Packform is not your basic packaging distribution company: we are a technology business. We recently won the Global Stevie Awards for the fastest-growing technology company on the planet. Why? Because we are innovating the packaging industry, fast. Swapping admin for tech, we’re replacing the need for large distributors, their unnecessary overheads and frustrating bureaucracy for a much simpler way to transact.

Packform identifies the right mix of suppliers to fulfill any type of order, both commodity or complex custom, and accelerates all order-related processes. Depending on the item specifications, order size, and delivery locations, the system identifies the best infrastructure for a seamless, end-to-end transaction. Put simply, you sell, we do the rest.

The world doesn’t need another manufacturer, distribution center, or truck. Packform has developed a managed marketplace for business-to-business distribution.

Uber became the world’s largest taxi company without owning any cars, Airbnb became the world’s largest hotelier without owning any hotel rooms. These companies have disrupted their industry on a global scale. This is achieved through building customer networks and scalable software, not factories and clunky processes. Packform is on its way to becoming the world’s largest distribution company, without owning a single truck or warehouse. Just because we don’t own the assets, doesn’t mean we can’t leverage them in a different and more efficient way.

Once a quote request is received from a Customer, Packform Dealers utilize the platform to source the best suppliers based on price, quality, or availability. The platform is capable of identifying the right mix of suppliers to fulfill any type of order – depending on the size of the order, the items on the order, and the location of the customer – from simple commodity to complex, custom, just in time delivery, kitting requirements and more.

Packform is designed to replace traditional distributors who provide additional services such as custom design and manufacturing, kitting, and just-in-time delivery. Providing these services to the highest standards is not possible without a competent project manager and sales representative.

Packform Dealers utilize our platform, procurement, operations, and finances to service their customer base, but they are independent business owners, answering to no one BUT themselves. They replace the role of project managers and sales representatives at traditional distribution companies. These traditional distribution companies face an array of internal challenges due to outdated processes. Packform manages all the time-consuming, ad-hoc tasks, so our Dealers can continue making more money and at the same time, work less.

70% of orders processed include complex custom requirements such as design, product development, equipment sales, kitting, and just-in-time deliveries. 30% of orders processed are same-day or next-day delivery on commodity/stock items. This is achieved by leveraging a global, national and local marketplace of suppliers through technology rather than traditional bricks and mortar.

No. In the car industry, the manufacturer facilitates the development and distribution of the vehicles, and dealerships around the world focus on sales. We use a similar system at Packform, where we facilitate the backend operations and financing, leaving the Dealer to focus on sales. Packform is a technology company that facilitates the distribution of Packform through a network of Packaging Dealers.

Including credit checks, resale certificates, and onboarding forms, onboarding a customer takes as little as 5 minutes.

Approximately 15 minutes. Including all the required information to start trading with them. At Packform, we welcome a larger supply base and have made the onboarding process simple to encourage other suppliers to join our growing network.

Yes. Where a supplier is not already on Packform, the onboarding process is simple, fast, and scalable. Packform does not demand rebates, prebates, or commissions paid to or from suppliers. Therefore, Dealers are free to onboard and choose their preferred suppliers.

With continually increasing costs and reducing services to sales representatives, traditional distribution companies are forced to deal with outdated operations that are no longer profitable in today’s competitive landscape. Enter Packform.

Our relationship with Dealers is 100% transparent. Packform makes a percentage of the true Gross Profit, shared with the Dealer. There are no setup fees, no minimums or maximums, no exclusions, no order, admin or load fees, or other charges of any kind. There are no ‘under the table’ deals done that are hidden from our Dealers.

For a new custom order – through you, the Dealer. For repeat custom or commodity items, depending on the customer’s level of computer literacy, either online via the Packform Platform or through you, the Dealer. Either way, it’s your business, it’s your sale.

Yes. Dealers make the same amount of money, regardless of how the order is placed.

Level 1: Our internal Packform accounts team kindly reminds the customer of an overdue invoice. Dealers are notified through automated live reports.

Level 2: The Dealer is notified that amounts are still outstanding and contacts the customer for payment.

Level 3: The Dealer requests assistance from our internal legal team to contact the customer.

Level 4: A Debt collection agency is engaged.

Packform’s Head Office is currently in Melbourne, Australia; however, since launching in California in 2018, the Dealer network is now spread throughout the U.S.A. Our in-house software development team is located across Australia, Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Our admin team spans the US and Philippines, and our procurement team works across the US, Australia, China, and Vietnam.

Our supply chain is currently capable of servicing the continental US, Canada, and Mexico with local suppliers and on a global scale for imports of goods manufactured in Asia. We continue to grow our supply chain in line with new Dealer and customer needs.

Packform has three key founders, who, along with our dedicated team, have made Packform what it is today.

A serial entrepreneur: Philip Weinman – Developed his first tech start-up in the late ’80s. Sold to IBM and did it again 17 times since. Read more here.

Packaging genius: Preston Geeting – ex-Vice President of Business Development at a traditional distribution company. Read more here.

Digital guru: Peter Williams – Founder and ex-CEO of Deloitte Digital. Read more here.

Philip was invited to speak at a conference organized by one of the traditional distribution companies around entrepreneurship and innovation. Whilst most dismissed the speech, it sparked a fire inside Preston’s heart. They got together for a think tank with Peter, and the rest is history.

People:

80% of what we look for in new recruits is culture-focused. We don’t just say that; we embody it. We can teach everything else, but we can’t train someone how to smile when they walk into a room. We enjoy our work and look forward to Mondays, and we don’t want that to change. The other 20% is whether that person can be successful in the given role within the Packform family.

Management style:

There are no middle managers. Every individual across the company is accountable for only one thing and that’s their own swim lane. There are mentors in place to support personal development, rather than traditional hierarchical management styles. We also don’t believe in HR departments. We believe that if you treat people like human beings, you shouldn’t need an HR department.

Focus:

In any given situation, we identify the biggest problem, fix it in a scalable way, and move on. All with a single focus in mind: Providing “faster, better, cheaper” services to the end-user.

Very fast. Check out our newsroom on Packform’s homepage.

Every organization has a set percentage of commission they can allocate to sales. Because Packform has very low overheads and a globally scalable model, we can afford to spend a higher proportion of our profits with our Dealer Partners. Packform Dealers earn approximately 2.5 times more than their equivalent take-home pay at a traditional distributor.

Packform aims to add more value to your bottom line than it takes. This also means that Packform Dealers are significantly both financially and emotionally better off under the Packform model by comparison to operating wholly independently. The specifics will also depend on your circumstances and risk vs. reward appetite.

Rather than relying on our own facilities, Packform can utilize our managed marketplace to identify the best supplier to fulfill each order. This is based on the size of the order, the location of the customer, and the specific items on the order – for both custom-designed and commodity items.

Just because we don’t own the assets doesn’t mean we can’t leverage them differently. We use our local, national, and global suppliers to deliver on customer needs rather than traditional infrastructure.

No. Dealers are free to build their business with no geographic or industry limitations. Where two Dealers are targeting the same customer, the relevant parties are notified and each situation is managed on a case by case basis, in partnership with the Dealer.