SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING BAGS AND OTHER PACKAGING AND ANALYZING SALES OF ITEMS PROMOTED ON THESE ITEMS

Abstract

A system and method for providing information in and on packaging or packing supplies and for distributing said packaging or packing supplies and for tracking the sales movement of products or services promoted on the packaging or packing supplies.

Claims

1. Packaging or packing supplies comprising: a sourcing company's private label brand logo and/or other pertinent information from said sourcing company printed on said packaging or packing; said packaging or packing supplies having printed on it a phone number, web site URL, links to social media and/or QR code to track effectiveness of advertisement on said packaging or packing supplies; said packaging or packing supplies provided to a customer; coupons printed on said packaging or packing supplies, inserted in said packaging or packing supplies; or attached to said packaging or packing supplies, related to product or services that are advertised.

2. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein said packaging or packing supplies are put together with multiple other packaging or packing supplies.

3. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein marketing collateral is inserted into said packaging or packing supplies that educates said customer about any products advertised on said packaging or packing supplies.

4. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein an accompanying letter is inserted into said packaging or packing supplies.

5. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein a sticker is placed on outside of each bundle of packaging or packing supplies explaining free nature of packaging or packing supplies, and/or that said packaging or packing supplies contains valuable coupons.

6. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein said coupons attached to said packaging or packing supplies are peeled off said packaging or packing supplies.

7. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein said coupons have a unique bar code that specifically measures coupon redemption tied to a specific promotion.

8. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein said pertinent information relates to what said customer is focused on selling or where said packaging or packing supplies customer is located.

9. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 8 wherein said pertinent information on said packaging or packing supplies changes weekly, monthly or seasonally.

10. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein said information placed on said packaging or packing supplies is a game, puzzle or contest relating to said advertised product or service or company marketing said advertised product or service.

11. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein information on said packaging or packing supplies comprises product or service information, a logo, contact information, a coupon, QR code, social media, messaging information, puzzle or contest information, or any combination thereof.

12. A method for conducting a marketing/advertising campaign using packaging or packing supplies comprising: providing information on said packaging or packing supplies from a sourcing company to a packaging or packing supplier manufacturer; providing from said sourcing company to said packaging or packing supplier manufacturer a targeted mailing distribution list based on promotional or sales objectives for a particular product or service; providing said packaging or packing supplies to customers chosen by said sourcing company; providing identifiers on said packaging or packing supplies or coupon for tracking purchases of related products.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: placing coupons in said packaging or packing supplies or attached to said packaging or packing supplies or part of said packaging or packing supplies from said sourcing company for at least one product or service advertised on said packaging or packing supplies.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said information comprises a game, puzzle or contest relating to a product or service provided by said sourcing company.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said packaging or packing supplies manufacturer ships said packaging or packing supplies directly to said sourcing company so said sourcing company can distribute directly to said packaging or packing supplies customer.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said packaging or packing supplies manufacturer ships said packaging or packing supplies directly to said packaging or packing supplies customer.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said packaging or packing supplies manufacturer confirms said packaging or packing supplies is delivered.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said packaging or packing supplies manufacturer delivers said packaging or packing supplies within a desired date window requested by said sourcing company.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein marketing collateral, a letter, coupons, promotional material or any combination thereof are placed with said packaging or packing supplies.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein said packaging or packing supplies manufacturer or sourcing company donates a portion of packaging or packing supplies sales to a charity and message is printed on said packaging or packing supplies giving credit to said packaging or packing supplies customer for making donation.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein said packaging or packing supplies customer who does not want said packaging or packing supplies with advertising pay a higher price or different price for said packaging or packing supplies while those who accept advertising on said packaging or packing supplies pay a discounted price.

22. A system for distributing packaging or packing supplies with printed information to packaging or packing supplies customers at a discounted price comprising: Information is inputted into said system with regards to source company's private label brand logo or other pertinent information which is later placed on said packaging or packing supplies; said system is a computer system and said information is stored in database; said system assists in printing said logo or said other pertinent information on said packaging or packing supplies; said system stores phone numbers, website addresses, links to social media or QR codes which are then placed on said packaging or packing supplies to track effectiveness of each advertisement; said system is provided information which it stores for later placement on said packaging or packing supplies; said system assists in providing said packaging or packing supplies to packaging or packing supplies customers or sourcing company.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising storing marketing collateral from said sourcing company which is then printed out and inserted into or attached to said packaging or packing supplies.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said system requires said sourcing company's approval before providing said marketing collateral or other information in said packaging or packing supplies.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said system receives information regarding free nature of packaging or packing supplies or about valuable nature of materials in said packaging or packing supplies which is then printed on a sticker and placed on or with said packaging or packing supplies.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein said system is either provided or said system searches internet so that it downloads a targeted distribution list based on promotional or sales objectives established for a particular product or service, which said system uses to later distribute said packaging or packing supplies.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein said system prints coupons or are provided with coupons which are inserted into packaging or packing supplies or provided to said consumer by other ways, printed directly on said packaging or packing supplies or attached to said packaging or packing supplies so that said coupon is removed from said packaging or packing supplies.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein each coupon has a unique barcode placed on it by said system that assists in specifically measuring coupon redemption tied to a specific promotion.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein said system bases its advertising on where said packaging or packing supplies customer is located, or the type of products that said packaging or packing supplies customer is selling.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein said system changes said advertising printed on said packaging or packing supplies for a specific packaging or packing supplies customer on a weekly, monthly or seasonal period.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein said system calculates which advertisements on said packaging or packing supplies are most successful and continues presenting those advertisements on said packaging or packing supplies in correct time periods for that success.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein said system provides advertisements on said packaging or packing supplies from said sourcing company; said packaging or packing supplies provided to said packaging or packing supplies customer; said advertisements related to products or services sold by said packaging or packing supplies customer.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein said sourcing company provides content of advertising to system, or said system provides content for said source company from which to choose.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein said system lowers cost of said packaging or packing supplies to said packaging or packing supplies customer by offering acceptance of advertising on said packaging or packing supplies which diverts costs of said packaging or packing supplies to said source company.

35. The system of claim 22 wherein no return address label is placed on or with said packaging or packing supplies.

36. The system of claim 22 wherein said system confirms that said packaging or packing supplies were received by said packaging or packing supplies customer or said sourcing company.

37. The system of claim 22 wherein said system confirms that said packaging or packing supplies were received within a desired date window established by said sourcing company.

38. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein said coupons cross-market different products or services that directly relate to said product to which said coupon is affixed.

39. The packaging or packing supplies of claim 1 wherein said coupons cross-market different products or services on said coupons that indirectly relate to the product to which said coupon is affixed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0096] FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the relationships between the different parties and the bag manufacturer.

[0097] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the types of information that can be printed on the bag by the bag manufacturer and the process for doing same.

[0098] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the different objects or documents that may be inserted into a case of printed bags, along with the printed bags themselves and the process for doing same.

[0099] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing what can be added to the outside of a case of printed bags and the process for doing same.

[0100] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a distribution model and method of the present invention.

[0101] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing how to measure an advertising campaign's effectiveness.

[0102] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a front view of a bag of the present invention.

[0103] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a front view of a case of the present invention.

[0104] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a top view of an open box containing contents within the box of the present invention.

[0105] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a front view of a bag of the present invention.

[0106] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a front view of packaging of the present invention.

[0107] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a front view of banded packaging of the present invention.

[0108] FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a front view of a mattress bag of the present invention.

[0109] FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a front view of a roll of the present invention.

[0110] FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of an unassembled package of the present invention.

[0111] FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of an assembled package of the present invention.

[0112] FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of a front view of packaging of the present invention.

[0113] FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of a top view of packaging of the present invention.

[0114] FIG. 19 shows an embodiment of a front view of stretch wrap of the present invention.

[0115] FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a front view of a mattress bag of the present invention.

[0116] FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of a front view of a roll of the present invention.

[0117] FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of a front view of a box of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0118] The present invention relates to a system and method for providing advertisements or information on bags from sourcing companies. The bags are provided to bag customers. The advertisements or information relate to products or services sold by the bag customer or sold by the sourcing company who advertises on the bag. In a preferred embodiment, the advertisements in the form of coupons can be tracked by a scanner which can then assist the sourcing company in determining the effectiveness of the advertising campaign.

[0119] In an embodiment, the sourcing company provides the content of the advertising to the system of the present invention, or the system provides content for the sourcing company from which to choose.

[0120] The system of the present invention can divert some or all of the costs of the bags from the bag customer to the sourcing company in exchange for the bag customer's willingness to accept and use bags that feature advertising.

[0121] FIG. 1 shows an Advertiser 20, Distributor 35, Wholesaler 40 and/or third party 30 engaged in business discussions with a Bag Manufacturer 10. Either entity can begin discussions with any of the other entitles, and have several rounds of back-and-forth discussions before agreeing on deal parameters. The entities can also talk collectively amongst themselves. For example, if the Third Party 30 comes up with an advertising idea, the Third Party 30 can contact the Advertiser 20, who contacts the Wholesaler 40 who contacts the Bag Manufacturer 10. Several rounds of discussions can ensue before the Bag Manufacturer 10 is asked to make the cases of bags. The discussions lead to information being provided to the Bag Manufacturer 10 so that the Bag Manufacturer can print information on the bags for distribution.

[0122] FIG. 2 shows a Bag Manufacturer 10 making bags 50, and the same or different Bag Manufacturer 10 printing on the bags 60 all kinds of information described in FIG. 2, resulting in Printed Bags 150. Product or Service Information 70 may contain details about how the advertised product works or details about the provided service. Logo 80 may depict full product or service artwork or even sponsoring company artwork or bag customer artwork. Contact information 90 may contain the name of an organization or association, along with that organization's or association's phone number, address, and/or contact person. Coupon 100 may be printed on the bag itself or attached to the bag as a peel-off coupon or by other devices. QR code 110 may provide a link to additional information about the advertised product or service. Social Media 120 may contain a unique hash tag or Facebook page, or link to any other social media web site or service. Messaging information 130 may contain details about the supported charity or cause, or any other supporting details about the product or service. Puzzle or Contest Information 140 may contain details about a game or contest or even a sweepstakes designed to appeal to the Targeted User 300 (shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6).

[0123] FIG. 3 shows how the Printed Bags 150 end up as an Assembled Case of Printed Bags (210). The bag manufacturer Packs Bags 160 into a case or bundle, and may insert some or all of the following into the case or bundle: [0124] Pre-printed Coupons 170, preferably printed with identifying Information such as a bar code [0125] Promotional Items 180 such as pens or pads, or anything else related to the product or service being advertised [0126] Letter 190, that explains the nature of the promotion, and potentially directs the bag customer to distribute Coupons 170 or Promotional Items 180 to the Targeted User 300 (shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) [0127] Marketing Collateral 200 such as a product or service catalog or brochure. FIG. 4 shows the labels and/or stickers that may be applied to each Assembled Case of Printed Bags 210, resulting in a Labelled Case of Printed Bags 250: [0128] Mailing Label 220 which could be applied if the sourcing company directs the Bag Manufacturer 10 to ship the case of bags directly to the bag customer or to the sourcing company. [0129] Case Sticker 230 that explains what else the case of bags contains other than bags. For example, the sticker might say Valuable Coupons Enclosed and/or Free Case of Bags. [0130] Product Description Label 240 details specifics such as item number, product description, case pack, bag size and case bar code.

[0131] FIG. 5 shows the different paths the Labelled Case of Printed Bags 250 can take to be delivered to the bag customer and ultimately the Targeted User 300. For example, the Bag Manufacturer 10 can ship the cases of bags directly to any or all of the sourcing companies, i.e. Advertiser 20, Wholesaler 40, Distributor 35, or Third Party 30. The sourcing companies can then ship the cases of bags directly to any or all of the bag customers, i.e. Retailer 270, Service Provider 280 or Association 290. Alternatively, the Bag Manufacturer 10 can ship the cases of bags directly to any or all of the bag customers, bypassing the sourcing companies.

[0132] FIG. 6 shows what happens after the Targeted User 300 receives a printed bag. The Targeted User 300 can Engage Social Media 310 to, for example, post opinions about the product or service, or even enter a contest or sweepstakes. The Targeted User 300 can also Redeem Coupon 320, and use it to get a promotional discount on the advertised product or service. The Targeted User 300 would present the coupon to one of the bag customers, i.e. Retailer 270, Service Provider 280, or Association 290, who would then send the coupon to a Coupon Redemption Clearinghouse 330 or sourcing company for further processing. The sourcing company, i.e. Advertiser 20, Wholesaler 40, Distributor 35 or Third Party 30, would then analyze the redemption rate, and provide feedback to the Bag Manufacturer 10. The sourcing company and bag customer could confer with one another, and with the Bag Manufacturer 10, to determine what changes to make to the next promotional advertising campaign.

[0133] FIG. 7 shows a bag 410 having a logo 412 and printed information 414 printed on a side 416 of the bag 410. Puzzle or contest information 425 can also be printed on the bag 410. FIG. 7 further shows a phone number or email address 422 printed on the bag 410, a website 424 printed on the bag 410 and/or a QR code 426 printed on the bag 410. Each of 422, 424, or 426 assists in tracking the effectiveness of the advertisement.

[0134] FIG. 8 shows a case 430 which has a sticker 432 that is placed on the outside of case 430 that explains for example, the free nature of the case of bags or the valuable coupons enclosed. Label 433 is a mailing label on case 430. Label 439 is the product description label on case 430 for the contents of the case.

[0135] FIG. 9 shows a case 430 which contains bags 410 or 440. In an embodiment, a letter 434 is inserted into the case 430. Marketing collateral 436 and coupons 435 are placed in the case 430. The coupons 435 can be handed out or put in bags 410 or 440 by the Bag Customer at point of purchase. Case 430 may further contain promotional items 437.

[0136] FIG. 10 shows a bag 440 having information 442 printed on the bag 440. Bag 440 also has an opening 444. Coupons 435 may be placed inside bag 440. Coupons 448 may be part of bag 440 and can be ripped off. Coupon 450 may be affixed to bag 440, and can be peeled off. Coupon 435, 448 and 450 may have a unique bar code 452 that assists in specifically measuring coupon redemption tied to a specific promotion.

[0137] FIG. 11 shows a package 500 having a peel off coupon 502.

[0138] FIG. 12 shows the package 500 wrapped in a band 504 having the peel of coupon 502.

[0139] FIG. 13 shows a mattress bag 510 having a peel off coupon 512.

[0140] FIG. 14 shows packaging roll 515 having a peel off coupon 514.

[0141] FIG. 15 shows an unassembled package 520 having a peel off coupon 522.

[0142] FIG. 16 shows an assembled package 530 having a peel off coupon 532.

[0143] FIG. 17 shows banded envelopes 540 having a peel off coupon 542.

[0144] FIG. 18 shows a box 550 having the banded envelopes 540 with the peel off coupons 542.

[0145] FIG. 19 shows stretch rolls 550 having peel off coupons 552.

[0146] FIG. 20 shows a mattress bag 560 having peel off coupons 562.

[0147] FIG. 21 shows a packaging roll 570 having peel off coupons 572.

[0148] FIG. 22 shows a packaging box 580 having peel off coupons 582.