Valley Box Blog

The Secret Way to Reduce Shipping Costs

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:15:00 GMT

Announcements of the rising cost of shipping are becoming all too common in the world of shipping—year after year. Even though gas prices fluctuate, the cost of shipping has still been on the rise. Unfortunately, it is the manufacturing companies that usually end up bearing the brunt of this persistent trend.

3 Ways to Reduce Crating Storage Space

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:15:00 GMT

Purchasing a larger volume of crating for price quantity breaks is definitely a smart business move. However, the one drawback to buying “bulk” is the savings that will end up getting gobbled when it's time to fork over additional costs for the handling and storage of all of that extra inventory.

Shipping Crate Costs Decreased

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:00:00 GMT

It's the beginning of the year, and most likely your company is looking for ways to decrease costs. If you're a manufacturer, one of the areas you should be looking at closely is your product's packaging. Here are Valley Box's 6 tips to help you reduce your shipping crate costs this year.

How Much Should My Wooden Crates Cost?

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:45:00 GMT

Every business wants to avoid the pitfall of paying too high a percentage of their product cost on packaging, so it's not surprising that a common question a business would ask is "How much should my packaging cost?"

Improve Your Crate Packing Department

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:30:00 GMT

A company’s crate packing reflects the business as a whole, so it's important to make a good first impression with thoughtful crate design.

Start by taking a look at the three main factors that affect the crate packing department;

Labor skill set
Storage space costs
Actual packing time

Understanding Lumber Sizing - For wood crates

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Did you know 4x4s are not actually 4 inches by 4 inches? They're actually closer to 3-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches! Why isn't lumber the same dimensions as its name? Unraveling the mystery of this confusing wood-sizing phenomenon can certainly leave you scratching your head. We're here to help you figure it all out.

One of the first things to consider is actual height and width are different from the nominal size of the piece of wood you may be shopping for. For example, Alicia Guillette crating expert at Valley Box Company, says:

Tri Wall Box vs Wooden Container

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:45:00 GMT

A tri-wall box is a unique & lightweight shipping solution that is made up of triple fluted corrugated material that can be used in place of a wooden container in some situations where shipping weight is a factor.

ISPM 15: Buying Dunnage with Stamp

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Mon, 25 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

If your company ships its products overseas, then you probably know all about ISPM 15, the heat treatment of wood, and that exporters face consequences for non-compliant wood products. If you're asking yourself, "Why do I need to heat treat wood?" you need to read this other Valley Box article.

Wooden Export Crates: Face Consequences for Non-Compliance

alicia@valleybox.com (Alicia Guillette) — Mon, 25 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

The USDA and APHIS have released an official notice to all U.S. Exporters regarding the alteration of certified wood products. Essentially, the notice states that ISPM 15 wooden export crates or pallets that are altered or repaired, must be re-certified by an approved wood packaging material production company.

Tri Wall Box Moves Through Customs Quicker

alicia@valleybox.com (Valley Box Company) — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:15:00 GMT

There are so many reasons why a tri wall box is the clear-cut choice for many overseas shipments. Add customization, and this smart option is a slam dunk!

Although many packaging companies often offer a dozen or so stock sizes for you to choose from, nothing guarantees a perfect fit like a customized tri wall box. You provide the exact specifications and the packaging manufacturer company does the rest.