A box is a box, right? Not quite. Every style of box has a different purpose and using them appropriately is a key part of running an efficient business. Shelf-ready packaging is common in the retail world – used by everyone from major chains to boutique stores.
So, what is shelf-ready packaging and why should your business use it? Here’s everything you need to know to get your products safely stocked on retail shelves.
What does shelf-ready mean?
Shelf-ready packaging, or SRP, is a requirement for businesses who plan to stock their products in retailers. Shelf-ready means that the packaging your product arrives in is able to be stocked directly onto retail shelves.
This could be at major chains such as Bunnings, Coles, Costco, Woolworths, and similar. Or it could be a smaller retailer; like local shops and independent supermarkets.
The main purpose of SRP is to make it easy for retailers to stock your products. They should be able to tear open the packaging and place it straight onto shelves without handling your product individually.
While SRP is popular, it’s not the only kind of retail packaging available to your business. Other styles include POS displays and packaging designed for automated lines.
SRP vs RRP: Is there a difference?
You might have heard the term retail-ready packaging (RRP) before, but is it different to SRP? And if so, how?
While a lot of people do use the terms SRP and RRP interchangeably; there is a small difference.
Shelf-ready packaging (SRP) is typically designed for smaller retail shelves. If you think of a major supermarket, almost all the products on the shelves are in some form of SRP.
Retail-ready packaging (RRP) is typically designed for larger shelves or aisle spaces. Examples of RRP are POS displays and pallets which are common in warehouse-style retailers.
Struggling to figure out all the packaging terminology? We’ve got you covered with our glossary of common packaging terms.
What are the benefits of shelf-ready packaging?
There are a lot of good reasons to use SRP in your business – from helping people shop your product to making it more likely a retailer will choose to stock your business. Here are the top 4 benefits to using SRP.
1. Help your product stand out on retail shelves
Unless you have a truly unique product, it’s likely that there’s another version of it on the shelf nearby. Great SRP can help your product stand out and communicate your brand. This makes it more appealing to the customer and could help increase sales.
2. Make it easy to restock your products
You might think empty shelves are a sign of good business, but they could also mean lost revenue. The longer the shelves stay empty; the more sales you could be losing.
SRP helps retailers restock products quickly so they can ensure your brand is always ready to shop. It also minimises labour costs for the retailer, which is one reason many of them ask specifically for SRP packaging.
3. Protect your products during delivery
There are 2 important types of packaging for your products: primary and secondary.
Primary packaging is the last thing your customer opens before they enjoy your product. It’s designed to be eye-catching and is often made of fragile materials; such as glass, lightweight cardboard or flexible plastic.
SRP is a form of secondary packaging, which means it was designed to transport your goods safely from A to B. It’s made of tougher materials, like corrugated cardboard, which can withstand all the rigours of shipping. With well-designed SRP – you can rest assured that your products will stay in perfect condition until they reach retail shelves.
4. Keep shelves organised and easy to shop
If a customer can’t access your product easily, they might choose another brand. SRP can help your products stay neat and organised on shelves – making it easy for customers to find exactly what they need.
Top tips for designing SRP
By now, you’re probably getting the idea that SRP is an important part of any product business’ repertoire. So, how do you design the best quality shelf-ready packaging? Here are our top tips.
Check the retailer’s requirements
First and foremost, your SRP must meet the detailed specifications of your chosen retailer. If you miss any key points – your products don’t make it to shelves.
We’d love to tell you that there’s a universal list of SRP guidelines, but each retailer has slightly different requirements. Once you’ve been accepted as a supplier, your retailer should share their packaging preferences. If that doesn’t happen – be sure to ask.
You can also seek advice from your packaging supplier. We have years of experience designing SRP for popular retailers and know a lot about their varied requirements.
Finally, make sure your SRP is following the Five Easies:
- Easy to identify
- Easy to open
- Easy to replenish
- Easy to shop
- Easy to dispose of and recycle
These simple rules are common to almost every retailer we know, so they’re always a good place to start.
Follow the rules for shelf-appeal
In a sea of the same type of product; how will yours stand out? Shelf appeal is your secret weapon.
There are 3 key tips for shelf appeal we always recommend:
- Use bright colours to catch your customer’s eye. Not sure which one to pick? Take a look at our blog on colour psychology for some ideas.
- Choose a large text size and easy-to-ready font so your product messaging is crystal clear.
- Use the concept of hierarchy to decide the order in which your brand messages are read.
We explain these tips more in our blog on shelf appeal.
Make your product the hero
We mentioned earlier that SRP is a form of secondary packaging. That means its only purpose is to deliver your product safely to stores. Once it’s been emptied, your SRP will be crushed and recycled.
So, as much as you want to focus on creating great SRP – you don’t need to blow your budget on fully-branded packaging that doesn’t go home with your customer. At Echo Cartons, we focus on functional SRP that makes your product shine. It has more than enough branding to be recognisable, without risking your small business budget.
Locally-made SRP for your business
Echo Cartons are a Melbourne-based box supplier with a factory in Braeside. For over two decades, we’ve been supporting Australian SMEs with their packaging needs – from shelf-ready to shipping boxes, online retail and more.
Ready to start a packaging order? Simply request a quote.
