5 Ways Perth Cafes Can Cut Packaging Costs Without Sacrificing Quality
, by Value Pack Perth, 2 min reading time
Packaging is one of those costs that creeps up on cafe owners. A few cents here, a few cents there — and suddenly you're spending $500+ a month on cups, lids, bags, and napkins. Here are five practical ways to cut that bill.
1. Buy Direct, Not Through a Reseller
Most Perth packaging "suppliers" are actually resellers. They buy from importers who buy from manufacturers — and every step adds a margin. A cup that costs $0.06 at the factory might cost you $0.12 by the time it reaches your cafe.
Value Pack Perth imports directly from manufacturers. That's why we can offer a 5% price beat guarantee on any competitor's price — and still make money.
2. Consolidate Your Suppliers
If you're buying cups from one supplier, bags from another, and napkins from a third — you're paying three delivery fees and managing three accounts. Consolidate everything with one supplier and you'll save on delivery and admin time.
We stock the full range — cups, lids, bags, boxes, napkins, cutlery, straws, greaseproof, hand towels, and more. One order, one delivery, one invoice.
3. Order in Bulk (But Not Too Much)
Buying larger quantities usually means a lower per-unit price. But don't over-order — damaged or dusty stock is wasted money. The sweet spot is usually 4-8 weeks of stock per order.
For cups, that might be 3-5 cartons (3,000-5,000 cups). For bags, 2-3 cartons. Orders over $200 get free delivery across Perth metro — most cafes hit that easily with a fortnightly or monthly order.
4. Right-Size Your Cups
Are you stocking three cup sizes when 80% of your sales are 12oz? Most cafes find that one or two sizes cover 90% of orders. Fewer SKUs means less stock sitting on shelves and simpler ordering.
Check our coffee cups range — we stock 8oz, 12oz, and 16oz in both single and double wall.
5. Go Custom (Yes, Really)
This sounds counterintuitive, but custom branded cups can actually be cheaper than buying generic cups from a reseller. How? Because custom cups come directly from the manufacturer — you're cutting out the middleman completely.
Our branded 12oz cups start from around $80/1000 at higher quantities. Compare that to what you're paying for plain cups from a reseller — you might be surprised.
Plus, branded cups are free marketing. Every customer walking down the street with your cup is an advertisement.
Quick Savings Checklist
- ☐ Compare your current prices with our online prices
- ☐ Check if you're buying from a reseller (most Perth suppliers are)
- ☐ Consolidate to one supplier for free delivery
- ☐ Review your cup sizes — do you need all three?
- ☐ Get a custom cup quote — it might be cheaper than generic