Keenpac in Detail Magazine Issue 1

7/27/2019 Keenpac in Detail Magazine Issue 1

1/12

detail

ColourUncover the science behind the subjectivity

The Savoys new teashop packagingUnder the microscope

The packaging yearThe ultimate guide to

planning your packaging

Fashion focusKeep your packaging on trend

Whats new in theworld of packaginginnovation?

Keeping you up to date with all things packaging

Issue #1

Inside:

Packa

ging

Calendar

2011/2012


2/12

Issue #1 www.keenpac.com

Contents Packaging with areal difference

Hello everyone and a very warmwelcome to our 1st edition ofInDetail. Our Keenpac newsletter ispacked with articles and featureswhich we hope you will findinteresting and informative.

Our vision is to supply innovative and brand enhancing packaging

solutions whilst always focusing on the detail from the quality anddesign of our products, the selection and auditing of our suppliers to

service and stock management for our customers.

We have a fantastic team here in Leicester and in Hong Kong, who have

worked tirelessly with all our customers this year to deliver fabulous and

affordable festive packaging. We have supplied thousands of cutting

edge and innovative Christmas bags, boxes, ribbons and accessories to

help our clients customers stand out from the crowd!

Many of our products are sourced from the Far East and we have a

fascinating article about how we work with our supply partners; some ofthe challenges and cultural differences we face and how one of our

category buyers, Alex spends a typical working day.

I hope you enjoy reading InDetail and please do let us know what you think.

Helen Cockerham

Managing Director

Editor

Jo Davies0116 289 0900

[email protected]

News team

Cara Jeffrey, Dean Callier, David Kerr, Verity Massey,Pete Nicholls, Seamus OBrien

Subscribe

To receive your own copy of our email bulletin, or find out more about

Keenpac either: Call: 0116 289 0900Email: [email protected]

Follow us on Twitterat www.twitter.com/keenpac

03 In the newsLatest news and views from Keenpac

04 Feature : Whats colour?How can you tell when a colour is right?

We take a closer look at the issue of colour

from a quality perspective.

05 Case study : River IslandKeenpac has been working with River Islandfor over 25 years. Keenpacs Seamus OBrien

provides his personal account.

07Under the microscopeThe Savoys new Tea Shop packaging.

How was it done?

08 Feature : East meets westForming close relations with suppliers from theFar East has become an increasingly essential

aspect of the buying process. But when youre

6500 miles apart and with many cultural

differences, how can you maintain a smooth

client/supplier relationship? Keenpacs Head of

Purchasing gives her own personal take.

09 In profile : Alex MakAn insight into the work of one of Keenpacs

buying team.

10 In styleThe coming years going to be all about the

senses. We translate this fashion trend into

packaging style.

Issue #1


3/12

One Keenpac clientwas able to trim itsmailing and fulfilmentprocesses down from14 separate actions

to just 2

Keenpac has just launched a brandnew mailing box, designed specificallyfor internet retailers as a means to reducecost, increase security and ease theburden of complex fulfilment processes.

Over recent years, retailers have turned increasingly to

the use of polythene mailing sacks in order to

despatch internet orders theyre low cost and quick

when it comes to fulf ilment. And yet, when it comes

to security and protection, polythene has someobvious drawbacks.

This is where Safepac comes in. The box is flat-packed,

and pops open with a single movement, so its ultra

fast to assemble, and with its self-adhesive strip, quick

to seal too. Although retailers can still use the box

along with a polythene mailing sack, Safepac includes

a unique anti-tamper system, which means customers

can see clearly if their goods have been opened

before they receive them, and have the ability to

reseal and return the entire box if they wish to return

their goods.

One Keenpac client was able totrim its mailing and fulfilment

processes down from 14 separate

actions to just 2 and achieved

significant savings both in the

cost of producing the box, and

in the fulfilment process itself!

Theyre compelling benefits

many retailers have been

quick to grasp, and the box,

which i s already being trial led

with a number of Keenpacclients, was launched in

Jacques Vert in December.

In the news

Keenpac took some of our customers out tothe 2010 Top Gear MPH motor show at EarlsCourt on 5th November. We all met up atthe vintage-chic Troubadoure cafe forbreakfast ahead of an action packed dayof motoring theatre.

After passing through an exhibition featuringsome of the latest and greatest supercarson the planet (think Ferrari, Koenigsegg,

Lamborghini, Maserati and Aston Martin) thedynamic trio; Clarkson, Hammond and Mayintroduced a thrilling show of racingcomplete with helicopter shooting andburning cars.

An entertaining driving display by the Stigfollowed the revelation that he does in factoriginate from a Stig farm where many Stigsare created! It was a great day out and wehope to do it again next year.

Keenpac nominated byDisney as 2010 MostSustainable Vendor, Globally

Keenpac has been nominated by Disney for the 2010Most Sustainable Vendor, Global award at this years

Annual Vendor Partner Meeting held during November,in New York City. Out of all of Disneys global suppliers,

Keenpac was nominated as one of just three in theworld to be selected in this category.

The awards presentation is Disneys way of givingspecial recognition to its top suppliers.

This year, around 200 suppliers were in attendance,including Keenpac. Keenpac was nominated for workon the Disney packaging range, which is both

sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The Award was presented to Jim Maddison of Keenpacby Jim Fielding, President of Disney Stores Worldwide,

Teresa Tideman, Joint MD, Disney Store Europe, and ofcourse Mickey and Minnie Mouse!!

Issue #1 03

Speedo team up withKeenpac to develop newSwimwear hanger

We are pleased to be launching a new hangerconcept with Speedo. Getting the femaleshape just right proved to be a bit of a

challenge but after a few nips & tucks we thinkthe ladies swimwear looks excellent on its newhanger and were glad that Speedo does too!

www.keenpac.com

Top Gear...top day!

Onlinesecuritypackaging

For more news & views visit :www.keenpac.com


4/12

04

Feature

Whats colour?Colour is an important part of our everydaylives. Our heart sinks when we see a brownenvelope on the doormat; children get

overexcited when they see the golden arches of

McDonalds and no matter how fast an F1 car

goes around the track, we can always spot theFerrari! So, we asked Keenpacs very own colour

expert, QC Technician Steven Rogers for the

low-down on colour.

Is colour really so important? People react strongly to visual stimuli, which is

one reason why colour plays such a vital role in branding. For example,

children react well to primary colours as their colour associations are still

being formed. Look at Disney, their characters are always bold and strong in

colour - you dont see many subtly coloured Princess dresses! Instead, characters

such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or even Buzz Lightyear are formed using

a handful of core shades that are simple for the child to understand.

What about colour and emotions? Its no accident thatcelebrities sit in a green room before appearing on TV.

According to colour psychology we feel more relaxed

when we sit in a room painted green; we perform better

in gyms painted blue; and red is frequently used in fast

food outlets as it increases our heart rate and ensures

we eat quickly!

Everyoneseescolours inaslightlydifferent way

Issue #1


5/12

05

So, whats the best way to pick a

colour? Its very subjective - one mans pink is another

mans cerise. So, rather than rely on colour names we use Pantone

References. Developed in America in the 1950s, the Pantone system uses 15

base pigments that are mixed in various ratios to create individual shades.

Think of it as a recipe thats been created for most shades of colour. Thatrecipe is then set in stone and allocated a Pantone Number (PMS) that is

recognised around the world.

So, the Pantone Number should look exactly the same every time its printed?

Not every time. That should be the case, but there are a few other factors to

consider. For example, colours look different in various light sources and when

printed on different substrates; colours produced by an uncalibrated monitor

or printer will vary from the final professionally printed article; and even the

angle at which you hold something can alter the way your eye absorbs that

specific shade of colour. Additional finishes such as OPP laminates or

varnishes can also change the final colour.

Does it matter which print method I pick?Absolutely! Different print

methods, be it litho, flexo, pad or silk screen can result in different amounts of

ink being laid down and absorbed. Even during a print run, colour can vary.

A printer will usually disregard the first 20-40 prints as the rollers will not be fully

coated or charged with ink. So the first edition is normally put in the bin! At

the same time, ink is constantly assessed during a large print run to ensure its

density does not alter, as this can result in a darker shade of the same colour

being created.

How does Keenpac ensure the colour is always consistent? We take this

part of our role very seriously. Sampling is very important. By having a signed

off sample, a consistent D65 standard light source for measurement, and the

correct colours or proofs in front of us as well as the product specification, we

can make our checks as accurate as possible, and help remove some of the

subjectivity. We even have a controlled area where we store our samples, to

eliminate the possibility of colours being affected by light and

atmospheric conditions.

Any final thoughts?Well, I would say have funwith colour. Retailers like Paul Smith and

Selfridges use colour as part of their

brand identity. Others like Apple have

opted purely for white to deck out

their retail stores. But one thing is for

sure, whatever your colour, well

do our utmost to ensure it stays

the same every time!

By Steven Rogers

QC Technician

Case studyRiver Island

Keenpac has been working with River Island, one

of Britains most successful, privately owned family

companies for over 25 years. We have supplied

the main range of generic polythene carriers

since the inception of the original brand, when

early carriers featured a montage of images,

decoupage style. As the River Island brand

image changed, so did the iconic bags.

In early 2000 River Island adopted a fresher look choosing to use four

vibrant polythene colours within their three bag sizes. Realising thatconsumers were becoming increasingly aware of the consequences

of packaging waste on the environment, they also decided to take

the next step and reduce their carbon footprint. This was achieved

by reducing the thickness of their polythene bags and including EPI

an additive used to make the bags biodegradable.

Since River Island are meticulous when introducing new products to

store, the new bio-bags were trialled initially in three branches before

being approved for full production and roll out. Since then, every

consignment of polythene or paper arriving from the factory

continues to be tested for colour consistency, print quality and most

importantly strength. It is this level of quality and service that has built

an ongoing partnership between Keenpac and River Island.

Its always a pleasure to watch an initial discussion about a

packaging design turn into a reality. Whether were working with a

small brand, or a large multiple, attention to detail is vital for both

Keenpac and the retailer.

By Seamus OBrien

Business Development Manager

AlightboxallowsSteveRogersto

ensurethefinishedarticleisexactlythesamePantoneNumberastheclientselected.

Issue #1


6/12

06 www.keenpac.com

Ted BakerWe love this fun Christmas

design from Ted Baker.

Need we say more?

Victorinox is a name thats synonymous

with the original Swiss Army Knife. From

humble beginnings, the company has

grown into a successful global business

with flagship stores in London, New York,

Paris and Japan. The Victorinox brand

embodies timeless style, functionality

and iconic design.

As proud suppliers to Victorinox,

Keenpac Switzerland has developed an

impressive range of high end luxury

watch boxes and bags, whose attention

to detail and finish equal the finesse of

the Victorinox brand.

From around the world

Paul SmithThis years Paul Smith Christmas bags featured images of silver and gold foil.

Simple but effective.

Bag for it...This striking souvenir collection celebrates 175

years of Manchesters best loved department

store Kendals. Depicting some of the areas

most iconic landmarks, demand for the bags

has been overwhelming!

HackettHackett have chose to create some neat silver

printed gift tags and red ribbons as a clever way

to Christmas up their standard gift boxes.

Product focusOur pick of whats new and different.

Issue #1


7/12

07www.keenpac.com

Under the microscope

A packaging designers view of theSavoys new Tea Shop packaging

Savoy

1. The floral patterning

was created using an all

over black foil against the

dyed black kraft paper.

The effect creates a slight

deboss compared to

spot uv which is raised.

2. The boxes were

designed to contain

biscuits and tea, so

incorporate a separate

food-safe grease proof

glassine sheet in black.

3. The box is die cut,

glued and flat-folded.

It is supplied flat in order

to minimise the space

needed for storage.

4. The triangular lid is

folded and sealed

with tape.

5. The separate sleeve holds the box

firmly together whilst providing an

attractive outer wrapper.

Issue #1


8/12

08 www.keenpac.com

Feature

EastMeetsWest

Before joining Keenpac in 2008 I spent 4 years living in Hong Kong and

China working as part of a small, dynamic, expatriate team for a well

known cosmetics and beauty retailer. Sounds glamorous but to set the

scene, I was operating in a multi-cultural environment, geographically

distanced from the UK with a time difference of +8 hours GMT. That said,

we were working in isolation with considerable operational autonomy and

freedom to act. Our sourcing office was responsible for sourcing diverse

merchandise totalling 4,000+ SKUs, from a supplier base spanning 320

factories in 15 countries, covering 8 million square miles throughout the Far

East and Indian Subcontinent.

Each supplier was unique in providing its own diversities coupled with a

sometimes limited buying power which presented daily challenges.

Added to which I was tasked with maximising staff retention in a volatile

labour market and managing a team of local Hong Kong Chinese staff

whose first language was not English. It was during this time that I learnt

some fundamental lessons in managing Far East supplier relationships.

The most simple of things such as exchanging business cards could put

you on the back foot during your first meeting. The correct way to receive

a business card is in both hands, studying it carefully before putting it

away. Never put the business card you receive directly into your pocket orbusiness card holder as this is considered rude. To present your business

card to someone else, you do the same: two hands with the name facing

the recipient. As a buyer visiting China, handling these cultural niceties

can create additional pressure during your meeting, as you have to be

conscious of actions or an approach youd ordinarily think little of.

In Chinese business, the relationship is all. Suppliers want to meet with the

highest level of management possible. They need to understand your

buying structure; know who the decision-makers are and ensure they have

direct access to them. There are few things more frustrating for them than

spending time with a potential customer, only to find that the contact thenhas to go away and seek permission rather than make a decision there

and then.

In the Far East, there is no better way to develop a business relationship

than through face-to-face meetings demonstrating that you are

prepared to invest both time and money in travelling to visit. Regardless

of what time of day it is, a supplier is likely to invite you to eat with them.

Refusal, no matter how polite, can often offend, disrupting the harmony

of the relationship. Here at Keenpac, we send our buyers out to the Far

East, empowered as decision-makers, and briefed to gain a full

understanding of the supplier, the individuals we liaise with, as well as themanufacturing processes.

Forming close relations with suppliers from the FarEast has become an increasingly essential aspect ofthe procurement process. But when youre 6500miles apart and with many cultural differences, howcan you maintain a smooth client/supplierrelationship? Keenpac Purchasing Manager HelenNind shares her experiences.

Issue #1 www.keenpac.com


9/12

09www.keenpac.com

It is vital for anyone dealing with the Chinese to understand the

concept of honour or face. Chinese businessmen and women

dont cope well with losing face, so a direct challenge, an

accusation, or a situation that makes an individual feel undermined

or embarrassed, particularly in front of colleagues, could be taken

as loss of face. On a practical level, we often find suppliersagreeing, even if they know something cant be achieved, rather

than lose face - better to say yes than risk being seen as obstructive

and hard to deal with. The challenge for us as buyers is in being

able to identify when yes actually means no and adjust our

approach accordingly. Long gone are the days of shouting down

the phone or banging on desks!

Even

without cultural differences, theres

the barrier of time, and good

communication has to be paramount. The UK and

China are 8 hours apart, so interaction is restricted to just a few hours

a day and most communication has to be done via e-mail

challenging enough at times, even when you share a language! Its

hard to add expression or personality as you would when face to

face or on the telephone, so e-mail messages are open to

misinterpretation. Just a small adjustment in instructions becomes a

lengthy process as many suppliers will wish to double or even triple

check that they are doing the right thing. Good from the point of

thoroughness but frustrating when under time pressure.

At the end of my stint in China, I returned to the UK and continued tomanage supplier relationships from here. The difficulties in

managing suppliers from so far away became increasingly

apparent and over a period of just months, suppliers returned to

being reactive rather than proactive in coming up with new ideas

and products. At this point, I really started to understand the true

value of local sourcing.

Since joining Keenpac, my own experiences of living and working in

China have been invaluable. We have chosen to maintain a

sourcing office of our own based in Hong Kong, and therefore within

reach of our Chinese suppliers. The office acts as the vitalcommunication link, at all levels, between Keenpac and our Far East

supplier base. From National Account Manager to Managing

Director in the West and from factory worker to CEO in the East, the

team has become essential in helping us establish and maintain

strong relationships with our preferred supplier partners, overcoming

language, cultural and communication issues, and ensuring our

partners understand and can meet our expectations.

By Helen Nind

Purchasing Manager

Our team is responsible for costing up enquiries and liaising with our

suppliers, so the day to day work of the department entails preparing

specifications, sending out enquiries, compiling costing sheets,

organising samples, and negotiating with suppliers on pricing and

delivery schedules. We are involved at every stage of the

procurement process, so we are a very busy department. Theres no

such thing as a typical day.

Since there is a time difference between ourselves and the Far East,most days for me will start with checking my e-mails to establish if any

queries or issues are outstanding from our Far Eastern suppliers

overnight, and acting on them. Ill then move onto Europe and UK. It's

like "Around the World in 8 hours".

Being able to speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin helps me a

great deal in my job. Its not a necessity, but with our Chinese

suppliers, it certainly helps save a lot of time. Explaining something in

their mother tongue could only take five minutes but in a second

language may take a lot longer.

As senior buyer, its my job to manage and develop good supplier

relationships. Trips to China are important and help me gain a high

level of understanding of some of the manufacturing processes. This

additional knowledge enables me to identify further cost-saving

opportunities, especially in compiling cost drivers, price matrices and

price negotiation on tenders.

As a member of the purchasing team I face different challenges

every day and it is these that make the job so interesting. I am always

learning, and can always learn something from a new challenge. I

suppose thats why I enjoy my job so much.

In profileAlex Mak - Buyer

I am always learning, and can always learn

something from a new challenge. I suppose

thats why I enjoy my job so much.

Issue #1


10/12

10 www.keenpac.com

...in fashionand art

Exploring form and structure through different

textures with lace effects, crochet, cutwork,mesh, and laser die cutting.

In packaging, the lace look can be achieved through a

number of different production techniques. A simple

photographed image of real lace gives plenty of scope

to match in with an existing lace design and can look

stunning. For a more textured feel, laser die cutting will

allow the finest of patterns to be cut from your chosen

stock, or choose finely patterned spot UV to achieve a

more subtle, barely there effect.

1/ This look was achieved through a fine laser die cut from abronze pearlescent paper.

2/ The lace photography helps this simple kraft bag stand outfrom the crowd.

3/ This subtle floral finish was achieved through black foil blockingagainst a matt black.

The coming year will be allabout stimulating the senses -adding an extra dimensionthrough sensory experience....

In style

2

1

3

Issue #1


11/12

Creating illusions through holographic foils, two tone

metallics, glassy, etched and reflective surfaces.

Todays foils go way beyond the traditional gold and silver

of yesteryear and theyre enjoying something of a

resurgence in design at the moment. The range of foils

around are now virtually limitless, so with a little

imagination, you can use them to create some

outstanding effects. Or choose from the huge range of

metallic, reflective, iridescent and pearlescent papers to

mimic some of the coming seasons key fashion trends.

1/ The light catches the all-over embossing on this mirror paper.

2/ The shimmering blue effect on this bag was created byprinting a blue gradient over the top of a pre-printed silver

paper.

3/ The foil effect on the Paul Smith Christmas bags wasachieved through a printed image, and some clever

photoshop work.

4/ House of Fraser have chosen gold foil against high glossblack to produce this stunning Biba bag.

5/ Deep embossing on a metallic substrate helps to createa look of real steel.

6/ Holographic foils achieved this iridescent rainboweffect.

www.keenpac.com

65

3

2

4

11

1

Issue #1


12/12

The Packaging YearPlan your packaging with this quick guide

Like most products that come from outside of the UK, volume packaging needs lots of advance planning, particularly around holiday periods likeChristmas, Chinese New Year and European shut-downs when production schedules can become very busy.

When planning your packaging, especially if its brand new, youll need to allow plenty of time for development, production and shipping. Advance planningwill give just a little more certainty all round, and can minimise costs!

Year round event calendar

Event Date Artwork and Ideas at the ready!

Fathers Day 19th June DecemberSummer Sale June/July December/January

Ramadan 31st July January

Autumn/Winter Campaign August/September January/February

Halloween 31 October April

Diwali 26 October April

Thanksgiving 24 November March

Christmas 25 December March

Winter Sale December/January April

Valentines Day 14 February July

Spring/Summer Campaign March August

Mothers Day 3rd April September

Easter 24th April September

The planning timings given above give a helpful guideline, but if you have any packaging needs coming up shortly, call us on 0116 289 0900 well be happy to advise.

www.keenpac.com

Keenpac

Centurion Way

Meridian Business Park

Leicester

LE19 1WH

Tel: +44 (0)116 289 0900

Fax: +44 (0)116 289 3757

[email protected]

Documents

Keenpac in Detail Magazine Issue 1