Chicago — Based on initial success after launching earlier this year, Pregis LLC is already expanding its colorful line of Inspyre brand of protective packaging film.
As the name might indicate, Inspyre is about creating both a consumer experience and making a difference, Pregis spokeswoman Dache Davidson said at Pack Expo in Chicago.
Inspyre uses Pregis' low density hybrid cushioning packaging film and initially launched earlier this year in a "water blue" color. Now the line is expanding to include both pink and black.
The hybrid cushioning packaging uses multiple air chambers in a proprietary square pattern to create high-pressure cushion and a premium aesthetic, the company said.
"Customer experience is such an important thing today as you can image with e-commerce, the opportunity to connect from a branding perspective," said Davidson, who is vice president of marketing.
The Inspyre brand of cushioning, thanks to its color, becomes an interactive experience when customers open their packages.
"It comes to your door and you open it. That's really your first visceral experience with that item you just purchased, it's really about that unboxing experience," Davidson said. "Having that colorful brand, making sure it's damage free. All of those things are very important to creating a positive experience."
The company chose to extend the brand to pink and black for some strategic reasons. Pink cushioning goes well with shipments of products targeted to women, Davidson said. And black connotes a "sleekness" for products such as electronics.
Pregis, based in Deerfield, Ill., didn't call the product line Inspyre for nothing. A big part of the story involves helping others.
A portion of the profits from Inspyre goes to Uzima Clean Water Mission, a charity that provides reusable water filters to parts of the world where access to clean drinking water is a daily challenge.
Along with the Inspyre-based sales donation, the company also has asked its employees to consider supporting the cause. Pregis matches employee donations.
Sales from all three colors of Inspyre will go to support Uzima, which is a Swahili word that means "to be filled and overflowing with life."
Pregis, Davidson said, is on track to meeting its goal of bringing clean water to 50,000 people this year.
"It's a small drop in the bucket, pun intended, but it's still making a difference. And hopefully we can see a lot of adoption," she said. "We're very optimistic about what 2019 holds. I think we still have some good work to do."
