If you’ve ever had to prepare a few bags for a trip you know how stressful packing can be. You want to make sure you bring the right things, that your items are organized, and that you don’t forget anything! This confusion is amplified when you’re moving to a new place. The mess of packing and managing things during a big move can be overwhelming to some people. Hopefully these tips can help you get ready for moving day!

1) Organize beforehand
 
Before you begin, make a checklist of everything you might need during the move. You will want to prepare by getting a variety of materials and items to facilitate your move. To protect your things you will want protective foam, bubble wrap, loose fill, moving blankets and floor protection. It’s also important to gather a variety of boxes like wardrobe boxes, hand-hold boxes, and file boxes to suit all of your packing needs. Lastly, what goes on the outside of the box matters just as much as what you put inside. We’ve all had the experience of the bottom of a box falling out because it was not taped properly. Be sure to gather the right kinds of packing tape to prevent this from happening, and also labels and markers so that you can label your packages.
 
Some other techniques to organize before hand can help you save time and limit stress during your move. Create a moving file that will hold all-important documents related to the move like hotel reservations or the realtors contact information. Keep this file in a space where it will not get mixed into the things going into your moving boxes. Make sure you accurately document everything, and take this moment to capture photos of complicated electronic setups, like the back of your TV for example. This way you wont wonder how to put things back together when you’re settling into your new place.
 
2) Get rid of things you don’t use
 
This tip can be difficult to follow for the packrats among us, but it’s worth it. Take the few weeks before moving to analyze how much you use everything you own, and sell anything that you haven’t used in over a year. You can also donate unwanted clothes, shoes or electronics to donation centers to lighten your load and help others in the process.  
 
Part of this cleansing process will also include food in the weeks leading up to your move. Try to eat up anything in the house that you don’t want to drag with you. An in the week directly before your move, don’t buy lots of perishable items. If your budget allows it, try to eat most of your meals outside of the home to reduce the amount of food that you’ll have to throw away on moving day. Take advantage of your empty fridge by defrosting it, saving you messy cleanup later on during your move.
 
3) Pack smart
 
Begin by organizing your belongings into categories; the general rule is to pack up one room at a time. This way you will find it easier to unpack and stay organized once you arrive to your new place. Another tip is to try to begin packing at least a few things a couple of weeks before hand. One box a night is much more manageable than packing the whole house during a long weekend.
 
Remember those materials you gathered earlier? This is when they come in handy. Having a variety of boxes on hand will help you while you pack, and you can use specific types of boxes for certain items. For example, your hand-hold boxes are ideal for the heaviest items because they are sturdy and give you a good grip. You should pack the heaviest items on the bottom of your boxes, and pay close attention to the positions of your items. Bubble wrap, kraft paper and foam will fill in any extra spaces making a snug fit for your valuables.
 
 
 
SSI has you covered on moving day! You can order everything you need for the big day on our site, and if you’re in a hurry you can drop by our RVA warehouse to grab what you need. Are you moving a lot of stuff? We even offer pallets of moving boxes, and we can deliver them right to your location. Call us today to speak to a packaging expert at 804-649-1111 

Keeping your shipments safe from damage during transport is extremely important. According to recent studies the number one complaint among transportation managers was damaged goods. Although you might hope that the people in charge of shipping your cargo will treat it very carefully, the reality is that many times deliveries are rushed and corners are cut- incurring damages. To make sure that your shipments arrive intact, try these methods to fortify your packaging process.
 
Block and Brace Shipping
Block and brace shipping is a way to keep goods secured during transit, reducing the risk of excessive movement and damaged cargo. Packages that have been placed into shipping containers can slide around if they are unsecured. Blocking and bracing is a process that reduces the shifting of packages from the front of the shipping container to the back. To do this, metal or wooden beams are placed at strategic points within the shipping container in order to hold items in place.  If you are shipping a product with wheels you need to first keep the wheels stabilized and prevent them from spinning. You need to make sure these bracing systems are locked to the container as securely as possible and ensure that the braving systems do not allow for any movement of the cargo they hold.
 
Void Fill
Void fill is any type of cushioning that is added to your package with the intention of protecting your goods while they are in transit. Void fill should be used in cases when your products are fragile, if there is excess space in the package, if they heavy, or if your product has sharp corners that could be bent or broken during shipment. Typically used in corrugated boxes, void fill has many different options that serve a variety of functions. Some examples of void fill options would be packaging paper, inflatables, loose fill or newsprint paper. Packaging paper is used to fill empty space, protect edges or corners, or to fully protect the product. The protective qualities vary depending on the thickness, strength and resilience of the type of paper that you select. Similar to packaging paper is newsprint paper, which is thinner and generally well suited to provide light protection. Loose fill is convenient and very easy to use; these components are made from expanded polystyrene and can be added to a box to fill in any extra spaces.
 
Surface Protection
Surface protection can be used to protect a wide variety of products, such as painted car parts, mirrors, or anything else with a delicate surface. Surface protectors generally are designed to protect edges, and prevent shock or compression. Bubble wrap, packing foam and protective film are all types of surface protection that work in several different ways. Bubble wrap is a light film that can be supplied in sheeted forms, in pouches, or in rolls. Packing foam is elastic, flexible and water repellent material that offers very good cushioning properties. Protective film is generally used to prevent scuffs and scratches, and can be removed without leaving a residue even after long-term use.
 
These products and techniques are sure to help your shipments arrive safely to their destination. Having been in the packaging business for over 40 years, SSI Packaging Group understands the need for cost effective and quality packaging. Our premium products help your shipments get from point A to point B. For more information or assistance on how to protect your items in transit feel free to contact us at 804.649.1111.

Everyone has had moments popping the sheets of bubbles that are leftover from packaging. But the next time that you have some leftovers, try to resist the magnetic pull of breaking those little bubbles. There are tons of other cool uses for bubble wrap that you can take advantage of.
 
Protect your windshield
 
Bubble wrap is a great insulator, and can be used in a variety of ways to protect things from the cold. You can tape sheets of it to the inside of your windows to contain heat during cold snaps and reduce your heating bill. In addition, bubble wrap is a great tool to keep your car windshield frost-free during the snowy winter months. You can also use bubble wrap to protect your home’s windows.
 
Insulate your plants
 
Speaking of frost prevention, you can use bubble wrap to protect plants that are too large to bring inside during harsh conditions. By cutting the bubble wrap to the appropriate size and taping around the entire plant, pot included, you can prevent freezing and keep your plants alive until springtime.
 
Keep your groceries cold
 
When things start to heat up in the spring and summer, you can use bubble wrap to keep the cold in. Wrap it tightly around your cold groceries when you have a long ways to transport them. It’s a crafty way to make sure you aren’t bringing ice-cream soup to the park picnic!
 
Store accessories
 
Bubble wrap is a great medium for holding the shape of delicate items like handbags or tall boots. It is soft enough to prevent stretching, won’t attract moths or rodents, and lasts forever. They’re a great way to preserve the freshness of your accessories when you put them in storage.
 
Make your travels pop
 
Next time you have a big adventure, take a little bubble wrap with you in your suitcase. The bubble wrap will save space in your suitcase for any souvenirs you’d like to bring back, and will protect them on the bumpy ride back to your home.
 
Pad your sleeping bag
 
If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, bubble wrap can help keep you comfortable. Instead of buying an expensive sleeping pad from a camping store, use bubble wrap as a cheap alternative. You might also find other uses for bubble wrap on your trip that you hadn’t thought of. Lightweight, waterproof, and strong, bubble wrap is just a handy thing to have around during a camping trip.
 
Get crafty
 
Bubble wrap is such a tactile material that it’s no wonder kids are naturally drawn to it. Craft ideas for bubble wrap are almost endless: dip it in paint and use it to stamp patterns onto paper; make a jellyfish Halloween costume; or tape it to the floor and let kids roll toy cars over it. Next time the kids are feeling a little bit of cabin fever, grab a bit of bubble wrap and get crafty!
 
Get everything you need from SSI Packaging Group
 
When you need bubble wrap or just about any other packaging material, SSI Packaging Group has you covered. We are a leading distributor of Sealed Air product packaging products, including:

• Bubble Wrap®
• Bubble Mask
• Adhesive Bubble
• Multi Purpose bubble
• Cold Seal Bubble
• Limited Grade Bubble
• Recycled Bubble
• Strong Grade Bubble.

Our bubble wrap stays bubbly--we pride ourselves on providing quality products that don’t lose air in transit. To learn more, view our products or contact us at (804) 649-1111. 

If your teeth have been chattering a bit more than usual this winter, and you’ve noticed a spike in your energy bill, you may be wondering how to heat your home more efficiently. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to warm your home that won’t break the bank. Here are just a few.   

Find out if your home is properly insulated
If your home doesn’t have adequate insulation, your heating unit is working much harder than it needs to, with much less effect. Unless you bought your house new, built it, or remodeled it yourself, you probably don’t know what kind of insulation you have, or how much. You can perform your own inspection by following an online tutorial like this one, or hire a professional insulation company. If you find that you have too little insulation—and many older homes do—adding some can greatly reduce your heating bill. 

Keep your curtains closed
A major way to conserve heat is by covering your windows, especially in the winter. Bubble wrap and packing foam are both cost-friendly alternatives to more expensive insulation blinds. About 25% of heat escapes though uncovered glass windows, so even though you might not want to view the world through bubble wrap, this is a great way to reduce your energy bill.  

Plug up nooks and crannies
You’d be surprised how much energy can slip through an uncovered keyhole, or the cracks beneath the doors. This is because no matter what you do, the cold outside will suck the heat out of the house—a process known as heat transfer—and attempt to infiltrate through every little crack and gap. You can test for drafts by exploring your house with either your hand or a lit candle. Once you’ve identified gaps, you can cover them up with tape or other materials.

Close vents in unused rooms
Some areas of your home might be left untouched until visitors arrive. If you have extra, unused spaces like guest bathrooms or attics, close off their vents so that your heating unit can redirect heat into areas you use the most. The most important part of this step? Remember to re-open the vents in the guest room when grandma comes to visit!

Insulate the floor
The floor alone is responsible for up to 10% of home heat loss, so it’s important to keep it as covered as possible. If your floor is uncarpeted, and you plan on spending a few decades in your home, carpeting might be an investment that eventually pays for itself. You can also buy some big oriental rugs, or make like a Lannister and buy that bearskin rug you’ve secretly always wanted. (Sorry, we had to.)

Let the light in
Sunlight is 100% free, so try to make the most of it. When you notice that the sun is especially bright in a certain window, open the curtains or blinds to let it steam through. Once the sun goes down, close the curtains again to keep the heat from escaping through the windows.

Do you need supplies for ensuring your home is fully insulated?  SSI Packaging Group has a wide selection of bubble, foam, and tape products that can supplement insulation and assist in the application of proper insulation around your home or business.  Give us a call today with your marking and coding needs for building products.  Our goal is to ensure you're needs with coding on building products is met with 100% satisfaction.
 

​When companies are looking for ways to reduce expenses, high-quality packaging is often the first thing to go. Many business owners decide to rely on cheap boxes, tape, pallets, and interior fillers in the hopes that they’ll save on operational costs. However, cheap packaging is actually far from cost-effective. Here are four reasons why.
 
It incurs more damages  
 
First, let’s discuss the obvious: Cheap packaging breaks. Thin boxes collapse, flimsy adhesive falls apart, and cheap stuffing alternatives--like shredded newspaper—doesn’t provide adequate cushioning. If the package is too large, the item is at risk for being knocked around; if it’s too small, the item won’t be safe from rough handling.   
 
Don’t underestimate the troubles your packages undergo once they leave your hands. This National Geographic video shows just how many steps a package goes through during the UPS shipping process—and all the tossing, throwing, bumping, and shoving it needs to withstand.
 
Needless to say, a damaged package means additional stress for you. Unless you want to risk the wrath of already-disappointed customers, you will have to pay for your customer’s return shipping; you will then have to either repair or replace the damage. Which leads us to…
 
It harms your reputation  
 
In this day and age, customer dissatisfaction is both loud and instant. When a customer receives a dented or damaged product, he or she has instant access to a variety of review sites, and can voice his or her displeasure right in the heat of the moment, before having a chance to cool off.
 
Once a negative review has been posted on Yelp, Google, or Facebook, it can be screenshotted, saved, and distributed for eternity. Getting a negative review removed from these sites is either impossible, or expensive—either because you will have to pay the site directly, or pursue legal action. To save yourself the headache, it’s essential to invest in good, sturdy packaging that protects your products as well as your reputation.
 
It ruins your brand experience  
 
Even if a product arrives perfectly intact, cheap and flimsy packaging can diminish the customer experience you are hopefully trying to convey. Your customers want to feel like they have purchased an item of quality, and the entire experience of opening it should facilitate that feeling. A great example—probably the best example of any brand today—is Apple, which has elevated the “unboxing” experience into an art form.
 
Youtube and similar sites have literally hundreds of unboxing videos wherein happy Apple customers film themselves receiving their new devices. These videos are a testament to the sheer power of clean, well-designed packaging. Remember, your product’s packaging doesn’t just exist to transport your product safely; it also exists to communicate what your brand stands for and the kind of quality your customers can expect.
 
It takes longer to assemble
 
Cheap packaging can also affect the time it takes to assemble and distribute your products. Think about it—cheap tape breaks; cheap boxes take more time and human effort to assemble. If a cheap palette collapses, your employees have to pause production to move the mess and fetch another one. By spending a little more on packaging that is of higher quality, you can actually reduce costs and increase productivity, meaning faster delivery times and happier customers. 

Give your customers quality with SSI Packaging
 
Looking for high-quality packaging solutions in Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding areas? SSI Packaging has everything you need to package, track, and deliver your products. We offer the latest in industrial marking, coding, and printing technology, as well as premier packaging solutions like bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, foam, and more. Click here to view our full selection of products.