With supermarkets having brought in the notorious (though environmentally friendly) five pence charge for carrier bags, it’s about time to follow suit and fit out your retail store with an equally ecological solution. That’s where our HDPE polythene bags and varigauge carrier bags step in. What’s more, we think their versatility might just surprise you.

Re-Use or Recycle

Far from abandoning the plastic carrier bag, here at ODL we’ve identified a practical compromise. By ensuring our bags are 100% recyclable, it’s possible for your company to invest in these handy pieces of packaging without developing a guilty conscious. Alternatively, thanks to their high quality manufacture, it’s also possible for customers to simply re-use their carrier bags, meaning they too can maximise their own green credentials. Boasting a 4” reinforced bottom gusset, not to mention double thickness of 90 microns around the handle, our varigauge carrier bags are a truly durable option.

That Finishing Touch

Aside from the convenience of providing your customers with a packaging solution for their purchase, investing in our attractive carrier bags also leaves a lasting impression about your company itself. Indicating that you take pride in the presentation of your products, we offer a range of designs to choose from. Whether you select the understated, classy carrier, coming in black and gold stripes, or opt for our vibrant varigauge bags available in 8 colours, you’ll be leaving customers with a subtle reminder of your attention to detail.

Available in a variety of sizes and quantities, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Pull it out of the bag and order your wholesale carrier bags online today or call our friendly sales team on 01785 76 00 55.

In our age of progression, it can sometimes be easy to simply dismiss the more traditional methods in our midst. Nevertheless, that doesn’t necessarily mean those old-timers are no longer valid. When it comes to the trusty envelope, for instance, this mailing solution has most certainly stood the test of time. With the New Year in reaching distance, ODL has been getting nostalgic and looking into why, just sometimes, the old ways really are the best.

Quick and Easy

If there’s one thing that can’t be denied about envelopes, it’s that they’re one heck of a swift solution. Providing you with a one-stop form of packaging, you can use these products to send anything from essential documentation to DVDs and CDs. There’s no need to worry about desperately rummaging around trying to find the duct tape to piece together that all-too-flimsy parcel. What’s more, your package can arrive in style with minimal effort on your part, thanks to our selection of Coloured A6 Board Backed Envelopes. Combining dazzling good looks with practicality, these high-quality envelopes come in a variety of vibrant colours and provide additional protection with their 550 GSM card backing. That’s what we call an efficient piece of packaging.

Tamper-Proof

If you have confidential papers or an item of value to deliver, then it’s vital you find an envelope providing heightened security.  Admittedly, in this area our envelopes have had something of an upgrade from the more traditional ‘lick and stick’ enclosing method. With the peel & seal feature included in our Board Backed Manilla Envelopes, it’s possible to securely enclose your goods with this adhesive strip, making the envelope itself essentially tamper-proof.

To Bubble or Not To Bubble?

Okay, so maybe there’s more than one improvement we’ve made to the traditional envelope. But when it comes to ensuring your product gets to the customer safely without any preventable breakages along the way, we’re sure you’ll forgive us for this slight redesign. Using a Quality Air Cap sealed bubble layer, our Mail Lite Plus Envelopes can give you additional peace of mind during the mailing process. Combining this strong padding with their durable design, this product is the perfect example of how envelopes have resisted going over the hill, just yet. Browse our full selection of quality products online today or call our sales team directly on 01785 76 00 55 to order yours.

With frost setting in and temperatures plummeting, the wintry weather is well and truly upon us, with a raft of new obstacles for your delivery needs. But we don’t want to drag you down. After all, there’s at least one great thing these chillier months bring with them- Christmas. Combining attractive design with practicality, your company’s chance to spread some festive cheer this season comes in the form of ODL’s Metallic Christmas Bubble Lined Mailing Bags, available in green and red. What’s more, these clever little packaging solutions even have an answer to the less-than-hospitable weather. Whoever said bags had to be basic?

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

That’s right. Aside from bringing a burst of much-needed colour with their vibrant snowflake design, our mailing bags are winter-proof. Thanks to their thermal and water resistant exterior you needn’t worry about the changeable yuletide weather any longer. Whether they’re caught in torrential downpours or even a smattering of snow, these dependable bags will get your package to its destination without so much as a raindrop getting through.

What a Lightweight

These bags are utter lightweights. We mean it- your Grandma with her glass of sherry could rival them. The bag’s proficient polythene material gives you a featherweight parcel, so the delivery won’t break the bank in the process. What’s more, there’s no reason that the lightweight nature of these bags should make you question the safety of the product inside. The protective bubble lining encircles your yuletide goods with an effective barrier to keep cargo from damage throughout the delivery process. In other words, your Christmas joy will be unmarred by any untimely delivery woes.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

You thought the benefits of these nifty little mailing bags were over? Well, we aren’t done quite yet. These bags boast some serious hipster chic credentials. Aside from their good looks, coming in traditional green and red, they’re also doing their bit for the environment, with it being possible to reuse them when next Christmas comes around. Now if that’s not something to sing and dance over, then we’re not in the festive season. Get your mailing bags today by calling our friendly sales team on 01785 76 00 55 or browse through our full selection of office supplies online today.

Here at ODL, we understand that more often than not, general office supplies seem to be there one minute, and vanished into thin air the next. This commercial conundrum can leave your employees scrambling for the last piece of paper, or scouring for residual stock, all the while using up precious business time. It’s with the hope of ridding workplaces of this frustration that our Staffordshire based supplies address business needs, providing practical solutions to prevent those office stalemates.

Taking the Orderly Approach

We have to admit it: we’ve got something of a passion for organisation. With our high-quality office products, it’s possible for you to inherit some of that organisational zeal and put it to good business use. From our selection of multi colour or plain dividers to handy punched pockets, critical documents can be efficiently and safely consigned to our ringbinders, minimising downtime unnecessarily spent searching for those elusive records. What’s more, with our supplies available in bulk, you’ll be able to put your forward-planning to the test with the help of our long-term solutions.

Communication is Key

Living in a world of constant communication with instant messaging at our fingertips, we can lose sight of the need for physical announcements. Offices are inevitably busy environments, with emails bouncing from user to user. Yet in amongst the buzz of all these virtual conversations, it’s vital to keep your office abreast of collective responsibilities- and we’ve found that, just sometimes, a functional fix is best found in the simpler solutions. From the trusty notice board to ever-reliable whiteboards, employees can be succinctly reminded of upcoming events or projects, without the distraction of those continual computerised messages. To labour our point further, with just 7% of communication being verbal, it’s useful to find an effective prop to help elaborate your points in crucial business meetings. Cue the humble flip chart. An office essential for decades, this product has stood the test of time, and with its simple practicality it’s deserving of a place in any office.

Delivering Affordable Answers

Office supplies aren’t mere luxuries. They’re the unassuming workplace helpers, eliminating the occupational onus of being ill-equipped for day-to-day tasks. Aside from the fact that our products leave you with bountiful store cupboards, you can happily fill each shelf without fretting about the impact on your business finances. ODL’s primary concern is that customers are beyond satisfied with our supplies. As we see it, part and parcel of that service is a competitive price for these essentials that doesn’t blow your monthly budget. Couple this with our various delivery options covering the whole of the UK, and your office functionality is but a click away.

With increased business productivity, comes an increased need for appropriate supplies. Pre-empt your supply needs by browsing the full-range of our products online today. Alternatively, you can order today by giving our ever-helpful sales team a ring on 01785 76 00 55.

We all remember the days of merrily stomping on, rolling over, or otherwise popping the left-over bubble wrap peeking out from our parents’ latest delivery. Here at ODL, however, we’re rather more protective towards our bubble wrap. How can we get quite so excited about these air-filled pockets of plastic, you ask? Well, we’re bursting to show you...

Comfortably Cushioned

Whatever it is you may be delivering, it is of utmost importance that the product itself remains intact and in doing so, as does your business reputation. The transit process is a hairy one- from being passed through the packaging area, bundled into the delivery van, and finally unloaded at its destination, your cargo faces a series of risks. Blanketing fragile items in a covering of cushioned bubble wrap drastically reduces the chance of damage and, subsequently, of your business incurring unexpected costs. The bubbles’ shock absorption means they quite literally take the ‘wrap’ for you.

Lightweight Delivery

We want to ensure that delivering your product is a cost-effective exercise. This is done in one of two ways: firstly, making sure that the item is safe (as we’ve already covered), and secondly, eliminating the worry of excessively heavy packaging. It comes as no surprise that these bubbled sheets, made up of air and polyethylene, are virtually feather-light. This makes bubble wrap a practical choice, coupling it with most external packaging to avoid those unpleasant surcharges.

Environmentally Friendly

If you’re looking to showcase your business’s green credentials, it may surprise you that an unassuming roll of bubble wrap is an ideal way to do so. With our product being 100% recyclable, you will be assured of minimising your carbon footprint. By using bubble wrap, you’ll simultaneously build your company’s credibility, demonstrating an implicit awareness of environmental issues. Nowadays more than ever it is imperative your company acknowledges this. What’s more, bubble wrap is versatile, and can be reused and repurposed according to your customers’ need. As that time-honoured saying goes, ‘bubble wrap is for life, not just for Christmas’...well, something like that.

If your faith in bubble wrap has been restored, hop onto our website to have a closer look at what’s available. Browse the full range of our high-quality products online or give our friendly sales team a call on 01785 76 00 55 to order today.

Good things come to those who (don’t) wait

In 2016, the chances are that, unless your items are totally unique, consumers have loads of different ways to buy them. They can hunt for great 2^nd hand deals on eBay, play it safe with well-known websites or even look at importing wares from afar. On top of all this, the days of just sitting around for a package to be delivered “from 8 AM to 8 PM” are over; with GPS tracking, text alerts and more, consumers simply don’t have to wait around all day for their parcel to be delivered anymore. In order to compete with the big players, then, you need to offer a versatile courier service, perhaps working with a third party like Yodel or Hermes. Before you do that, however, you’re going to need to make sure your parcels fit the bill.

Special delivery

The golden rule, of course, still stands true; delivering items through the property’s letter box is the easiest way to guarantee their safety and security (and protect your brand from a maelstrom of negative reviews on social media). With that in mind, ODL stock loads of alternatives to the traditional mailing box that are much better suited to your buyers’ letterboxes. If your postal boxes just aren’t hitting the mark - perhaps they’re regularly going missing, or are susceptible to damage in designated safe areas - then look at things like padded envelopes or book wraps. These items offer the same high level of protection whilst attempting to drastically reduce parcel size, meaning your couriers can deliver more parcels directly to the property.

Finding a safe place

But what about when direct delivery isn’t an option? Ecommerce retailers are wising up to the fact that the largest part of their market - people with disposable income who shop online - probably work full time, and as such are increasingly going out of their way to suit the consumer’s lifestyle. Naturally, the responsibility for ensuring packages remain secure in their safe place falls to you, the seller, so it pays to invest a bit more in quality packaging solutions. Manufactured from a hardwearing polymer, mailing bags are an excellent alternative to or supplement for postal boxes, giving your items a reliable barrier against light, dust and water damage. They’re also highly tamper-evident, meaning it’s easy for your customers to see if someone has tried to open or otherwise interfere with their package.

Protecting Your Brand

Now we’re not saying these alternative packaging solutions will give you a pristine seller rating; accidents can always happen before, during and after the delivery process. What they will do, however, is reassure your consumers that you’re going to all lengths possible to accommodate their needs. Browse our full range of products online today, or call us directly on 01785 76 00 55 for further information.

Save More than Just Weight

Here at ODL, we’ve got one pretty simple ethos; to provide the best packaging supplies at cost-effective prices. Sure, we throw in a few puns here, and give out a bit of free packaging advice there, but mostly we care about helping clients get more for their packaging budgets. From registering online to picking your packaging up from our Stoke depot, there are loads of ways to get more materials for your money, so check out the full article below to start saving.

Bulk Savings

The easiest way to save money with ODL is to register with us online today. Registered customers get 10% off every order over £100, 7.5 % off every order between £50 - £100, and 5% off every order under £50 - and when you think about it, that’s quite a lot of envelopes when you add it all up. “But won’t I have to spend ages filling out tedious forms?” you might ask. On the contrary, our form takes only a few minutes to complete, and you can even do it when you’re placing an order. “Oh okay, so then I’ll just get bombarded with marketing emails about highlighters and envelopes, right?” Wrong! ODL don’t send out marketing emails just yet, but when we do, they’ll be a tailored selection of offers suited to your business’s needs.

The Personal Touch

Here at ODL, we’re always looking to build relationships with local businesses, and indeed companies across the UK, who value our personal approach to business. With that in mind, we’re happy to discuss bulk or recurring orders directly over the phone, and offer unique discounts or allowances on a customer-to-customer basis. For more information on all that sort of stuff, give our friendly sales team a call on 01785 76 00 55.

Maybe you’re lucky enough to be based in sunny Staffordshire? Based on the outskirts of Stone, directly between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, ODL welcome local businesses to drop by our warehouse directly to pick up their orders and save on delivery charges - when we save on packaging, you save on packaging. Check out our ‘Contact Us’ for more directions on how to reach us, and place your order online today.

Checking Boxes

Here at ODL Packaging, we deliver insightful packaging advice alongside our outstanding, high-quality products to help our clients make their budgets go further. In our latest article, we’re addressing an age-old question in the post and packaging business; “to box, or not to box”?

To Box...

In most cases, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better packaging solution than a good old-fashioned mailing box. Offering increased structural rigidity - and thus protection - mailing boxes are usually the method of choice when it comes to sending fragile items that have a high monetary or sentimental value. Delivered in flat packs, they can easily be stored in your warehouse without taking up loads of space, and can even be built without the use of adhesive tape (though we’d always recommend doing so to give an extra layer of security). ODL’s range of postal boxes also adhere to Royal Mail’s official guidelines (subject to trade tolerances, of course), allowing you to better budget for your P&P expenses.

Or not to Box?

Despite offering a higher level of security for more fragile or delicate items, the good, old-fashioned postal box is ... well, a bit “old fashioned”. In fact, there have been far more innovative packaging solutions designed in recent years to make your P&P budget stretch further. If you’re selling clothes, apparel or soft goods, for example, why not consider mailing bags? Manufactured from a hardwearing polymer, these robust bags offer a high level of water resistance and tamper proofing at a fraction of the weight. Perhaps you’re selling books, DVDs or other electronics? Pioneered by international companies like Amazon, purpose built book wraps are fast becoming the most convenient way to send DVDs, books and videogames, helping to streamline your distribution operations whilst still affording a high level of protection.

ODL have the Whole Package

Whether you’re looking for some tried and testing packaging supplies, or are searching for some more innovative solutions that could help to streamline and improve upon your distribution channels, check out ODL’s online store for our wide range of high quality products today.

Reduce, Reuse... Repurpose?

Now before we get into this, we know what you’re thinking: “Surely they want us to buy more packaging, right?” Well yeah, we do, but we also want to help you get the most value for your money when you invest in our packaging supplies, oh and reducing our environmental impact isn’t the end of the world either. That’s why we’ve put together the following blog on some unique ways you can repurpose some of our packaging items!

Storage Hunters

Here at ODL, we aim to sell high quality, long lasting packaging supplies to protect your items whilst they’re out for delivery, most of which can easily be repurposed as storage items, either in the home or the warehouse. Looking for a safe way to store those old nerdy film posters your partner insists you get rid of? Hold on to our hardwearing postal tubes, and seal the lids with adhesive tape for a durable means of storing them safe from moisture and dust. Alternatively, perhaps the family shed or workshop is getting overrun with stray screws, miscellaneous bolts and rogue nails? Weighing in at 50 micron, our 200g bags are excellent for collecting smaller items, as well as adding an extra layer of protection if you’re sending them in the post (not that we’d really recommend trying to post a bunch of old nails).

Layer Up

Looking to send fragile items through the post but you’re fresh out of bubble wrap? Start repurposing! Tearing up things like old padded envelopes, metallic bubble bags or even tissue paper is a cost-effective (but more importantly, lightweight) means of cushioning those delicate wares. Alternatively, wrap products in used mailing bags inside the existing packaging to give an extra waterproof layer - just be sure to seal it thoroughly with adhesive tape.

Packaging with Purpose

Whether you’re looking for durable postal tubes and boxes that can easily be transformed into convenient storage items, or just hardwearing mailing bags that can easily make a return journey, shop ODL’s wide range of high quality products online today.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

Here at ODL, we stock a whole range of affordable packaging supplies to ensure your parcels arrive safely and securely, without breaking the bank. The thing is, company correspondence, official documentation and other letters are often just as important as those consumer goods you’re sending - so where do you go if you need to protect them? As luck would have it, we have a whole area for that; we call it the “Envelopes” section.

Image Problems

When you’re sending out important documentation like invoices, accounting sheets, official correspondence and more, the state and appearance of your letters has a profound impact on how potential clients and affiliates perceive your business. If in doubt, it’s always best to opt for a clean, professional image, the likes of which is offered by our range of manila and plain white envelopes. Alternatively, our popular window envelopes can also save you time and money when it comes to attaching addresses and branded elements.

Long-lasting Letters

ODL also stock a range of highly protective envelopes from reputable brands for your peace of mind. Our Mail Lite padded envelopes, for example, utilise genuine Sealed Air bubble wrap, offering unbeatable protection and a moderate level of moisture resistance whilst out on the road. This makes them perfect for sending small goods as well as company correspondence. Our specific hard-backed envelopes also protect valuable items like certificates or legal documents from bending and creasing on the road, ensuring they arrive in a suitably professional condition.

No More “Black Mail”                                                      

Many of our protective envelopes come in a wide range of vibrant colours to help your brand stand out. Now we’re not suggesting sending your invoices out in neon pink envelopes, only that you can make a bit more of an impact with customer correspondence using our coloured metallic bubble bags or hard backed envelopes.

If you’re having a parcel dilemma, whether it relates to small or large items, letters or pretty much anything else, the chances are that ODL sell a solution to it at our website. Browse through our vast ranges of postal supplies and order online today!