Category Archive: Cardboard

THE HUMBLE CARDBOARD JUST GOT POSH: THANK YOU GOOGLE

Posted by M & M Box Partitions Co. on October 12, 2015 12:00 am

There is something unique about the Google logo. Do you know what it is? If you look closely you will find that the innovative minds at this global tech giant have sneakily introduced ‘green’ – a secondary color – amidst the primary hues of red, blue and yellow. This stands for the subtle rebellion that Google is all about. The ability to stick to the conventional yet tackle the disruptive just as easily!

This time around an alliance has been forged between the humble cardboard and virtual reality to create a new age version of Oliver Wendell Holmes’ classic 3D Stereoscope. And unlike the Oculus Rift that costs a pretty penny for the stylish gear, Google’s offering will rely on the ubiquitous and environment friendly cardboard to take users on journeys through space and time.

ABOUT GOOGLE CARDBOARD:

The Stereoscope allowed users to peer through two lenses at a specially taken photograph and enjoy the sensation of a first-hand 3D experience. In Google’s take of this tried and tested principle, a cardboard cutout costing a few dollars serves as the stand for the smartphone with the installed application.

Users who wish to have an immersive virtual reality session simply need to download the app from the Google Play Store or from the iTunes repository. It is free of cost and a lean little piece of work that won’t take up too much processing power. The cutout supports up to 6 inches of display without hassles.

Simply open the application, scan the Google QR code stamped on the cutout to trigger operation and then strap the mobile phone to it with the Velcro strips to hold it securely in place. Now you can choose the experience that you wish to have and hold the assembly to your eyes, just like a binocular to get started.

From a trip to the base of the Eiffel Tower to the rugged red surface of Mars, the app already has tons of scenarios to sample. Since it is an open application, independent developers will add their personality to the VR clips available and this almost free set-up is all set to bypass more expensive Virtual Reality alternatives in the market.

WHY IS GOOGLE CARDBOARD SO GREAT?

First and foremost, it uses nothing more than a smart device to work its magic. There is no need to produce fancy head gear and add to the waste on planet earth. Secondly because Google Cardboard is so affordable, it will find widespread use in education where students can go through wars and historical events or even scientific experiments in a 3D setting to develop an unprecedented understanding of concepts and theories. Text is already on the way out and Google Cardboard reaffirms dynamic learning’s importance for coming generations.

M&M Box Partitions salutes Google for this stroke of genius and for using something as simple as cardboard to usher in the future.

Subscription Boxes: Marrying Doorstep Convenience With The Element Of Surprise For A Thriving Business Model

Posted by M & M Box Partitions Co. on July 20, 2015 12:00 am

People love receiving surprises – the pleasant kind. There is the anticipation of treasures unveiled and the enjoyment of welcoming new gifts into life. And the subscription box industry capitalizes on this basic tendency to pamper buyers and earn profits.

It is extremely easy for someone – say a beauty product aficionado to go online and sign up for a monthly subscription of products from renowned brands curated with care and delivered in an attractive packaging right to the doorstep. While the actual contents remain a mystery, the theme of the boxes aligns with the niche of the subscription company.

A consumer expecting a goody box of organic food will not discover lingerie nestled in the delivered package. Subscription boxes satisfy the desire to acquire items of interest and they automate the process – ensuring delivery of a bundle once a month, without fail. However there is one aspect of this model that may deter customers from upgrading to the full sized products based on premium performance by the samples and that is visual appeal.

And this is where the importance of the design of subscription boxes – both aesthetic and structural comes into play!

WHY SHOULD SUBSCRIPTION BOX COMPANIES PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THEIR PACKAGING?

The answer is simple. The packaging here becomes prime real estate with which a positive impression can be made on the user. Since there is no flattering lighting, no rack cards and no expensive display cases, the actual delivery box itself must do triple duty to take over the job of these tools of influence. The best products don’t inspire desire if they are poorly ensconced in bubble wrap and dull brown cardboard that tends to turn soggy with moisture.

A subscription box is an experience. It is a small and carefully assembled medley of items the recipient has probably not tried before. Since they are opened and admired in the privacy of a bedroom or a living room, there is a huge opportunity to grab attention without the distraction of a hundred rival products screaming their presence.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INDUSTRY LEADERS GOING WITH?

Keeping this fact in mind, many innovative subscription box players choose to put in a great deal of thought where their packaging is concerned. The integrity of the structure must be maintained. It should be able to bear thumps, jostles and drops along the way without affecting the contents inside.

Corrugated constructions are an extremely popular option because they are both sturdy and conducive to printing.

Design wise appealing motifs, colors and abstracts are common. They stand for the personality of the subscription box brand as well as the actual products being offered. Some packages are works of art with etchings on the inside too. It all depends on what is cost effective for the subscription company.

But with advancements in this industry, a polished, sleek look in keeping with the web/store presence of the brand is possible and the budget isn’t really a detriment.

M&M Box Partitions Co. has been a leader in this field since 1968. It assists myriad sectors by supplying high quality partitions that ensure uncompromised delivery of delicate products all over the world.

Cardboard Boat Regatta

Posted by M & M Box Partitions Co. on June 15, 2015 12:00 am

When most people think about the durability of cardboard, they imagine how many bottles a particular box can hold and how heavy those bottles can be. But have you ever thought how well your cardboard box can hold up when it has to get two teenagers across a swimming pool? Probably not. But a physics teacher in Longview, Texas was and left it up to her students to answer.

The teacher, Jennifer Smith, hoped to teach the students about the Archimedes’ Principle which states that in order for something to float, it must displace its own weight in the water. So a student weighing 150 lbs. must be able to displace 150 lbs. of water to stay afloat. The students are allowed to use three layers of corrugated cardboard and can only use packing tape or duct tape on the seams of the boxes to help hold it together. Once they feel the boat is seaworthy, they put it in the water, get themselves in and try to make it across the 75-foot pool in the Lobo Aquatic Center. One boat almost made it across before sinking.

Smith said that while she can teach all day in a classroom, it’s more important to get the students involved and learn things hands-on. The Lobo Regatta has been practiced for the last 15 years. This endeavor helped the students not only learn the Archimedes principle, but also the importance of teamwork to solve complex problems. The students said that they understood the principle but really enjoyed the activity because it was exciting and fun.