Project completed with Packhelp
Biotika - a Polish D2C producer of candles - improved their shipping strategy with Packhelp & decreased costs by 12%
The transition from regular ecommerce to D2C required changes in the shipping strategy of Biotika, as well as packaging used to deliver products to customers.
As a consequence, Biotika decreased the costs of packaging by 12%, diversifying its packaging portfolio too. On top of that, these changes resulted in a 10% marketing budget increase.
Industry
Candles
Localization
Poland
Business model
Direct to consumer
Objectives
Packaging portfolio optimization
Supporting the sustainability values
Packaging cost reduction
Results
Better fit between products and packaging
Min. 90% of recycled cardboard used
12% of packaging cost reduction
Chapter 1
The client brief.
Products of Biotika – which included various candles in four different sizes (ranging from 60 ml to 200 ml) – were shipped in internal (Mailer Boxes) and external packaging (Shipping Boxes). Sturdy shipping boxes were used to provide protection for the lighter boxes with print. There are also dozens of gift packs and sets that all together account for almost 100 different combinations of products.
Biotika is also keen on promoting sustainability and eco-friendliness. A part of this is an initiative called RECANDLE. Customers can send candle packaging back to the company which keeps the containers in a loop. As far as the cardboard packaging was concerned, Biotika stressed out the need to remain at the min. level of 90% of recycled cardboard.
Materials
Sizes
Chapter 2
Packaging for D2C
Biotika successfully transitioned to a D2C model. Due to this change, the Polish candle manufacture faced new challenges.
Without the middlemen in the sales process, D2C brands need to nurture the relationships with customers and encourage them to share the word. That is why direct to consumer companies are in need to double down on brand awareness boosted with packaging.
Biotika wanted to craft a memorable unboxing experience – upon opening the boxes, the customers already feels the scented oils, while products are placed on wood wool. The entire package was supposed to be an exhilarating experience.
Packhelp consulting & testing
Since the client did not want to create boxes from scratch, Packhelp team had to test various standard sizes for maximum capacity & multiple product sets. Manual tests resulted in picking four sizes of Eco Mailer Boxes.
- F23 9.2 x 9.2 x 5 cm
- F33 11.8 x 14 x 8 cm
- F44 20.7 x 15.6 x 9.1 cm
- F56 26 x 20 x 10.5 cm
Using standard sizes instead of tailor-made boxes decreased the costs for Biotika. Improved box design has also provided high levels of cushioning and the customer no longer needed to buy the large shipping boxes.
Lower costs, better fit for new business model.
The help from the Packhelp team allowed Biotika to adapt to selling in the direct to consumer model.
Extending the range of boxes used to four different sizes allowed Biotika to better adjust packaging for customer orders. Product could be arranged in four types of packaging, minimizing costs of shipping, as well as the fixed packaging costs. Biotika decreased the fixed packaging costs by 12%, and a fair share of that saving was used to increase the marketing budget.
The new line of packaging was also crucial for Biotika’s branding. Made from recycled materials (min. 90% requirement was met, with FSC-certified cardboard), the boxes are an integral part of the candle producer’s Instagram imagery (Biotika’s sales are heavily driven by this platform).
Finally, the customers of Biotika can reuse the cardboard boxes to send the candle containers back to the manufacture.
Highlights
4
New sizes
A set of optimized Eco Mailer Boxes that fitted more than 100 of product combinations.
12%
Cost reduction
No die-cut costs, and lower overall costs thanks to bulked orders of standard sizes.
90%
Recycled contents
Eco-friendly values emphasized through packaging made from FSC-certified wood.
Before we found Packhelp, our first experiences with packaging producers were rather unsatisfying. Initially we considered buying customized packaging with a die-line, however the costs were too big for the company launch. It would really negatively affect our development in other areas of business. Now, we opted for new standard sizes, which helped to further optimize packaging costs and increase our marketing budget.
Małgorzata Adamska, CEO, Biotika
Biotika
About Biotika
Biotika is a D2C producer of scented candles. Established by Agata Łanica and Małgorzata Adamska, the brand was born out of their common interest in healthy lifestyle. Biotika’s products are available at the company website; the product range includes scented oils, natural soy candles and naturally perfumed bars for closets.
About Packhelp
We can help you with:
Lively, high-quality prints
Loyalty program
Sustainability-first approach
Crafting the unboxing experience
Material selection & consulting
Packaging costs reduction
