Posted by pehr lund on Fri, Oct 15, 2010 @ 09:16 AM
I had a great chuckle when a good customer of ours sent an email to me the other day about this crazy way to keep flies away from your house, eatery or other gathering place.
As the story goes, a couple went to a local eatery called "Sweety Pies" for some breakfast and saw reclosable bags full of water hanging from various locations around the building. Upon request as to why the bags were there (not a great decoration) the owner of the establishment explains that the bags, each containing 4 pennies and water, were placed to deter flies!
Attached to the story were several testaments to the treatments effects and an explanation about the light reflective properties that cause the flies to run away.
I have checked on Snopes.com and found that they could neither prove or disprove the theory based on the same conditions.
Either way, the idea is quite interesting and brings me to another thought. As packaging professionals our task is not just to answer the phone, take the information and send a quote. It is our job to provide you with a new and better solution for your packaging needs. The process requires listening to the customer, understanding what they are using the product for, and helping them to discover where they can do more with what we supply. As a customer, the more information you can provide us about the end use for the product, the better we can gear a solution for you. Many customers seem to call in, knowing the size, thickness and quantity, but that is where it ends. If we quote the bag without the appropriate information, and they quote it to the customer, 9 times out of 10, the order is lost and without knowing why. And that is costly for you, our customer, as well as us. Let's work together for a better sales future together.
Oh......BTW.... In the name of Science, if you come by my house this weeked, you will see Zipline™ reclosable bags, full of water and pennies. I'll let you know if it works! Have a great day.
The New Bag Co
Posted by pehr lund on Wed, Sep 15, 2010 @ 09:51 AM
When I was a kid we did not have the money for the school lunches, so mine usually came in a brown paper bag. Further compartmentalized in small plastic bags. Not always the zip kind, but plastic nonetheless. As I grew up (I had never envisioned my future career in the plastic industry) I came across bags in every aspect of my life. Although my brain catalogued the encounters, they never really had impact until I sat behind my desk as a reclosable bag salesman. Oh yeah, there were zip bags in that game of Candy Land, and holding that plumbing fixture, or the extra buttons on my shirt. As I sat and thought about it, there are zip bags in every store I go to, and in most of the products.
Of course now it's my job to know where and who are using the bags and if we are not selling them those bags WHY?
I have been reading a few blogs lately which mention their own personal uses for Zip style bags and I wanted to share them. I found this particular blog very interesting, a group of writers talking about packing for conferences with a ton of helpful tips on using 2 mil reclosable bags . I love the idea of the bags keeping wrinkles out of clothes.
Another great blog on LifeHacker suggests using reclosable bags with a paper towel to keep your salad greens fresh for long time periods. Then there is the bath towel method, haven't tried that one yet, but I am sure to give it shot.
I'll be sitting back having my green salad fresh from the ziplock bag in my wrinkle free clothes, but in the meantime, let me know your thoughts on other uses for reclosable bags.
Thanks for your time
The New Bag Company
(photo by Lucius Kwok)
Posted by pehr lund on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 @ 01:06 PM
As a Salesperson here at The New Bag Company I spend day in and day out thinking of ways to make our reclosable bags more attractive to the customers we approach. We offer features like
- High quality cardboard cases with clean print
- Superior tissue style Zippouch™ packing bags
- Same day shipping in most cases
- and True mil bags!
With all that said, it seems like the general publics' view on what is important is only cost. Therefore, they go with a lesser cost product which they know to be under gauged. We all understand that no one wants to spend more than they have to for anything. However, you really have to compare apples to apples. Do you want to supply a product to someone knowing that there is a possibility that it will fail to function per the specs you listed. A couple hundred thousand bags full of nuts and bolts breaking though the bottom can be a huge headache.
On the other hand, there are customers, who don't need a full 2mil or 4mil and would like to save a little money. In that case, we would like to know if you want us to carry certain sizes in a nominal thickness and the volume you might be able to move in those sizes. We also have had excellent response to our Oxo-Zip™ line of Oxo-Biodegradable bags and would lokve to provide you with samples of those. For sample requests, please fill out our contact form here and if you have any thoughts on the nominal bags you can either leave them in comments (please include sizes and volume) or fill out our contact form.
We appreciate all your feedback!
Best Regards
The New Bag Company
Posted by pehr lund on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 08:50 AM
The reality is the cost of making
reclosable bags is going up. In fact the cost of making anything out of LDPE is going up. So while we are going to hold strong without increase as long as possible, it's an inevitable fact that one is coming.
We don't like it any more than you, but there you have it. Because your business is valuable to us, we want to give you the opportunity to guide the increase that will be affecting your costs. So here's the deal, you submit your suggestions as to how we can comfortably apply the increase and what amount it should be. We will give the best suggestion 5% off of their next order over $500.00. This contest is open from today through 3/2/10 when we will evaluate all the input and announce the winner and what we are going to do.
Now is your chance to speak up and guide the future of your business with us!
Just place your notes in the "comments" section below. Greatfully, your reclosable bag specialists at The New Bag Company
Posted by pehr lund on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 08:50 AM
Dear Friends:
There are times when you, as a company, feel as if you’ve done the “Right Thing”. This is where we at TNBC are at this moment with the development of our newest, Oxo-BioDegradable Breast Milk Storage Bag,
HoneySuckle™ (Great name, eh?).
Product Development is a key to our company, and watching industry trends helps us find the product that will be needed next! With the Green Movement worldwide, it is obvious that “degradable” should be part of the lingo associated with Reclosable Bags. “Recyclable”, “Made with Wind Energy”, “Lighter Gauge”—all those comments we have seen. But truly degradable has not been available. It had not been until we introduced the OXO-ZIP
™.
At the same time, we were redeveloping a Human Breast Milk Storage Bag that was stronger, with better side seals, ribbing on the bottom gusset for greater durability and to help it stand up in the freezer, and, yes, Oxo-BioDegradable! The
HoneySuckle™ Milk Storage Bag is all of that, and more. Our bags freeze the milk safely and securely, and, once used, they degrade in landfills!
The best testament is from a mother (an aeronautical engineer) who is a tester for Breastfeeding Mothers Unite. You can see her write up and comments from other Mothers at
http://www.breastfeedingmomsunite.com , published by Melodie, and
http://rotormommy.blogspot.com, published by V. Nickelson. Please see her comments below:
”After using these bags for a week I really can’t find anything I didn’t like. They have a tamper evident tear off seal, a large opening at the mouth and a double zipper at the top to prevent leaks. The write on tab is quite large which is very nice. One other thing is the texture of the write on tab. I write the date with a permanent marker and the tab seemed to help the ink dry quickly to reduce smearing once in the deep freeze.
“The other thing I noticed about the bag was the reinforced bottom. The bottom portion of the bag where it folds in has what looks to be an extra layer of plastic. This is where I have seen leaks in the past during the thawing process.
“I did what I thought was a good test of the bag. On Sunday I put about 8oz of milk in the bag and dated it like normal then put it in the deep freezer. On Thursday night I brought it back out and did a quick thaw under cold running water. The bag shows markers for the amount in it and I purposely filled it fuller than expected to really test it. I am happy to report that we had no leaks at all during the thawing process. The bag held up very well after being in the bottom of my deep freezer for the week.
“Overall I was very happy with the bags and the opportunity to review them.”
Remember, The New Bag Company is your packaging source. We will always look for the best solution for a need, and develop it further until the need is satisfied!
We hope you will consider carrying and promoting any of our Earth Friendly Products or other items from our stock listing. We include a coupon sample pack of
Honeysuckle Breastmilk Storage Bags and of our
OXO-ZIP™) bags and a questionnaire we hope you will consider.
We look forward to your continued success and our working together.
Posted by pehr lund on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 08:49 AM
Many companies are shifting their marketing structure to accommodate the new buying habits of their current/potential clients. Instead of spending massive amounts of money with print advertising, on billboards or even direct mail campaigns large companies are taking advantage of their paid or often free avenues of advertisement. In my research I found this article shocking article about Pepsi not launching any new commercials for the Super Bowl!
Pepsi Smartly Shifting Ad Dollars Online. Online marketing is easy to track, quick to implement and has the potential to reach everyone interested in your product if done correctly. And when you get the leads they are usually pre-qualified because they came looking for you! Imagine the cost you could save if you shifted just one of your print ads to online. Imagine the added value you would receive from that shift. Why not be the one with the feather in your cap for saving your company all that money while increasing the profits, why not put that money into better pockets!
Posted by pehr lund on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 08:48 AM
Whether you have been using them for years or are just now ordering your first set, a custom reclosable bag can take your product’s image from good to great! However, in the process there think about ways you can save when asking for your bottom line quote on that packaging:.
Make sure you measure correctly
When you are checking the dimensions of the reclosable bag you wish to purchase always use the width across the entire bag first and the distance from the zipper to the bottom of the bag, the “usable space” secondly (download the handy measuring diagram here). The space above the zipper is called the “lip”. There are industry standards for the lengths of these, but your particular application may require more or less.
How much package do you really need
I can’t tell you the number of times I have purchased something and been amazed at the amount of extra (unnecessary) packaging used in the delivery of the product. There are hundreds and thousands of lost dollars in mere 1/8” increments, including additional shipping costs for the extra weight. Get your supplier to send you samples of a stock bag that is close to what you think you need and test to see the fit. When it comes to good reclosable bag containment this is not a one size fits all business. Discuss your application with your vendor and ask about a different thickness that might better suit your specific needs. Remember, using extra packaging results in more waste f when your product is gone. Be kind to the environment.
Make sure you plan ahead
Depending on where they are made, what kind of features you are looking for, special packaging you require and other issues, it can take as few as 2 weeks to over 4 months to get your packaging in. You can save yourself money by ordering larger quantities and keeping them on hand at your location. Other money savings is can be found in placing your re-orders early enough so as not to run out of stock. No product means no sales.
How much print do you need
Maybe you have a spectacular logo and you really want to wow folks! But every color you print on your bag costs you extra money per reclosable bag and in plate charges. How about going with a gradient print using one color? It shows your commitment to the environment and still looks great!
Are you adding all the features that you need
Make sure you ask your vendor about the extra features they can add to your reclosable bag. For example, skip the extra cardboard header and add a hang hole centered above the lip (much less expensive). The New Bag Company offers an Oxo-Biodegradable feature that will help speed your bags degradation process should it be discarded. How about printing your instructions on the bag instead of an additional insert?
Taking a little time in advance can save you a ton on the back side. Make sure your vendor is watching out for your interests when they quote you on your custom reclosable bag.
Posted by pehr lund on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 08:47 AM
It seems daily I hear discussions or see news about the effects we as a people have on the environment. I truly think the plastic industry as a whole gets an undeserved amount of negative attention. While many are complaining about the negative impact plastic bags have, they fail to realize that Plastics cousin, Paper, in fact contributes much more to pollution and energy consumption. See the information below
Paper Bags Are Better Than Plastic, Right?
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Summary: The answer to the "paper or plastic?" dilemma is: Neither. They're roughly equal in pros and cons. While convenient addictions, they both gobble up natural resources and cause significant pollution. Get basic design benefits of a paper and plastic bag with our award-winning replacements - the ACME Bags Workhorse (the plastic bag replacement) and the EarthTote (the paper bag replacement). Same brilliant basic design as their wasteful relatives, but designed to be used thousands of times.
__________________
Issue 1: Energy and natural resources
It takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag.
ENERGY TO PRODUCE BAG ORIGINALLY (BTUs)
Safeway Plastic Bags: 594 BTUs
Safeway Paper Bags: 2511 BTUs
(Source: 1989 Plastic Recycling Directory, Society of Plastics Industry.)
Of course, most paper comes from tree pulp, so the impact of paper bag production on forests is enormous. In 1999, 14 million trees were cut to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used by Americans that year alone. Paper bag production delivers a global warming double-whammy forests (major absorbers of greenhouse gases) have to be cut down, and then the subsequent manufacturing of bags produces greenhouse gases.
Issue 2: Pollution
The majority of kraft paper is made by heating wood chips under pressure at high temperatures in a chemical solution. As evidenced by the unmistakable stench commonly associated with paper mills, the use of these toxic chemicals contributes to both air pollution, such as acid rain, and water pollution. Millions of gallons of these chemicals pour into our waterways each year; the toxicity of the chemicals is long-term and settles into the sediments, working its way through the food chain. Further toxicity is generated as both plastic and paper bags degrade.
POLLUTANTS PAPER V.S. PLASTIC
Paper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.
Source: "Comparison of the Effects on the Environment of Polyethylene and Paper Carrier Bags," Federal Office of the Environment, August 1988
Issue 3: Recycling
It takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper. But recycling rates of either type of disposable bag are extremely low, with only 10 to 15% of paper bags and 1 to 3% of plastic bags being recycled, according to the Wall Street Journal.
ENERGY TO RECYCLE PACKAGE ONCE (BTUs)
Safeway Plastic Bags: 17 BTUs
Safeway Paper Bags: 1444 BTUs
Source: 1989 Plastic Recycling Directory, Society of Plastics Industry.
Although paper bags have a higher recycling rate than plastic, each new paper grocery bag you use is made from mostly virgin pulp for better strength and elasticity.
Issue 4: Degradability
Current research demonstrates that paper in today's landfills does not degrade or break down at a substantially faster rate than plastic does. In fact, nothing completely degrades in modern landfills because of the lack of water, light, oxygen and other important elements that are necessary for the degradation process to be completed. A paper bags takes up more space than a plastic bag in a landfill, but because paper is recycled at a higher rate, saving space in landfills is less of an issue.
The original article is posted
here. Try considering these factors next time you opt for those heavy paper bags offered in the checkout line of your local Kroger, or Publix.
With these factors in mind, the addition of any type of
Oxo-Biodegradable reclosable bags solution is the over the top factor that should help you in your purchasing or packaging decisions. I am committed to helping our planet while providing economical storage needs. Help me pass this information along to those you know. Although I knew that what we were doing with our
products was a great environmental solution, the information caused an epiphany for me.
Posted by pehr lund on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 08:47 AM
A couple of years from now, you won't remember the
bag you sold, used and discarded. That is not your responsibility, it is ours! That is why we have developed the first reclosable bag that is
Oxo-Biodegradable
. To truly measure a plastic bag's impact on the environment you need to consider its entire life cycle. From its raw material; LDPE for reclosable bags, to usage and ultimately its destination in the landfill. We at The "New"
Bag Company follow this life cycle and are willing to do something about it. We believe in sustainability and our mark on the environment. We developed our
Oxo-Biodegradable Zipline™
reclosable bag, the
OXO-ZIP™
. A bag that will breakdown in approx 18 months or less to water and carbon dioxide. We want to join you in the effort to save our natural resources. When you reach us don't forget to ask about having your bags custom imprinted. Also available, The New Bag Company has an extensive line of stock reclosable bags.