Retail Ready Packaging Design for Walmart Compliance

[00:00:00]making sure that you're designing your package in a universal way. And you know, that's kind of the way we think, not only aesthetics, but everything that goes along with it. The longevity of the package.

[00:00:19][Music] Walmart's pace is fast. The packaging standards are high and the margin for error is razor thin. In this foundational course, suppliers will learn what it truly means to be retail ready in the Walmart ecosystem and how to develop packaging that satisfies buyers, simplifies logistics, and drives execution across the entire store network. Let's start with your story.

[00:00:47]Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about ABC Corp and the work you do with Walmart suppliers?

[00:00:53]>> So, my name is Dean McGee. I'm the VP and the VP of sales here at ABC Corp.

[00:01:00]Um, and we are a full endtoend supply chain solution for any Walmart supplier. Um, we can help with, you know, design up to the end point of shipping to the Walmart distribution centers or the Walmart themselves. Um, that's kind of the short of it. In your view, what does retail ready packaging really mean inside the Walmart ecosystem?

[00:01:28]>> Streamlining the process, coming to the right person um making sure that you know you streamline and you're doing everything correctly. So, you follow their guidelines as we know Walmart is very strict and uh that's kind of what we help do.

[00:01:47]Why is packaging such a critical part of performance for Walmart suppliers beyond just aesthetics or protection?

[00:01:54]>> You want to have a lasting impression.

[00:01:56]You want your branded brand to be correctly, you know, protected there.

[00:02:01]And um I can give a success story of something like this. Uh in the past a company Leaprog we worked with very long a long time and uh there was a package that we created for them that was called the RRP a reusable package that basically took their product and put it into a book style packaging. uh we packed 100,000 units like this and within one month Walmart shipped two million units back to be repacked into this style of packaging. So kind of an idea of showing why coming to people like us helps is we try to think outside of the box to help you in other ways.

[00:02:45]>> What are some of the most common mistakes suppliers make when developing packaging for Walmart? Like I said, not coming to us or any professional when it comes to packaging. I mean, uh, you want to that's what we're here for. We're here to guide you correctly to make sure that you don't make those mistakes.

[00:03:03]How do those mistakes usually show up in terms of delays, rework, chargebacks, or lost sales? not not designing correctly, not following guidelines, um, and then showing up to the stores late, stuff opening in the stores because you use the wrong material or the wrong suppliers. I mean, the list goes on. And then that's why it's it's very important to find the correct supplier when you're dealing with Walmart or any of these big retail stores.

[00:03:36]What advice do you give to suppliers trying to design packaging that meets both compliance and operational requirements?

[00:03:43]>> Come to me. Come to me in the beginning, you know. Um, don't break your head.

[00:03:49]That's my job. My job is to basically help you get to that point and and develop everything that is needed and also their team being ready, understanding the guidelines that they need to follow. How important is it for suppliers to align their packaging plans with Walmart's modular calendar and seasonal resets?

[00:04:11]>> Very because, you know, we know they love to charge back. Uh if you've worked with Walmart before, if you don't follow their their guidelines or their timelines, you know, chargebacks happen and that could hurt. And that's why suppliers like us try to do our best to meet everything that they require.

[00:04:31]who internally needs to be at the table, design, sales, supply chain, etc., and what do they need to be aligned on from day one?

[00:04:40]>> I think it's a a full collaboration of everybody. Um, everybody needs to be involved from more from both sides. Um and that you know kind of helps streamline the process making sure that every every team is on the same page and is uh accepting you know what is required and how the brand is basically going to end up.

[00:05:05]>> What role does ABC play in helping these teams stay ahead of the curve when timelines shift or requirements evolve?

[00:05:12]>> I mean everything. That's that's kind of what we strive to do when you know when these timeline shifts and these types of things happens. I call myself a fire department. You know, I'll do everything I can to try to get the client what they need at the right time to make sure that it meets every demand.

[00:05:35]>> ABC has developed formats like Envirro and Envirro Cap. What inspired these innovations? U for example the story I said earlier you know that was something in the earlier uh 2000s the RRP and from there we've always tried to strive to develop new styles of environmental packaging um we do do thermopforming inhouse so I do have you know plastic because a lot of clients still want to use plastic but for the future of our world and for the future of packaging as well you know we're always trying to develop up any environmental solution that we can and I mean we've already come up with I mean numerous that we'll get into later.

[00:06:19]>> How are Walmart suppliers using these formats to reduce plastic improve sustainability scores or win buyer favor? I mean, you know, you're going fully environmental if you're using certain designs that we develop. And, you know, when you do that, you are improving scorecards. You're improving uh supplier capability of packaging.

[00:06:41]You're improving the consumer's capability of recycling and possibly even creating a reusable package that allows the consumer to keep the package, which is a branding and marketing.

[00:06:56]um you know win to have your name sitting there for months until they have to buy the product again.

[00:07:03]>> What advice do you have for suppliers who want to go greener without increasing cost or risking compliance?

[00:07:09]>> Come to a professional, come to someone like us, you know, that's what we do.

[00:07:14]Don't break your head. Uh let us break your head for you. And and we strive to do it. That's how a lot of the designs that we've come up with have came from clients requesting things.

[00:07:26]>> What are some packaging features that actually help instore teams with stocking, replenishment, and display compliance?

[00:07:34]>> Uh, you know, just the rules and regulations, having the correct designs.

[00:07:38]Um, but I mean that's the key right there with them.

[00:07:43]Uh, you know, I I can give you an example with Fuji. You know, we have uh been with Fuji for a long time and they had something like this and we had to basically take their package to a certain size and redesign and do everything correctly and add RFIDs and all the things that Walmart was requiring.

[00:08:05]>> How can packaging reduce friction during distribution, setup or returns?

[00:08:11]again the correct designs from the beginning, you know, coming to a professional and making sure that you're designing your package in a universal way. And you know, that's kind of the way we think, not only aesthetics, but everything that goes along with it to longevity of the package. What are examples of packaging designs that work well across omni channel from shelf to ship to return?

[00:08:41]>> I can give you an example of uh you know uh the there's the envirro box that we created which is a new style of the fold over blisters that you see in uh in um uh Costco's and Sam's Club and it basically reduced all plastic fully environmental. Um, you also have the e-commerce style packages that allow the consumers to have easier ways of opening and disposing of packages and uh also reusable packages that we've created for you know certain items to eliminate styrofoam and use full corrugated making it you know easier for the supplier, the consumer, everybody.

[00:09:26]>> Have you worked with suppliers who had to redesign packaging midstream? What triggered it and how was it resolved?

[00:09:33]>> Many I mean I I would say majority of the clients that I work with today and have stayed with me for the past 15 or 20 years all started because of that.

[00:09:46]They came to me with a problem that I solved for them and it just grew from there. you know, they saw that what we were able to do and how we're able to turn key and create a solution for them not in months, you know, within weeks sometimes. And I can give you an example with uh a company called Vidair where they wanted to remove styrofoam. you know, they're already producing, shipping stuff worldwide. And we basically created a fully environmental solution for them to remove styrofoam from their TVs, allowing them to basically have a reusable package and something that is protecting and fully environmental and and eliminating styrofoam was key for them. And it happened very quickly and it's been a great success for them as well and as for us is the example is it's reusable. They still haven't ordered their second placement of order yet because they're still reusing the original packaging. That's how well it's been doing.

[00:10:54]>> What should suppliers build into their process to avoid lastminute fire drills or costly packaging doovers?

[00:11:01]Many clients get into this, you know, and that's where it comes to coming to someone professional from the beginning.

[00:11:08]Uh, you know, you don't want to run into those issues of stuff opening in the stores and stuff like that, wrong materials. And that's why it's crucial coming to a a professional who understands the requirements and can help. For suppliers who are struggling or just want to get packaging right for the first time, what's the best way to start working with ABC Corp?

[00:11:32]>> Coming to us from the start, you know, don't, like I said many times, don't break your head. Our job is to do basically do the operation and to create everything for you. You market and sell.

[00:11:48]That's all you need to do when you work with ABC. It's an endto-end solution where we're fully trying to make it easier for your company.

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