#043 Packaging boxes, North Point store renovation, and a conversation with the marketing company (26/03/2023)

Every week I set aside some time to write in my journal, usually for one to several hours. It's been almost a year now. Of course, some entries were written with more care, and some were less so, but I've managed to keep writing. I know there are no more than ten people reading this, and even among those ten, nine might only glance at it for ten seconds. But whatever, thank you to everyone who clicked in.

Packaging box

This week I was working on the packaging for RQ 2. While brainstorming packaging ideas, I noticed something different about quilt packaging compared to other products — it needs to consider many sizes . First, quilts themselves come in different sizes, plus different thicknesses. Because quilts are quite large, when folded out, the volume of quilts of different thicknesses and sizes varies significantly. So perhaps it's no wonder that most quilts on the market are packaged in zippered eco-friendly bags / non-woven bags — one bag can be shared among different quilts.

Given our situation, we need to handle online orders and expedite delivery, so we can't just use a soft, bulky bag for delivery; we must use boxes. If we use a soft, bulky bag to sell in stores and then add a cardboard box on top of the bag for online sales, it feels like double packaging. Therefore, I've decided to use boxes for the entire system. However, for thicker orders later on, we might need different sized boxes.

North Point store renovation

Since the Hong Kong Island store is moving from Taikoo Shing to North Point, renovations are continuing there this week. Fortunately, the preliminary preparations went well (the first month or two were really tough), including drawing plans, measuring, and ordering furniture. Everything is going smoothly so far. It should open in mid-to-late April .

A conversation with a marketing company

Last Friday, I was fortunate enough to be invited by a large marketing/content website in Hong Kong to their office to discuss potential collaborations. Ben and I met there, sitting in their glass conference room . There were large presentation TVs and long tables surrounded by rickety office chairs—I was so envious … Ben and I, on the other hand, were sitting on folding chairs sharing a single desk, and everyone could see what we were looking at on our computers and even our phones. Okay, okay, don't digress . Anyway, the meeting lasted an hour, and besides the really cold air conditioning, what impressed me most was the question they asked me:

"So, what's the marketing plan and schedule for Re Pillow ? Are there any key products or campaigns you want to promote this year ? You know, Mother's Day and Father's Day are coming up, these are big dates every year, have you thought about how to promote them?"

I was stunned and didn't know how to react, because I genuinely had no marketing plan whatsoever. It was somewhat like a law tutorial course in my first year of university, where I hadn't yet grasped the study methods and standards, and ended up speechless and embarrassed when the professor questioned me. So, after that day, I studied diligently to avoid a similar situation. Facing this feeling again in a marketing company today felt both familiar and strange. I stammered. Perhaps they had already seen through my poor communication skills, or perhaps they were experienced in advertising and knew how to answer questions, but they didn't press further. We quickly moved on to the next topic and didn't ask any more questions.

I just want to lead a simple life and create a true and honest brand that makes great products… My happiness is the users' happiness. As for a grand advertising plan, I really don't have one …

Maybe I'll need it if I arrive later? Sigh, I don't know, it's too complicated and far-reaching. For now, I'll just focus on doing the work at hand well.

RQ2 - coming soon.