RELEEV Packaging Now More Secure
BARRINGTON, Ill.—Merix Pharmaceutical Corp has switched its retail packaging for RELEEV 1 Day Cold Sore Symptom Treatment to the award-winning BlisterGuard security package from Colbert Packaging to thwart tampering and pilferage. The new package is now being used nationwide at Walgreens and Kmart stores, with broadened retail distribution planned for 2007.
The Barrington, IL-based pharmaceutical manufacturer had been asked by the two chains to provide better pilfer-resistant packaging because of theft issues. RELEEV is a cold sore medication that has proven to relieve the painful symptoms of cold sores in just a day. Although the most expensive in the market, it is a huge success. Because of its higher price, it is also subject to pilferage, and theft was a problem. “RELEEV comes in a tube which can easily fit into someone’s pocket or purse if the outer package that holds the tube is breached,” said Dori Squires, vice president of Merix. “Therefore we moved forward with the plan to improve tamper resistance to our product packaging.”
Initially, Merix looked at plastic clamshell packaging as an option. “However, we didn’t like the look of the package or the environmental and recyclability issues plastic clamshell packaging creates. We also lost much of our package face due to the flange required for the clamshell. It didn’t provide the printing surface for compelling graphics and brand identity,” noted Squires.
The paper-based BlisterGuard package from Colbert is highly printable, enabling a manufacturer better shelf presentation of its product. It is made of Everest Safe-Pak fold-over blister board from International Paper, a heat-sealable, tear-resistant bleached paperboard laminated with a multi-layer high-strength film from Valéron Strength Films that makes it virtually tear-proof. Ideal for a wide range of products that are retailed in plastic clamshell packages, BlisterGuard has a tear-resistant hanger hole for added durability. Introduced in 2005, the advanced security package was recipient of the 2005 Innovation Award from the Paperboard Packaging Council.
“When Colbert came to us with the BlisterGuard option, we liked the durability of the package; the larger print area, which enables more compelling graphics for greater shelf appeal; the fact that it is paper based and more environmentally friendly than the plastic clamshell; and that it has a fresh, different look. When we showed it to brokers and buyers, they really liked the look of the new package and were thrilled with the tamper resistant quality. To top it off, we also were pleasantly surprised that BlisterGuard was less costly than the plastic clamshell,” Squires added.
Colbert also is providing a turn-key solution to Merix by printing and converting the package, and then having its Just Pack It packaging facility handle the pack out. And to assure that a shop lifter does not simply take the entire package and leave the store, Merix also has Colbert apply Sensormatic and Checkpoint source tags to the packaging during printing, which will set off a store alarm when an unpaid-for-package passes through the store’s metal detectors.
“While official reporting on lost-product results from the retail stores is still about a month away, initial feedback from our retail customers has been highly positive. It appears the new RELEEV packaging is already relieving pilferage,”said Squires.
