We recently saw a blog post about China board game manufacturing versus US board game manufacturing. Paragon Packaging, Inc. has produced millions of board games both domestically and overseas. So, we consider ourselves somewhat of an expert in the industry.
Let’s list the reasons for China board game production and China card game manufacturing: Price. If you can think of another, please let us know.
Paragon Packaging, Inc. continues to offer China game manufacturing, printing, and packaging because we recognize the importance of price. However, make no mistake; we encourage US companies to give consideration to US game manufacturing, printing, and packaging for many more reasons including, surprisingly, cost.
Consider this:
China plants control tooling, even if you’ve paid for it, forever. In other words, you own the tooling, but “It is not transferable.” That means, it’s yours, but it stays where it is. This is never the case in the United States. It’s not horrible; it just limits your options.
Freight costs are subject to peak season surcharges.
China game manufacturing lead times are approximately four weeks for tooling, four weeks for production, and about four weeks to receive product shipped on the water. That’s two to three times longer than local (United States) production.
That means two things to small and large US game companies: One, if utilizing China manufacturing they need to plan way ahead and order more inventory to make sure their orders are covered. Or, they need to order less product and risk leaving business on the table in the fourth quarter.
To us, what it means is that the “lower unit cost” for China manufacturing is fiction, not fact, because of the other costs, such as opportunity costs, carrying costs, and warehousing costs that are lost in the fray.
When you choose Paragon Packaging for your board game production, you get the best of either world you choose. We just want our customers to consider a different paradigm than the one they might believe. Give American game production your consideration. It may be less expensive than you think.
Paragon Packaging Inc.
www.paragonpackaging.com
