--- title: Packaging Lessons Learned from Boot strapping Start Ups description: Be sure to have your bootstraps ready for custom designed packaging image: https://www.ashtonne.com/hubfs/Boots.png --- [![ashtonne packaging company](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/ashtonne_logo.png?width=328&height=112&name=ashtonne_logo.png "ashtonne packaging company")](https://ashtonne.com/) [Request More Information ](https://www.ashtonne.com/surveys/creative-packaging-ideas-and-solutions) [877-522-6937](tel:8775226937)   × # Packaging Lessons Learned from Boot strapping Start Ups - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/AshtonnePackaging/) - [** ](https://www.twitter.com/Ashtonne_pkg) - [** ](http://pinterest.com/ashtonne8775226937/) - [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/11170776) - [** ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpVPPbg_6lPaoNol_G6PuPQ) ![Packaging Lessons Learned from Boot strapping Start Ups](https://www.ashtonne.com/hubfs/Boots.png) ** [Bill Madl](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/author/bill-madl) ** Posted on October 11, 2025 | Updated on October 13, 2025 ## What Established Businesses Can Learn (or may have Forgotten) about Packaging  Boot strapping, doing it yourself, keeping it lean and mean. Making decisions as if your life and business depended on it. Think back to when your company was just getting started. Every decision mattered, every dollar counted, and every customer interaction was an opportunity to build trust. You couldn’t afford to overcomplicate things. You had to be focused, intentional, and creative.![Clean Bar assembly packaging-1](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Clean%20Bar%20assembly%20packaging-1.jpeg?width=262&height=197&name=Clean%20Bar%20assembly%20packaging-1.jpeg) You know better than anyone that those things never change. But perhaps you and your business have. Like you, startups live in that world every day. And in many ways, they get packaging right because they have no other choice. For established businesses, watching how startups operate can be a powerful reminder of what worked back then, and what still works today. Here is what we mean: ### What Start-ups Get Right  Simplicity. Packaging is straightforward, protecting the product and communicating clearly. Efficiency. Limited resources mean they eliminate waste, cut down on unnecessary steps, and focus on what matters most.![Ashtonne Cost vs Quality blog image - from a custom design packaging partner](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashtonne%20Cost%20vs%20Quality%20blog%20image%20.png?width=226&height=127&name=Ashtonne%20Cost%20vs%20Quality%20blog%20image%20.png) Customer-first thinking. Every package is an impression, and startups know they can’t afford to miss the chance to make it positive. Sound familiar? It should. These are the hallmarks to any business success, large, small or start-up, and have likely played a role in yours, too. ### Why it Matters for Established Companies       Growth brings opportunity, but it also brings complexity. Over time, packaging and [logistics](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/growing-through-the-packaging-and-logistics-issues-of-scale) can shift from a source of strength to a hidden drain on efficiency, margins, and customer loyalty. Here are some of the challenges established businesses face today, and how going back to basics—taking a page from startup thinking—can help: ![Design Lab for new building- a custom designed packaging company](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Design%20Lab%20for%20new%20building%20(2).jpg?width=199&height=182&name=Design%20Lab%20for%20new%20building%20(2).jpg) Rising packaging and logistics costs. Materials, fuel, and shipping rates keep climbing, but many companies are still locked into oversized boxes, unnecessary fillers, or outdated specs. Studies show that [right-sizing packaging ](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/smarter-packaging-and-shipping)alone can reduce costs by 15–30%. Startups have to optimize cost per unit from day one, and established businesses can reclaim those savings by re-evaluating what they really need. Inefficiency on the line. Multiple handoffs, redundant approvals, and labor-intensive processes can slow down throughput and increase mistakes. Startups don’t have that luxury. They streamline out of necessity. Established businesses can adopt the same approach by auditing packaging workflows, reducing steps, and looking for bottlenecks. Even small changes in workstation design or automation can cut labor costs by as much as 40–60%. [Read this blog by Ashtonne about how to help reduce unnecessary costs.](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/custom-designed-packaging-ideas-reduce-inflation)         Weaker customer connection. When packaging becomes purely functional, customers stop noticing. Research shows that 76% of consumers admit [packaging design](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/effectiveness-of-custom-branded-packaging) influences impulse purchases. Startups obsess over that [first impression;](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/effectiveness-of-custom-branded-packaging) established businesses can regain lost ground by refreshing design, [unboxing experience](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/4-strategies-to-unlock-the-unboxing-experience-for-your-customers), or messaging to spark renewed customer loyalty.            Complexity and waste. With growth ![Inventory storage- custom designed packaging partner provided](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Inventory%20storage.jpg?width=210&height=140&name=Inventory%20storage.jpg)comes dozens of SKUs, multiple packaging types, and more materials to manage. That adds cost, slows operations, and increases waste. Startups keep things simple, and established businesses can follow suit by consolidating SKUs, standardizing packaging formats, and cutting down on unnecessary variants. [This blog by Ashtonne explains in more detail about how to help with this issue.](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/custom-designed-packaging-ideas-reduce-inflation) Sustainability pressure. Customers and regulators alike expect packaging to be [recyclable](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/ashtonne-eco-friendly-change), efficient, and [eco-friendly.](https://www.ashtonne.com/eco-friendly-packaging-materials) Startups often build these practices in from the start. For established businesses, rethinking packaging with [sustainability ](https://www.ashtonne.com/eco-friendly-packaging-materials)in mind isn’t just about compliance, it’s about brand reputation and long-term savings. In short, established companies face real pressures that can chip away at profitability and brand strength. By looking at how startups think—lean, intentional, and customer- focused—you can strip away the clutter, reduce waste, and make packaging a driver of efficiency and loyalty again.  If you’re ready to take a fresh look at your packaging and operations, [Ashtonne](https://www.ashtonne.com/creative-packaging-and-unique-product-solutions) [Packaging can help](https://www.ashtonne.com/creative-packaging-and-unique-product-solutions). We offer: • Packaging consultation and strategy • Packaging design and production • Packing and shipping solutions • Warehousing and logistics support                                                           At [Ashtonne Packaging,](https://www.ashtonne.com/) since 2007, we have been helping both large and [small businesses](https://www.ashtonne.com/services/custom-designed-packaging-for-businesses) develop and launch new products and expand product lines with product packaging and [display strategy, ](https://www.ashtonne.com/custom-branding-through-point-of-purchase-displays)design, and development, focusing our efforts to allow your products to stand out in the competitive ecommerce and retail markets.  For more information and a friendly conversation about what you might need to improve your product packaging and display and develop that "wow" factor, call [Ashtonne Packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com/) today at [877-832-7720](tel:877-832-7720) or[ contact us here, ](https://www.ashtonne.com/surveys/cost-effective-retail-and-wholesale-packaging-designs)and let’s set a time to talk. We look forward to it. ## [![    Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5108155/2cd96a44-0ce6-4705-b635-7aa158274279.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5108155/2cd96a44-0ce6-4705-b635-7aa158274279) ** **Tags:** [custom designed packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/custom-designed-packaging), [custom packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/custom-packaging), [packaging company](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/packaging-company), [creative packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/creative-packaging), [packaging partner](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/packaging-partner), [ecommerce packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/ecommerce-packaging), [Brand packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/brand-packaging), [branding tool](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/branding-tool), [brand merchandising](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/brand-merchandising), [merchandising](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/merchandising), [marketing](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/marketing), [warehousing](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/warehousing), [trusted packaging partner](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog/tag/trusted-packaging-partner) [« Back to Blog](https://www.ashtonne.com/blog) #### Contact us using the form below or call us at [877-522-6937](tel:8775226937). ["Ashtonne Packaging has been our primary supplier of custom display products for several years. Their creative designers go above and beyond to quickly turn our ideas into physical samples, which helps ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner)[Bendon](https://www.bendonpub.com) secure a great deal of promotional sales. Once we go to production, Ashtonne always delivers high-quality and eye-catching display solutions which allow our products to stand out from the competition at retail. I can sincerely say that Ashtonne’s overall service is the best I have experienced in the 8 years I have been a buyer of corrugated products!" [Rachel Rabalais](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Bendon](https://www.bendonpub.com) Ashland, Ohio [“We have been buying boxes and using Ashtonne Packaging for years now. The prices have stayed very competitive and the VMI service really works in our favor. They come once a week to do inventory and I am never out of boxes.”](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Mike Buckingham II](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Lake Erie Frozen Foods](http://www.leffco.net/) Ashland, Ohio ["The Ashtonne Packaging team has been instrumental in our business. The Ashtonne Packaging Team was able to work with our design team seamlessly from creating final drawings, artwork, and material selection, through production. We have continued to rely on them for other print and packaging needs."](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Josh Wiesman, Co-Founder and CEO](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Smilo Baby Products ](https://www.smilobaby.com) ["We talked to plenty of packaging people, and we tried to do that early on...I think we could go to a number of different companies that could deliver on budget and on time...But it was the level of detail and the craftmanship that you get at Ashtonne Packaging that I haven’t seen before.” ](https://www.smilobaby.com) [Keith Tritschler](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Smilo Baby Products](https://www.smilobaby.com) ["Ashtonne Packaging brought in several prototypes of a four-pack carrying carton for my approval… their designs met my specifications for functionality and attractive design… and they delivered on time, with quick turn-a-round!” ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Doug Reynolds, Co-Founder and CEO](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Uniontown Brewing](https://www.uniontownbrewing.com) Ashland, OHIO [Working with Ashtonne Packaging was a dream. As a new business, we rely on business partners and vendors not just for their service, but for the experience and education they offer. Rich and the Ashtonne Packaging team were super knowledgeable, flexible, and patient. I also appreciated their willingness to work with low volumes (critical for new products) and that they have the capacity to handle so much more as we grow. They also provided some thoughts on our business outside of packaging showing that they were focused not just with their piece of the puzzle, but interested in supporting our all-around growth. And perhaps most importantly, our launch packaging was gorgeous and we get rave reviews from our customers on it! ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Adiya Dixon, Founder](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Yubi Beauty](https://www.loveyubi.com) Powell, Ohio ["We continue to look for new ways to get in front of the consumer and are leveraging off-shelf displays more than ever before to achieve this objective. John Baxter and the team at ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner)[Ashtonne Packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com) continue to deliver innovative display solutions that provide the flexibility and quality we need." [Tim McNamara, VP of Marketing- Perio, Inc](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Barbasol](https://www.barbasol.com) Ashland, Ohio ["We appreciate Ashtonne Packaging's keen packaging insights, and design expertise that have vastly improved our e-commerce packaging for both our own ecommerce business, and our Amazon business." ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [John Domurad](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Lenox](https://www.lenox.com) ["I'm very happy with how smoothly the process went with Ashtonne Packaging. They are very helpful, the pricing is competitive, and the design team has been great."](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Mike Nash](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [SPX Brands](https://solarxeyewear.com/) [“Ashtonne Packaging worked with us for many months until we had the perfect packaging for our product. They went above and beyond every step of the way, and we are very happy with the final results. I’d highly recommend them, especially for those looking for quality packaging Made in the USA.” ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Michael C. Rice, Inventor/Founder/Co-CEO ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Gripknife LLC](https://www.gripknife.com) [“Before we installed the automation equipment from Ashtonne Packaging, we would need twenty to twenty-five employees to produce about 2,000 packages. On typical days, six workers would produce 750 units . Now just four employees can produce 800 units. It has completely exceeded our expectations.”](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Eric Wentworth](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Fin Fur Feather Outfitters](https://www.finfeatherfur.com) ["I want you to know that I receive amazing feedback daily, from customers and fellow business owners, on the quality and style of your packaging. You knocked our packaging out of the park and I am truly grateful. You will be hearing from me soon with another order. Until then, keep doing great things!"](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Heather Chabino, Co-Owner](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Hob Nob Candles](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) ["Regarding the Skullmate Hanger Project, we and our client have been thrilled with how it turned out and how it functions". ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Emily Miller, Owner](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Inspire Design](https://www.inspiredesignco.com) [“We talked to plenty of packaging people, and we tried to do that early on...I think we could go to a number of different companies that could deliver on budget and on time… But it was the level of detail and the craftsmanship that you get at Ashtonne Packaging that I haven’t seen before.” ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Keith Tritschler](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Smilo Baby Products](https://www.smilo.com) [" Thank you for being such a dependable supplier to us. It's nice not to have people I don't have to worry about". ](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [J. Howard](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [J-Lenco, Inc](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) ["We can tell you that the first batch that was sent to REI sold out around Thanksgiving, good and bad problem. The distributor has sent a second batch to REI and we are waiting for the product to activate on the site again. It was cool walking into our local store and seeing the product on the shelves/peg board".](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Brad Kenemuth](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [The Liftie](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Regarding the Tasting Board Retail Kit Project, Matt Snyder said: "Whoa! Mind blown! That is incredible! I love it! Cheers!"](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Matt Snyder](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Founder](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) ["As a consumer-facing brand, we really value a customer's first impression of our product in-store. When we expanded into a larger retailer, we looked to Ashtonne for help designing a custom display to showcase our alcohol infusion kits. The team at Ashtonne listened to our needs and quickly came up with a creative way to show our products. Everyone we worked with at Ashtonne was flexible and offered solutions for pricing that worked within our budget. As a result of using the display stands, our product is selling faster than accounts that do not have a display case!"](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [John Feller, co-Founder](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) [Aged and Infused](https://www.ashtonne.com/customer-testimonials-of-packaging-partner) ![Ashtonne Packaging](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashtonne_Packaging_December2018/images/ashtonne_logo_white.png?width=328&height=112&name=ashtonne_logo_white.png) 1235 Jacobson Ave, Ashland, OH, 44805 Toll-Free: [877-522-6937](tel:877-522-6937) Fax: [877-292-5660](tel:877-292-5660) Follow Us: [![Linkedin](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashtonne_Packaging_December2018/images/linkedin-512.png?width=50&height=50&name=linkedin-512.png)      ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/11170776)  [![Facebook](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashtonne_Packaging_December2018/images/fb-f-logo__blue_100.png?width=50&height=50&name=fb-f-logo__blue_100.png)      ](https://www.facebook.com/AshtonnePackaging/) [![Twitter](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashtonne_Packaging_December2018/images/twitter_logo_transparent.png?width=55&height=55&name=twitter_logo_transparent.png)](https://twitter.com/Ashtonne_pkg)      [![Youtube](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashtonne_Packaging_December2018/images/youtube_2.png?width=55&height=55&name=youtube_2.png)](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvH14R6_JrMsTINzuWseni4dUfcHsJezO)      [![Pinterest](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/pinterest-logo%202.png?width=89&name=pinterest-logo%202.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/ashtonne8775226937/)[![Instagram hi-res](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Instagram%20hi-res.png?width=93&name=Instagram%20hi-res.png)](https://www.instagram.com/ashtonnepackaging/) Digital Marketing Powered by Bryan Media and Bill Madl [![blue-seal-200-42-bbb-235829533 copy](https://www.ashtonne.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blue-seal-200-42-bbb-235829533%20copy.png?width=200&height=42&name=blue-seal-200-42-bbb-235829533%20copy.png)](https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/ashland/profile/packaging-design-and-development/ashtonne-packaging-inc-0272-235829533/#sealclick)   Copyright © 2018 Ashtonne Packaging. 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