. They’re happy to help you step up your game.