The ketchup packet, stuck so long in it’s inconvenient form that it seemed destined to remain that way.  You know the issues, hard to open, hard to dunk, certainly not kid friendly.  To top it off there’s never enough ketchup in one packet so you have to repeat the process.  This causes a repeat of the prior issues.  Well after all this Heinz, the company that literally turned our ketchup bottle upside down, has now reinvented the packet.  For this we are forever grateful.  The new and improved ketchup packet seems to cover it all.  It offers more ketchup, more kid-friendly, a dunk side, and a squeeze side. Heinz even made it more closely match their grocery store product line in terms of shape and color.  It’s clearly labeled making it easy to open and understand. The product is currently being tried in test markets.  I’m excited for it to take it’s rightful place in the fast food industry.

For more information visit:

WCBS News Radio

Daily Mail

A clamshell, in packaging, is more than just something that Venus stood upon.  Clamshells are formed clear plastic packages that have one or more hinges, and may include a hanger tab so that the product can be displayed from store hanging pegs.  All sorts of items use clamshell packaging, from electronics to toys, medical supplies, and even sports equipment.

Although clamshells can be made different ways, the fact that it has the option of multiple hinges may give the final distributor more display options.  If desired, retailers can even stand multiple-hinged packages flat so that it can be easily displayed on store shelves without pegs, on counters, or in windows.

Sometimes difficult to open, clamshells are popular for retailers because of the increased security of the package.  They are popular partly because they are so difficult to open in the store!  Clamshells also offer an attractive, functional look, where the product inside and surrounding literature can be easily viewed.

Although clamshell’s are not the only packaging option out there, they are extraordinarily popular and easily recognized.

With the invention of MP3 players and online music stores you may not be buying CD’s anymore. However, that doesn’t solve the problem of what to do with all of the old CD cases from when you were.  Luckily a few creative minds have come up with some options to put those cases back into use.  These alternative uses can be more than just Saturday morning art projects for your kids, although that is a possibility too.

1. The jewel case poster display.

This is a project you’ll want to make sure you layout and measure carefully before moving ahead with the cutting.  It’s the old cliche, measure twice cut once.  This is done by taking a poster of your choice and cutting it into sections that fit into the CD case.  The cases are then hung on the wall to recreate the poster with a little edge and artistic twist.  It seems to work especially well for music posters, but the sky is the limit.

2. The CD case photo collage.

In order to create the collage simple print out photos you want to incorporate and place them individually in cases.  Then attach them to the wall with wall putty in whatever order you want.  Photos that are printed in black and white and then placed in colored jewel cases take on an especially unique and cool look.

3. Create a Book- Kid’s style

Kid’s love art projects.  They especially love art project where they can show off their decorating, drawing and writing skills all at once.  Creating a book out of old CD cases is perfect.  Allow them to decorate the case with stickers and whatever else they may find interesting to create the cover. Then cut pages that fold and fit into the CD case. Attach it by double-stick taping the front and back page to the cover or by gluing it.

For more information and ideas visit:

Associated Content

Paper Jewels

Life Hackery

After much anticipation over 2010’s color of the year the winner is Turquoise as announced by Pantone Color Institute.  It is said to be both an inviting and luminous hue.    This color shies away from the vibrant yellow of last year.  In case you are wondering how these experts choose the color of the year, they say that it is chosen based off of years of research from word-association studies.

This is what Pantone’s executive director had to say about the color turquoise.  “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. … we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Some of the most beautiful items in the world are turquoise, including the turquoise color of a Caribbean sea, and turquoise jewelry made by master craftsmen. And if anyone is an expert in color, you can bet it’s Pantone!

For more information visit:

Pantone

The loved and occasionally loathed packaging shell, commonly called clamshell, is a product with a lot of positive as well as negative reviews. Manufacturers and store owners appreciate the perfectly protected shell around precious products.  Customers reach for that new flashdrive, phone charger or other shelled item appreciating the fact that it sits where it is supposed to, untampered with.  However, the appreciation of knowing it’ll make it home safely sometimes fades to the frustration experienced when trying to open it.

So why does packaging that sometimes leaves you frustrated continue to find it’s way onto our shelves? The simple answer is because it looks nice and it works.  Does a shoplifter really want to experience all of that? Of course not, simply put, these shells reduce theft while at the same time showing customers the benefits of the product they are about to purchase.

Additionally, your product was also able to make the journey from one area of the world to your house or business without injury which is something that isn’t always easily attainable in other packaging designs.

For more information or to purchase packaging products, please visit our website:

Sunpack Store

We collect what we treasure. The binder has become a widespread method for holding onto these collections and keeping them safe.  For avid sports fans it means pages of baseball or football cards.  For the younger generation it may be pages of Pokemon cards, or coin and sticker collections. 

The binder has really been put to use as a photo album as well.  It’s kept together collections of old faded photos. Wedding albums display the big day and baby books show off the new arrival.

For those who like to go above and beyond photo albums there are scrapbooks.  Scrapbooking albums  come in all shapes and sizes. Scrapbooking continues to gain momentum and has now become the most popular craft segment.

Finally, it may be used to store all of the secret family recipes, and perhaps some of the not so secret recipes as well.  Whatever it’s use make sure to pick out a binder that fits your function.

For more information visit:

Scrapbook Dreamer

Cartoon Stock

Economic troubles of 2009 have left consumers cautious and penny-wise going into 2010. However,  companies can cater to this mentality in their marketing  programs.  People are appreciating coupons, discounts and free samples more than ever before.   Market and advertise to your customers using these  avenues.

Coupons don’t have to be expensive mass mailings either.  Offer coupons online through your website or social media.  This will also entice your customers to return to your sites for future discounts.

Other avenues you may consider include sending company calendars, magnets, chip clips, travel tags, pens, binders and other useful items.   These types of promotions help you connect with your customers.  They also ensure that your brand becomes a common household item.

What method you choose will depend on your company budget and the products you offer.  However, get creative and don’t underestimate the value of ‘on sale.’

For more information visit:

Sunpack Store

You may have out grown your trapper keeper days, but it’s unlikely that you’ll outgrow the need for a 3-ring binder.   It keeps you organized, efficient, and did I mention eco-friendly? That’s right, this little contraption is so much more that you imagined.

The way you organize often depends on how you think.  To some it makes sense to place things alphabetically. To others it makes sense to organize according to time, project, client, or subject matter.  Luckily any system that works for you will work for the binder.   Within your system of organization you can further organize by using tabs or separating sheets.  You can also attach cd holders to store masses of information.  You may be thinking, “I know a binder’s organizational uses.”  Fair enough, but do you know all of the ways it can make you eco-friendly?

We’ll start with recycling. Many of the dividers and CD holders are being made of recycled material.  Additionally, they’re being made of material that can be recycled.  The binders themselves are also being made of recyclable material, whether it be from recycled plastics or papers.   For example, take our eco-binders.  They are made from 75% post-consumer recycled material and are functional as well as dirt and grime resistant. Additionally, you can reuse binders from one project to the next making them an efficient way to stay organized.

For more information visit our store at:

Sunrise Store

It has only been a few days into 2010 and already there are a plethora of predictions for what this year’s trends will be, including the ever changing face of social marketing.  So where are we headed?  Of course no one can be certain, but according to many sources the road will be one of exclusivity and slight obsession.

Social media may start to feel more exclusive as users filter out the masses of unwanted information.  For example, you may have a friend, or several friends who choose to update every waking detail of their lives on facebook. Hiding their newsfeeds will help to reduce this clutter, and to increase your sanity.

Another trend will take place within the business world.  Companies, if they haven’t already, will formalize social media policies, leading to more restrictions in web usage and blocking out social media platforms.  This will lead to another trend of increased usage of smartphones for social media browsing.   Smartphones have the capability of browsing social media sites.  More people will use smartphones to get their social media fix.  Only time will tell if these trends hold true for 2010.

For more information please visit:

Social Media Trends

It’s hard to believe that another year has come to a close.  We know a lot has happened in 2009, especially in the pop-culture world.  We lost the King of Pop. A balloon hoax flooded the news. The one and only Oprah Winfrey announced her retirement.  However, 2009 was deeper than it’s pop culture surface.  It was also a year of continued innovation.  Here are a few innovative ideas that may have failed to make headlines but are certainly worth hearing about.

Smarter Irrigation for Crops and Landscaping-  Past irrigation  systems were based on timers.  They used the same amount of water regardless of weather conditions.  This often resulted in overwatering.  Smart irrigation systems take weather and soil conditions into consideration resulting in precise watering.

Hotel Room Energy Management- Hotel rooms are often known for their temperature inefficiencies.  Guests often don’t think twice about blasting they air conditioning while they stay.  They also tend to leave it on even while they’re gone wasting a lot of energy.  That was until the key card system was implemented.

When a guest leaves the room, taking the key card, the electricity is turned off and the thermostat resets to a temperature pre-selected by the hotel’s owner. When the guest returns and inserts the key in the slot, power returns to all equipment in the room—lighting, heating, cooling, TV and radio

The new decade brings new opportunities.  It can be hoped that innovations in this coming year will bring more ideas that support the planet and reduce waste.

For more information visit:

Innovation