Resources

In the fast-paced world of footwear manufacturing, where margins are tight and competition is fierce, many brands have adopted a seemingly logical approach to packaging: let the factory handle it. This "factory-sourced," set it and forget it approach might appear convenient and cost-effective on the surface, but it's actually exposing footwear brands to a web of risks that could undermine their reputation, profitability, and brand values.When footwear brands delegate packaging procurement entirely to their manufacturing partners, they're essentially flying blind. They're trading short-term convenience for long-term vulnerability, and in today's marketplace where consumers are increasingly conscious about sustainability, ethics, and quality, this trade-off is becoming more dangerous by the day.

It is fairly well known that the right approach to packaging design can significantly enhance the consumer experience and lead to increased sales, improved brand recognition, enhanced customer satisfaction scores, and reduced return rates. At Trillora, we’ve seen our packaging designs support the growth ambitions of some of the most respected brands in Europe and North America. We’ve seen the power that comes from great design and a well-managed supply chain.

Katelynn Geigel is a Senior Packaging Structural Designer at Trillora with 15 years of industrial and packaging design experience. In this interview, she discussed the Trillora design process, how different types of compliance factor into design, and why optimization often follows compliance.

Packaging can impact organizations in unexpected ways. Without a way to get a good handle on how much your packaging operations cost, a company’s profits can be smaller than expected.

When brands think about packaging costs, most stop at the price of the box. But the real cost is hidden. It is scattered across freight inefficiencies, damaged returns, unplanned rework, and specs that quietly tie you to one region or vendor.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a supply chain conference where I heard from leading thinkers in the footwear and apparel industries. Based on what I heard, if you're running a consumer brand right now, you're probably not the envy of the parents in Sammy or Susie’s friend group. One day it's "move everything to Vietnam!" The next it's "wait, maybe Mexico?" Then it's "actually, what about reshoring to the US?" And now you're sitting in meetings where everyone just stares blankly at PowerPoint slides showing tariff scenarios that might as well be written in hieroglyphics.

When you look at the product development lifecycle, packaging is often found towards the end. It may be viewed as a last-minute task that needs to be completed before getting the product to market—something that simply needs to be checked off a list, instead of an integral part of the development process. 

As Washington slaps fresh tariffs on Chinese imports, boardrooms across America are buzzing with exit strategies—but the offramp out of China is loaded with hidden considerations, especially when it comes to your packaging needs.

Political upheaval, the effects of climate change, and continued supply chain interruptions present new challenges to organizations and their international shipping operations.

Distribution managers are constantly being tasked with lowering operating costs and improving overall efficiency. In one survey, nearly 80% of warehouse managers were asked to find an average of 19% cost savings from existing operations. One overlooked area where such savings opportunities can be found? Packaging.