When Jared Van Hees began his career at MJS Packaging, he already had a passion for excellence. With his extraordinary academic performance and the remarkable customer service ethic he brings to business-to-business interactions, Jared demonstrates what it takes to be an expert small business packaging professional. We are happy to provide a bit of an introduction in this, the first of a series about the people who enrich the MJS Packaging experience.
‘I Work to Simplify the Whole Process’
In a conversation with Jared, he will be the first to admit there are many potential pitfalls and challenges during small business packaging development. Every business wants to perfect immunity to these challenges, but few have the range of experience to know what to look out for. That’s where Jared works to listen and ease the process.
“I always start with asking about a company’s needs and that of their products,” Van Hees says. “I recognize it can be cumbersome and frustrating to figure out the supply chain, so I view it as my job to help simplify the whole process.”
This can be a critical approach when working with what you might call “projects for packaging newbies”. And when it comes to innovations and options, in particular, Jared stays current. This practice has helped enormously in matching products with the right containers.
“When it came to helping customers learn about innovations like that of flexible packaging, they got really excited. They could achieve the same goals as with standard packaging, but with a whole new look.”
Similarly, Jared can tell you about how he has helped customers invigorate their packaging with roll-on pilfer-proof caps (ROPP caps), digitally printed labels, and 3D printed labels. Early adoption and solid consultation have also yielded competitive advantages. With these examples and many more, Jared has proudly helped customers find greater flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and opportunities for customization.
“One of a few key points I raise is how there can be a sizable initial investment, depending on how you do things, but it can be huge cost savings in the long run.” Van Hees said.
Optimizing Our Small Business Packaging
Jared’s primary role is looking out for his customers’ best interests, including achieving near-term goals and establishing long-term positioning. With a global packaging advantage and a rich history of experience, he knows that he can do so without being at odds with the company. In fact, it’s quite in-line with MJS Packaging’s mission, vision, and objectives.
“We work hard to protect our customers from costly mistakes. Unlike companies whose bottom-line may depend on trouble-situations, we stress taking action in a way that is logical and meaningful to the success of the product and the company.”
In one instance, Jared recalls getting contacted by a customer who designed the label first, printed them, and then wanted to procure their bottles. They ended up changing their mind about the bottle and were met with an unwanted surprise when the labels weren’t compatible.
“Always follow the order of bottle, cap, label, so you’re not stuck with a bunch of packaging components that can’t be used.” Important advice, to be sure, especially for those who are looking for improved ways to reduce risk and avoid extra costs.
Beyond following an order that makes sense, Jared emphasizes how important it is to approach every small business packaging decision with quality in mind.
“We strongly recommend taking the time to do stability testing so you can understand if the product’s packaging will hold up throughout the shelf life,” Van Hees said. “Otherwise, you may run into problems like paneling or the contents eating through the material. Such issues could lead to immediate problems like shipping issues or long-term problems like failing to appeal to consumers.”
However, Jared cautions how even when getting these beginning steps right, the challenges may not be entirely over. At times, the initial product launch, including putting together the right product packaging, may go too well! Better-than-anticipated demand and underestimations in forecasting create a circumstance where you absolutely must have an experienced packaging partner by your side.
“Unanticipated growth had one new customer in a tight spot,” Van Hees explained. “They needed more bottles quick and those could not be sourced from just one supplier. The bottle shortage threatened to shut down his entire filling line. Thankfully though, we leveraged our team at MJS Packaging to scour through our sources to find another manufacturer who could provide additional quantities of the same bottle at the same or better price, and in the same time frame. We were able to do so in the desired time frame, and avoided a shutdown.”
It may sound like a bit of a nightmare scenario, but the variety of circumstances is actually part of the appeal for Jared.
“There’s always something different going on—a new experience to be gained from every customer, every product, every project. I love working with a customer who is just getting a start in packaging their new product, and then seeing the final product on the shelf.”
“I like that MJS Packaging is a full-service packaging solutions provider, so I can assist all of my customers with everything they could need, from bottle fluorination to finding the perfect closure. And if a customer wants something to really set them apart, we can do that, too. Our capabilities for custom tooling and design are something I’m really happy to showcase.”
We’re glad that Jared is part of the MJS Packaging team. We often talk about packaging specialists in the general sense, but he and peers like him bring a valuable perspective to every customer project.
