Wednesday 19 November 2014

Carrier Bag Charge in UK - Fear not!

We often get asked by customers how the carrier bag charge will affect them as a retailer. Therefore we have come up with some 'Quick Guidelines' which should help determine how the carrier bag law/levy affects you and your business, as well as enable you to educate your customers also.

The carrier bag charge/levy is currently in place in Northern Ireland, Wales and most recently Scotland. It is being proposed to come into place in October 2015 in England, but read on, as the rules may not be as strict as in other countries.


Bags exempt from charge
(Northern Ireland, Wales & Scotland)

Re-usable bags such as:
Cloth,
Jute,
Cotton,
Hessian
'Bags for Life'



Unwrapped/unpackaged items such as;

Food items

Loose seeds, bulbs, corms or rhizomes – loose grass seed, flower bulbs, seed potatoes etc

Plants or flowers that could have been contaminated by soil.

Blades - axe, knife blade or razor blade.

Plants or flowers that could have been contaminated by soil.

Aquatic creatures

Mail order bags

Small flat paper bags that do not have handles and are no more than 175mm (width) x 260mm (height) or about the size of a greetings card.

Very small plastic bags that do not have handles and are no more than 125mm (width) x 125mm (height).  These could be used for very small items such as buttons or small screws.

Small three dimensional paper bags that do not have a handle and are no more than 80mm (width) x 50mm (gusset width) x 155mm (height).  These are about the size of bottle of cough mixture.

All other bags will incur the carrier bag charge when selling your goods in store, please see your own governments website for details.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ONLY CHARGED WHEN SELLING GOODS DIRECT TO CUSTOMERS, NOT WHEN PURCHASING YOUR BAGS FROM YOUR SUPPLIER.





English law is still pending and is due to come in next October 2015, keep up to date by checking the government website;



Proposed plans so far are as follows;
ENGLAND - PROPOSED (OCTOBER 2015)
  1. Small and medium-sized (SME) businesses are EXEMPT from the plastic bag charge in England.
  1. Plastic bags used to contain hot food or hot drinks for consumption away from the premises on which they are sold within the charge will also be EXEMPT
  1. Plastic bags without handles with will EXEMPT (such as gusseted liners and mail order packaging) and bags sealed prior to the point of sale where the customer has no choice, which are considered to be packaging
  1. The government also recognise that there will always be a need for some form of single use bag, for example for impulse buysa and will develop standards for a biodegradable bag, with industry, that has fewer environmental effects across its life cycle and can be exempt from the charge.



#Christmas Packaging

Here at Alpha Packaging we are getting in the mood for Christmas, contact today for a quote on any of our products and order in time for Christmas.


Most of our products are available printed with your logo and even a special Christmas message, why not show your customers you care by wishing them a 'Merry Christmas'.


Print your Christmas message on our printed carrier bags in paper or polythene, newsagents bags, moving boxes, printed parcel tape, seat covers and floor mats.


Don't forget to order some bubblewrap and loose fill from our protective packaging range to ensure your orders arrive safely with your customers;


Order online at www.alpha-store.co.uk or email sales@alphapackaging.co.uk for a quote

www.alpha-store.co.uk



Friday 14 November 2014

A great day to source packaging at GroSouth 2014 - www.alpha-store.co.uk

As the only packaging supplier included in CRoP, the HTA's new cost reduction programme and over 35 years packaging industry experience we try to attend as many trade fair events and exhibitions as we can to meet all our current and potential new garden centre customers.

This years GroSouth at Roundstone Nurseries, Chichester, West Sussex held host to many garden centre suppliers and manufacturers. We met with many garden centre owners and buyers keen to save money on their packaging and carrier bags from a reputable and approved packaging supplier such as ourselves and found the event very useful. We are planning to have a stand next year so we are easy to find and to enable us to demonstrate some of our exciting range of packaging products, especially our 'Plant Carrier Bag' which we are now taking orders ready for next Spring, with an expected delivery date of March 2015.

We have created a range of carrier bags, boot liners and general packaging supplies with garden centres and retailers in mind and try, where possible, to work with the HTA members to keep our range updated and current with new trends in mind. One product we are hoping to launch next year is our 'mail order plant blister packs' which enable customers to order plants online for a safe and secure delivery, join our mailing list by emailing sales@alphapackaging.co.uk to keep up to date with our latest product information, news and events and special offers.

For a full list of all our product range for your garden centre, go online @ www.alpha-store.co.uk



Thursday 13 November 2014

Revolutionary Plants and Bedding Tray Carrier Bags

Plant Carrier Bags from Alpha Packaging

Alpha Packaging have begun taking orders for the improved Plant Carrier Bags ready for Spring 2015

Plant Carrier Bags
Following the success of last spring's 'Plant Carrier Bags', Alpha Packaging are now taking orders ready for next Spring, with an expected delivery date of March 2015.
After feedback from many HTA customers the bag has now been improved with a larger base and reduced angles to accommodate almost all bedding trays. To ensure the bag suits your requirements please contact the HTA or sales@alphapackaging.co.uk to request a sample and one will be sent out to you as soon as they are available.


Other *new* features include:
• **New Dispenser Box Design** - enabling the trays to be placed easily into the bag at counter
• 300 bags per dispenser box/4 boxes per outer box (1200 total) - giving you more for your money than previously
• Printed option also available, please contact for a quote, moq 50k (printed bags must be pre-ordered with artwork signed off by November 28th, a one off printing plate charge also applies)
These bags are only manufactured once a year so place your order with the HTA today to avoid disappointment!


Prices:
£59.99 Per pack (1200)
£54.99 5-9 packs
£49.99 10+ packs


All prices exclude VAT (20%). Free carriage to mainland address is included in our price subject to a £100 minimum order. Standard carriage cost £10. Terms and conditions available on request. (Prices correct at time of print 31/10/2014).


For other Alpha Packaging products please visit the website.