Be Like a Billion Dollar Shipper

Life is changing and that is due to the economic impacts of covid 19.  We all now know that eCommerce is the answer to stay-at-home economies.  It has surged massively. That is just fine because people can learn super fast but if you have to help and tips along the way you won't have to fail over and over again or lose a lot of money when someone else has already done that and can help you out of it.  That is simply how the world gets better and smarter and it is by sharing knowledge of good and bad.  If your warehouse is on point then you can be working at a huge advantage versus your competition. 

Now my first job was at an army surplus company.  It was an old company that still ran their warehouse-like it was world war two when they started.  It was honestly a huge work hazard and should never have been allowed to be seen by any person or employee.  But since this company wanted to get itself into this century and with all the new eCommerce ways I took it on and decided to rock this task.

Shipping was the answer that was needed and I had a huge task to make this dump a useful place.  This place was about twice the size of the regular store and filled from floor to a 20-foot ceiling with old military gear, gadgets, and pants.  It was honestly impressive to see mountains of a stack of gear going to the ceiling with a single half a foot path moving through the whole warehouse to attempt to find things.  Under these massive piles were cardboard boxes that were 5 foot by 5 foot filled up to the brim and acting as a base for these mountains of junk.  With so little room to even work the only way to actually create space to work was to trash the unsellable items.  Many of the old-timers were completely against this and thought the warehouse had millions of dollars of worth.  This may have been worth something back in the day but not anymore. And only to a small few people.

We got rid of all the junk.  This took tons of dumper loads filled with old crap.  Old, but not valuable anymore. Yes, many items were beyond safety hazards. But slowly we worked enough room to build an aisle of shelves.  Then we kept organizing and used cardboard boxes to store organized piles on the new shelves.  We continued this process until the entire warehouse was neat and tidy and left 1/4 of it for packing and shipping.   This was what was needed and it took 6 months to completely finish the process. The new system we put in place was worth it and a simple person could use it which was key.

Our online store was organized now and we were able to do this because of all of our work in the warehouse.  This was an amazing way to find new profitable means of selling items.  With the extra space created we were able to have a place to find, pack, and ship worthwhile products that were lost or buried by old crap.  We are now in a new place and rocking it. 

Cardboard Boxes 4

Do you remember the days when people used to make fun of preppers? I do. Because I was made fun of, a lot. By friends, family, the weird neighbor who never would tie their robe when getting their mail. But after the events of 2020 the laughter just seemed to…well... go the way of bacon at a paleo buffet. It just stopped. In fact, it not only stopped, but I had those same friends and family (thankfully not the weird neighbor) coming to ask me for help. (Which, I gladly gave and without any I told you so I might add.) Not only did my own circle come around to the idea, but it seems the US has as a whole. That is why, today, I am going to share with you a few tips on how to get started becoming a prepper yourself. 

 

Tip number one. Learn to embrace the weird. Prepping is a strange world with a lot of strange characters. It’s just part of the deal, so the sooner you get used to it, the easier and less weird it becomes. (Ironic I know.)

 

Tip number two. Shop the sales. There’s nothing a prepper hates more than spending a ton of money on the basics. It’s one thing to go all out on a bunker in the foothills of Colorado. It’s another to pay full price for batteries and toilet paper. (And we all know how much people love their toilet paper.) So, be on the lookout for when your local stores are having sales on all the necessities, and don’t be afraid to clip coupons. Those babies can save you bundles. Just don’t go crazy. 

 

Tip number three. Have a good place for storage. It’s one thing to be prepared and have all the necessities to survive an apocalypse. It’s another to have all those things and be tripping over them all over your house. Whether it’s a closet, basement, shed, etc. Have a place dedicated to storing all of your survival items. And keep it organized. Being disorganized in an emergency is how you get people killed, mainly yourself. Bonus tip, keep all the little things in labeled cardboard boxes. It’ll keep it out of the way, but easy to access and it won’t get lost. 

 

Tip number four. Be aware of your inventory. This part is crucial. Make sure you’re keeping track of what you’re buying and how much of it. This will be vital if an emergency does happen because then you’ll know how to ration and how many you can ration for. Whether it be food, supplies, or other equipment. 

 

Tip number five. Watch out for expiration dates. Nothing is worse than buying cardboard boxes or huge cans full of food, only to have it go bad before you can use them. When you’re buying food to have in an emergency, go with either freeze dried (which can last up to 25 years) or, look at the expiration dates on the packaging and make a note on your inventory list when they need to be used and replaced. If you know you aren't going to use them before they go bad, donate them to a local food bank. It’s win-win. Also, side note, have a variety of different foods on hand. Store things that can be eaten with and without a power source. As one may not always be available. 

 

I could go on, but I’m going to leave you with this. Start simple. There’s no need to go crazy at the beginning. There will be plenty of time for that later when the zombie apocalypse is upon us. Happy prepping! 

Testing Steel With Cardboard

I love the outdoors.  This also has led me down some crazy paths and hobbies.  But it has also taught me a lot about different aspects of life.  Due to the recent happenings, I have found myself watching more and more Youtube videos than I ever have before.  This has led me down many strange paths of information which some have been useful and some have not. We all have a right to waste time, don't we!   I do enjoy fixing my home and paying less to do it with the help of youtube tutorials. Although I have been most interested personally with the idea of edge retention on knives and the many different ways that have been used to test it.  The fact that it can be quantified at home and have some useful benefits come from it is a lovely thing.  So I will go over how cardboard boxes are involved in some youtube channel steel degradation tests. These are more useful now than ever before with the influx of boxes we keep getting at our homes.  

How did I get onto this topic?  Well, that was because I enjoy using knives and watching youtube. The first channel I found was called Cedric and Ada.  This channel was based upon the idea that a single individual could take a household item and use it as a baseline to measure how much certain steel could cut.  In this instance, the host would take twisted Cecile rope and test a different knife with different steel and cut until it was dull.  The individuals would take the knife and attempt to create the same type of edge on the blade.  This meant he would hand sharpen it with the same angle to the exact same specifications as much as he could.  Then he would tape off a section of the blade so as to only use the same part over and over.  He would then test the sharpness on a piece of paper and then begin cutting the rope.  He would cut the rope over and over in little pieces until the knife was no longer able to cut paper.  This number would then be stored for each type of steel he was able to acquire.  

I am always a fan of repeatable tests that others can benefit from.  By creating a repeatable system he would then be able to tell the actual edge retention of different types of steels.  This was a fascinating way to see what one was actually paying for and if there are differences in the cost of different steels.  Truly there are. I have learned so much and been able to save myself money by not wasting in on bad products. 

There are also ways to do this.  Another channel used a very similar style of the test, but used the excess amount of cardboard boxes to test the edge retention.  The host would sharpen each knife to the same specifications and instead of taping off a section, he would then just use the whole edge to cut through the same length of cardboard.  Thus at the end being able to quantify different kinds of steel.  I found it a wonderful way to know what type of knives and steels are best for certain applications.  It is fun to learn new things and to find them useful.  

The secret to staying organized

Life has a way of piling up around us. Closets get crowded, garages fill with forgotten gear, and small items seem to vanish the moment you need them most. It can feel overwhelming, but the answer often comes in the simplest form: the humble cardboard box.

At first glance, it looks plain, even boring. But bring one into your home and it becomes a tool for control. Suddenly, piles of shoes line up neatly, books gather in one place, and holiday decorations don’t spill across shelves. A marker and a few words on the side—“Winter Coats,” “Toys,” “Camping Supplies”—turn that square of cardboard into a roadmap of your belongings. You don’t just put things away; you create a system that makes finding them easy again.

Think about the last time you tried to find something you knew you owned but couldn’t locate. Maybe it was a favorite scarf or a set of tools. The frustration grows as you dig through closets or shuffle through bins. With cardboard boxes, that stress disappears. Everything has a home, and you know where to look. The relief of pulling out exactly what you need is worth more than the box itself.

The beauty of cardboard is that it’s not limited to storage. Kids see them as blank canvases for forts, spaceships, or pretend houses. Gardeners lay them flat under mulch to block weeds. Even pets claim them as safe hiding spots. What seems like ordinary packaging becomes a source of play, creativity, and even problem-solving.

Affordability makes them even better. Instead of spending a fortune on fancy bins, you can often pick up boxes for free at local shops or order them in bulk for just a few dollars. They deliver the same results—strong walls, easy stacking, dependable protection—without draining your budget. And when they’ve done their job, most can be recycled and turned into something new. That cycle of use and reuse makes cardboard boxes not only practical but also kind to the planet.

There’s also something powerful about the way they simplify moving. Packing a house is stressful, but filling labeled boxes transforms it into a process that feels manageable. “Kitchen – Glasses” or “Office – Cables” turns unloading into a smooth step-by-step job instead of a guessing game. Without boxes, moving is a scramble. With them, it becomes almost organized by itself.

Even businesses rely on this quiet strength. Small shops ship products across the country, trusting cardboard to protect their items until they reach a customer’s hands. Without strong boxes, that trust breaks along with the contents. Every time someone opens a safe, intact package, they’re experiencing the hidden value of cardboard at work.

In a world where life feels cluttered, the simplest tools are often the most powerful. Cardboard boxes don’t shout for attention, but they bring order, save money, and even spark joy in unexpected ways. They turn a messy closet into a calm space and a stressful move into a smooth one.

So the next time you’re staring at a pile of things and wondering where to start, reach for a cardboard box. It might not seem like much at first, but once it’s filled, labeled, and stacked, you’ll see the truth. Organization doesn’t come from having less—it comes from giving what you already have a place to belong.

The Box That Built America’s Business Boom

Cardboard boxes aren’t glamorous, but they’ve quietly carried almost every success story of the last hundred years. From mom-and-pop shops mailing out their first orders to billion-dollar brands shipping around the world, the humble cardboard box has been the silent workhorse behind modern business. It’s one of those inventions we don’t think about because it works so well. Yet behind every safe delivery and every happy unboxing moment sits a simple sheet of corrugated paper that changed the way the world trades.

Cardboard boxes became the backbone of American enterprise because they’re strong, adaptable, and cost-effective. They hold everything from books to bicycles and do it without complaint. They’re light enough to keep shipping affordable but tough enough to protect even fragile products. Think about how many times you’ve trusted a box to guard something important—a gift, a return, a product launch. You didn’t second-guess it, because you knew it would do its job. That kind of reliability builds trust between businesses and customers, even if no one says it out loud.

But today, the role of the cardboard box has expanded. It’s no longer just a container—it’s a brand statement. The moment a package lands on someone’s doorstep, the box itself speaks. A plain brown box says “practical,” but a branded, well-designed one says “we care.” Businesses now use custom printing, recycled textures, and clean minimalist designs to create an experience that begins before the product is even opened. Unboxing has become part of the marketing strategy. That’s how cardboard went from background player to front-stage storyteller.

The beauty of cardboard is how it balances function with creativity. You can fold it, print on it, reinforce it, or design it to fit your exact product. For eco-conscious companies, it’s also a sustainability win—made from renewable materials, recyclable, and biodegradable. When a brand uses responsibly sourced cardboard, it tells customers, “We’re thinking long-term.” In a market where buyers care about more than just price, that message matters. A simple box suddenly becomes a reflection of your company’s values.

For small businesses, cardboard boxes level the playing field. You don’t need a massive budget to make your packaging look professional—you just need consistency and purpose. Even a local candle company or artisan bakery can look world-class with a well-printed logo, a snug fit, and a touch of thought in presentation. That box becomes the handshake between your product and your customer’s first impression. It’s the first and last thing they touch, and that tactile connection builds loyalty faster than any digital ad can.

There’s also something nostalgic about cardboard. It’s familiar. It reminds people of care packages, moving days, and family deliveries. It’s ordinary—but in the best way. In an age of digital everything, the cardboard box remains solid, physical proof that something real is being shared between real people. It’s not flashy, but it’s honest. And that honesty has value.

Cardboard boxes may never trend on social media, but they’ve shaped how the modern world connects, buys, and builds. They’re proof that strength doesn’t have to shout. The next time you tape one shut, think about what you’re really sealing inside—not just a product, but trust, effort, and the promise that what matters most will arrive safely. That’s what has kept the cardboard box at the heart of every business story worth telling.

How do you Childproof Pharmaceutical Packaging

 A lot of times you don’t even think about this, but it can actually be a major problem. Some children can mistake the medicine that adults take for candy. 

This is important to be mindful of, and while you can remind parents to keep the medication out of the sight and reach of a child, many pharmaceutical companies are creating packaging that is childproof. This is something that’s innovated recently, and it comes with new solutions to childproof everything.

The major challenge that comes with this though, is the design process, as this is important since you don’t want packaging that’s easy for children to open, but you also want to make it easy for patients that are older.

Here are the best ways to prevent kids from opening these with child proof packaging.

A Screw Cap and Closure Tape 

This is another type of means to create a proper seal for kids. Screw caps are basically a cap that you have to screw on and push to open a certain way.  Many children can’t open these, so it’s easier.

These are used for e-cigarette boxes.  There are also sealing straps too, which you can use to seal the item and prevent tampering.  This is easy enough for an adult to remove, but also not something that kids can get too.

Paper Packaging that’s Tear resistant 

You also want to make sure that it’s easy to open up, but children can’t tear it.

Nowadays, there is now tear-resistant cellulose packaging that’s coated with a PET. 

The cool thing about this, is that it’s totally recyclable, and also is very sturdy in terms of packaging. It’s actually on the same level as plastic in terms of sturdiness, so it’s one that definitely can be good for this.

Activated pharmaceutical Packaging 

Finally, one that’s become super popular, is pharmaceutical packaging that’s activated.

Even when tablets get opened up, there is now a new way for you to prevent kids from taking the tablets out. 

There is now a mechanism that’s put on these boxes so that the tables can be pressed one each time.  The person needs to activate this system with both their hands in order to get the medicine out. One of the hands is used to slide the button that’s there over to the side. They also need to hold this in place. Your other hand needs to grab the tablet. Once you’re done, you let go of this, and the slide goes back to the position it was in initially.

This is a good one because most children don’t have the dexterity in order to make it simple for them to open up the packaging. They struggle, and this of course, can be a problem for them.  A parent will be able to see this and stop the kid before figuring it out.

Many companies have started to utilize these types of packaging because let’s face it, kids get interested, but they need to not get into medications, especially those that are unsafe for kids. 

If you’re someone who is going to be selling pharmaceuticals or anything that isn’t for kids, you need to make sure that the packaging is totally childproof to save their lives, and so that they can’t get into things that they don’t need to be getting in.

If your packaging is not, then take into account all of these different ways, and make sure that you get with a designer that’ll help you get the best childproof packaging possible, that you can use to prevent kids from getting into these things too.

New innovations in Biodegradable Packaging

Biodegradable packaging is one of the best eco-friendly alternatives to regular materials. With more consumer and regulatory forms of demand for these solutions, a lot of companies are jumping on this. Here, we’ll go over some of the different benefits that biodegradable packaging has been using, and why these are new solutions that are really reducing the plastic waste in landfills. 

Plant-Based Plastics 

This is a new one. Through the use of cellulose, you can now make plastics. Since they’re made of plants, they will break down, and will naturally interact with the soil, reducing its impact and also helping with improving the waste that’s there.

There are so many types of plant-based items that are used for this. One of the most common is algae, since it’s so abundant. It’s all over our bodies of water, and because of this, a lot of various packaging companies will use this, as it does interact well with the environment. 

Mushrooms 

A new type of packaging, mushrooms are now being used as packaging. Called mycelium packaging, the mushroom is broken down, and from there constructed into a plant-based packaging. Again, like the cellulose plastics, this breaks down in the landfill, reducing waste. 

Cornstarch 

Another sustainable type of plant, cornstarch is commonly used in packaging that is sustainable. It breaks down quickly, and also is very sustainable. There are plenty of growers out there that will use cornstarch in order to build the ideal plastic experience. 

Decomposition interactions and Rates 

There are some decomposition aspects that need to be considered. Some companies are looking at these rates, and how their biodegradable packaging as well interacts with various environments.   This can be good because a lot of packaging providers will see how these interact, and adjust their packaging as needed. It's good, because some break down faster than others, so knowing the difference can make or break your packaging. 

The benefits of It 

There are a few benefits that come with this. The first is that the right biodegradable packaging will break down faster. It will be in the ground much quicker than the other alternatives. Having this as well keeps the long-term waste out of the landfills.

The other reason is less microplastics. A lot of the sustainable plastics that are out there are good ideas, until of course, one looks at all of the microplastics that are there. knowing the difference, and seeing for yourself the differentiation of these plastics is really good, as it will help with ensuring that you’re able to keep a lot of those microplastics away, and create a more biodegradable future. 

The challenges of biodegradability

While this does make a lot of people happy, there are some challenges, the biggest one, is the costs of everything. it does end up costing a whole lot more than the alternatives. While it may attract more customers and save money, the overall overhead costs may be a whole lot.

The other issue is durability. Biodegradable packaging seems like a good idea, but for more fragile items, it’s not recommended, as they’re nowhere near as durable, and it can cause the item to be compromised. 

Then of course, there is also the shelf-life of these materials. Biodegradable packaging has only so long it can last, and if you end up using it for too long, it will break down on the shelf. Knowing the important factors in this is important.

Biodegradable packaging is a good type of packaging for the future, but there are a few hurdles to cross, so keep that in mind.