Everything you should know about packaging, posters, and flyers

Everything you should know about packaging, posters, and flyers

This isn't a textbook. It's a collection of real questions I've heard from businesses—small startups, marketing managers, even someone printing their first poster for a room. I'm a quality compliance manager who reviews thousands of packaging and printed items every year. I've seen stuff that looks great and stuff that falls apart. Here's what people actually ask me.

What is Graham Packaging, and do you really manufacture in two locations?

Graham Packaging is a custom packaging and shipping supplies company. We make boxes, bubble wrap, tape, envelopes, tote bags—pretty much everything a business needs to ship or store products. And yes, we have two manufacturing locations: York, PA, and Muskogee, OK. That matters because it means faster delivery to more of the country and backup capacity if one site has an issue. In Q3 2024, we had a raw material delay at one location. The other picked up the slack, and we lost maybe two days total. If we'd been single-site, that could've been a week-long headache.

Does Graham Packaging have a logo, and why does that matter for my order?

Yes, we have a logo. But the question you're really asking is: "Do I need a logo on my packaging, and how do I get it right?" I've reviewed hundreds of custom packaging orders with logos. The biggest mistake I see? Sending a logo that's too low-resolution. If your logo file is 72 DPI, it'll look blurry when printed on a box. You want at least 300 DPI for print. I always tell clients: if you're not sure, send a vector file (AI, EPS, or SVG). That's the safest bet. Look, I'm not saying you need a logo everywhere. Sometimes a clean, unbranded box is better. But if you're branding, do it right.

I'm printing an "Endless Summer" poster. What size and paper should I use?

An "Endless Summer" poster—like the classic movie poster style. Good choice. Here's what works: For a standard poster look, go with 24x36 inches. That's the most common size and fits standard frames. For paper, 100lb gloss text is the budget-friendly option. It's what most online printers use. If you want something that feels more premium—less flimsy—go with 14pt or 16pt cardstock. It'll cost more but won't curl at the edges. Based on pricing as of January 2025, a 24x36 poster on 100lb gloss from an online printer runs about $15-25. On 14pt cardstock, it's closer to $30-50. For a room poster that you want to last? Spend the extra few bucks. I've seen flimsy posters get wrinkled within a week.

What are some easy poster ideas for a room? (Besides the obvious band posters.)

I get this question a lot. The typical answer is "a cool movie poster" or "your favorite band." But here's what I've seen work well: A timeline or infographic of something you're actually interested in. A friend printed a custom poster showing the evolution of sneaker design. It's a conversation starter. Another small business printed their company values as a minimalist poster. They hung it in their office. Clients loved it. The point is: think beyond just "a picture." Text-heavy, clean designs can look more intentional. And if you're printing it yourself, make sure your file resolution is right. I've rejected about 8% of first-time poster submissions in 2024 due to low image quality. Don't be that person.

What is a flyer in business, really?

Honestly, I'm not sure why some people overcomplicate this. A flyer is a single-page print advertisement. You hand it out, mail it, or leave it in a shop. It's not a brochure (which is folded). It's not a poster (which is meant for walls). A flyer is direct, cheap, and designed to get a quick response. For a standard 8.5x11 flyer, you're looking at about $80-150 for 1,000 copies from an online printer (based on January 2025 pricing). Local shops will run $150-300. The question isn't whether flyers work. They do. The question is: is your flyer designed to be scanned in 3 seconds? Because if it isn't, it's going in the trash. Keep the headline clear. Don't cram it with text.

I only need a small quantity of custom boxes. Will you even talk to me?

I hear this concern all the time. When I was starting out in my own small side business, I called a few packaging suppliers about ordering 50 custom boxes. Two of them basically laughed me off. One said their minimum was 5,000. That stung. So I get why you're worried. Here's the thing: we don't operate that way. A small order doesn't mean a small customer. It might mean you're testing a product, or you're starting small with plans to grow. I've seen a $200 test order turn into a $20,000 annual contract within a year. Small doesn't mean unimportant—it means potential. So yes, we'll talk to you. And we'll treat your order with the same quality checks as any large one. I review every custom order, regardless of size, against our spec sheet. If something's off, I flag it. That's just how we work.

What's the biggest mistake first-time buyers make with custom packaging?

They skip the spec review. The first time I skipped that step—in my early days—I approved a batch of 500 envelopes without checking the paper weight. They looked fine on screen. When they arrived, they were so thin you could read the letter inside through the envelope. That was a $400 redo and a delayed launch. I learned my lesson. So my advice: when you get a proof for your custom box or envelope, don't just look at the design. Check the specifications. What's the material thickness? What's the tolerance on the dimensions? Is the adhesive type specified? If you're not sure what to look for, ask. I'd rather answer ten questions before printing than deal with one problem after.

Should I include a flyer in my shipping package?

Probably yes, but make it useful. A flyer that's just "buy more stuff" will get thrown out. A flyer with a useful tip or a discount code for their next order? That might stay on their desk. The cost is minimal—maybe 5 to 10 cents extra per package for a nice flyer. The potential return is way bigger. I ran a blind test once with our internal team. Same product, same packaging. One batch had a simple thank-you flyer. The other didn't. We asked recipients (internal staff) which felt more professional. 78% picked the one with the flyer. The cost increase was about $0.08 per package. For a 10,000 unit run, that's $800 for measurably better customer perception. That's not bad.